Hello
I have recently started to refurbish old clocks as a retirement hobby, starting with old junk mechanisms to gain some experience then gradually moving on to better quality movements.
I recently purchased an old Ansonia movement in a junk sale because it had an unusual feature. The mechanism was just attached to the back and top of what I assume had once been a wall clock but this was entirely riddled with worm and so was discarded immediately.
The thing that attracted my attention was a wooden bar mounted in front of the mechanism that had some thick copper wires attached to an insulated switch mechanism which was apparently activated by a lug fitted to the hour spindle of the clock. The two free ends of the wires were attached to two terminals on the top of the clock.
I am convinced that this mechanism was original to the clock as it was built into the structure but after extensive searching of internet I cannot find anything similar.
There is no internal connection for a battery so I assume that the mechanism switched on some externally powered device twice every day. I also assume that the contact would have been made at least a couple of minutes before the top centre position and for a few minutes after.
Has anyone seen such a device before, or can they offer some idea of its function – I would be most grateful for any information at all.
Many thanks
I have recently started to refurbish old clocks as a retirement hobby, starting with old junk mechanisms to gain some experience then gradually moving on to better quality movements.
I recently purchased an old Ansonia movement in a junk sale because it had an unusual feature. The mechanism was just attached to the back and top of what I assume had once been a wall clock but this was entirely riddled with worm and so was discarded immediately.
The thing that attracted my attention was a wooden bar mounted in front of the mechanism that had some thick copper wires attached to an insulated switch mechanism which was apparently activated by a lug fitted to the hour spindle of the clock. The two free ends of the wires were attached to two terminals on the top of the clock.
I am convinced that this mechanism was original to the clock as it was built into the structure but after extensive searching of internet I cannot find anything similar.
There is no internal connection for a battery so I assume that the mechanism switched on some externally powered device twice every day. I also assume that the contact would have been made at least a couple of minutes before the top centre position and for a few minutes after.
Has anyone seen such a device before, or can they offer some idea of its function – I would be most grateful for any information at all.
Many thanks
