Pexton Beverley Wall Clock

[Dave T]

This one is coming in for service soon. And wondering exactly how old it might be, where it was made, etc.
Looks English to me. I'm told it came to the US from Scotland.

 

[Les harland]

Loomes Watchmakers and Clockmakers of the World lists:-
Pexton John Henry Beverly Yorkshire 1891

 

[Mike Phelan]

Beverley (not Beverly) is indeed a large market town in the East Riding of North Yorkshire.

 

[jmclaugh]

A nice drop dial clock that''s overdue that service. Lots of scribbling on the back of the dial.

 

[Dave T]

Finally received this clock for service. And now have some more details regarding it's history.
The owners told me this clock hung in a school for years where her Father? was headmaster there and retired in 1974. The town was Walkington, Beverly UK.
The earliest service date I see on it is 1919.
It's the greasiest clock I have ever seen. Looks like someone has generously sprayed some type of brown grease on everything!
I'd love to soak the whole thing in solvent for a few hours, but wondering if it would harm the interior of the fusee or the mainspring barrel?
I full intend to disassemble the whole thing eventually anyway.

Other questions come to mind as I've never tackled a fusee. According to what I see the barrel with the three holes was meant to use a gut cord and not a steel cable as is on it now.
As I let the cable down, I'll be sure and find out how much preload is on it before proceeding.
Any words of wisdom or things to watch for will be greatly appreciated as usual!

 

[JTD]

The town was Walkington, Beverly UK.

Walkington is a small village about three or four miles from Beverley (not Beverly - see post #3 above). Perhaps the clock hung in the school there. (If you google Walkington you can read about the school).

JTD

 

[Dave T]

Yep, she told me that. She also said that Kingston Upon Hull was the closest town in E. Yorkshire District.

 

[daveR]

Hi Dave
Yes, the barrel is originally made for fusee cable (which you will have to replace !) The fusee itself will most likely have just a hole for the cable instead of a pin ( to anchor a chain)
Just dunking in solvent wont do a great deal except make it look better. Better to clean off the worst you can see,dismantle and clean it properly. After this length of time you wil have to clean the mainspring and the fusee ratchet mechanism. Just watch out for the small click in there, it can disappear quickly !!
Will be good
David

 

[Dave T]

I've cleaned this clock and it's running great! But the suspension spring is secured at the top in a small square brass block that is too wide to drop into the slot on the mounting post. I'm afraid to attempt spreading the slot to hold it in. So consequently it just sits on top of the slotted mount. With nothing holding it in place except gravity.
Any thoughts?

 

[Mike Phelan]

Hi Dave,
The pendulum is only held on by gravity.
The top brass block on the suspension spring should fit in the slot and the pin on it just rests in one of the two the slots; if it's too wide someone has swapped it.

 

[Dave T]

Evidently has been changed. The small top brass block that sits on the mount has no hole in it and therefore no pin, and no hole in the mount either. but there is two notches in it on top?
What's the possibility of spreading the top mount enough to accept the suspension, without breaking it? I'd have to take it out to measure, but I'd say it's probably 2mm too wide to fit.
Maybe the proper solution is to drill a hole in the top of the suspension block and put a pin in it?
It's extremely difficult to get the clock in the case and on the wall without dislocating the pendulum.

 

[JTD]

Could you show us the suspension spring and block - it's hard to visualise your problem with being able to see the pendulum and the suspension.

Please don't bend anything for the moment - it must have worked before and I am sure it will do again.

JTD

 

[Dave T]

Okay, here's some pictures.

 

[JTD]

Thanks for the photos. I can see better now what you are dealing with?

I have had two clocks (that I can recall) where this appeared to be a problem until I realised that if I slipped the spring into the chops and let it slide down, the top block would hold it there securely.

I think, from what you wrote, that this is what you have done. As long as the slot in the pendulum still fits the pin, I suspect that is how it was hanging when you got it.

Please don't try to widen the chops, they could break. If you really don't like the idea of just hanging the spring as described above, there seems to be plenty of thickness to the brass on the block and, if it is only a question of 2mm, you could file it down, drill a hole and put in a pin.

But I don't think you really need to - by the look of the way the suspension has been fixed to the rod, I think it has been like that for years.

JTD

 

[Dave T]

I agree, it looks original to me. But it's too wide to fit in the slot. I think I'll leave it alone.

 

[tracerjack]

Too wide, I sand down the block to fit the slot. Seems a lot safer to me.

 

[Dave T]

Without a pin it would have to be tapered to fit as a wedge, to avoid falling through.

 

[JTD]

Without a pin it would have to be tapered to fit as a wedge, to avoid falling through.

I don't see how it could fall through if it is to thick for the slot. Maybe I'm missing something.

JTD

 

[Dave T]

Just saying if I sanded it down too much it would fall through the slot in the mount. There is no hole in it to insert a pin.

 

[JTD]

There is no hole in it to insert a pin.

You would have to drill a hole.

I should just leave it as it is - presumably it's worked like that for years.

JTD