Restoring a Black Mantle Clock?

[Walesey]

Hi guys, I'm back!

I have been spending some time this year going along to "Clock Classes" where the aim was to completely re-bush and service an american clock movement, under the close supervision of a Master Clock Maker. The "sacrificial lamb" for this experiment was my old Sessions Black Mantle Clock, which I have owned since 1985, and which has been in the family since 1910. (It was badly in need of a service!)

I am happy with the movement, and everything seems to be working well, so now it is time to make a start on the CASE.

I had assumed that the ornamentation was originally brass, but my "Clock Master" tells me that they are "Florentine Bronze" (I've never heard of it) The bezel is obviously brass. The columns? Not sure if they are brass or Florentine Bronze. Any suggestions?

Does anybody have a colour photo of approximately what this clock SHOULD look like? ie a black clock with brass dial and florentine bronze ornaments? fluted columns?

I don't expect that I will ever make it look like a "New Clock", but I would like it to look like a well loved clock.

So, the questions are: Where do I start?

I put the brass bezel in the Ultrasonic for 20 minutes, but it is still pretty revolting. Do I just use "Brasso" and elbow grease? Any better suggestions?

I tried scrubbing the feet, handles, and other ornaments with some sort of powdered metal cleaner, but they just seemed to come up grey. Any suggestions? Is it worth having them re-plated?

I am not familiar with "Gojo", down here in Australia. I have some "Protectolene", which is a petroleum based, waterless hand cleaner. Would that do for cleaning the case?

There are one or two places where the black enamel has come away at mitre joints, showing a little wood colour through. Any suggestions here? I have some gloss enamel Hobby Paint. Would this do to patch it?

Having removed all the ornaments, etc, I imagine that the nails will be loose in the nail holes when I replace them. Is there a "right" way to make sure the nails are tight when they are replaced?

Any other advice or suggestions would be much appreciated

Thanks in advance

Walesey

 

[shimmystep]

So, the questions are: Where do I start?

I put the brass bezel in the Ultrasonic for 20 minutes, but it is still pretty revolting. Do I just use "Brasso" and elbow grease? Any better suggestions?

I tried scrubbing the feet, handles, and other ornaments with some sort of powdered metal cleaner, but they just seemed to come up grey. Any suggestions? Is it worth having them re-plated?

I am not familiar with "Gojo", down here in Australia. I have some "Protectolene", which is a petroleum based, waterless hand cleaner. Would that do for cleaning the case?

There are one or two places where the black enamel has come away at mitre joints, showing a little wood colour through. Any suggestions here? I have some gloss enamel Hobby Paint. Would this do to patch it?

Having removed all the ornaments, etc, I imagine that the nails will be loose in the nail holes when I replace them. Is there a "right" way to make sure the nails are tight when they are replaced?

Any other advice or suggestions would be much appreciated

Thanks in advance

Walesey

Hi walsey

The patterned bezel is likely gilted. I soak these along, with the door, in an ammonia movement cleaning solution. same strength as used for movements or weaker with an occasional agitation with a soft brush over the surface. It won't take long to come back, about an hour or so. Here's a pic of one done last year, keeping its finish

Do the same for the feet. You won't need to use brasso or elbow grease. The case is wood? not slate? If its wood, black shoe polish will bring back the colour and lustre to bare bits I reckon, I'm not sure I would repaint those parts personally but it's personal choice.
If you want to use the original nails, I would probably want to too, and they are loose, a length ways slither of a match in the hole before re-inserting the nail will give a new tight fit.

 

[Walesey]

Time to bring this thread back to the top.
I have finally got the old Sessions back together. Since re-furbishing the movement last year, I have prettied up the case a little this year.

For the dial, I used a lot of elbow grease but finally resorted to a brass wire brush on my dremmle machine to remove all the crud. Then another polish with metal polish before lacquering with special Brass/Metal lacquer. The paper dial was photographed and then scraped off the pan. The photographic image wastidied up using "Photoshop" and then printed in an off white colour onto card, and then the new dial glued on to the pan.

I bit the bullet and had the case ornaments professionally re-plated in "Florentine Bronze". (at over $200, that nearly broke the bank!!!!. I was pleased with the result, but not with the dent in my bank account!)

The brass columns were wire brushed and polished. By then I had misplaced my special Brass lacquer, and used cheep "$2 shop" stuff. Not very happy with the result there!

As anticipated, the wooden case work was the most challenging. firstly, I tried using Auto "Cut and Polish" but that did not give a satisfactory result. Too much of the original finish had worn away and it was too thin. No matter what I did, the finish continued to look streaky. Finally, I purchased some black spirit based stain and added it to some shellac. I ended up re-shellacing it, sanding it back between each of half a dozen coats. That seemed to come up much better! Finally sanding it lightly with 0000 steel wool and a wax finish and it looks OK. (Not perfect, but OK!)

I had a go at re doing the gold work on the case decorations using a tooth pick dipped into the nib of an artists gold felt tip pen, but I suspect that job requires a steadier hand than mine! I got it looking as good as I could, and then when I polished it, most of the gold dots polished off.

Anyway, I finally got all the case back together yesterday and got the movement back into the case this morning. The clock is finally back in her spot on the sideboard where she should be. (Now I have to find a new spot for the German "Rotary" mantle clock which has been "keeping the spot warm" for the past 14 months!

Cheers
Walesey

 

[Len]

What a lovely job you made of it, looks great...

Len

 

[Walesey]

What a lovely job you made of it, looks great...


Len

Thanks Len.
Cheers
Walesey

 

[shimmystep]

Looking excellent Walesey, nice job!

 

[Rob P.]

Walesey, there's a product out there called "Rub n Buff" which is a gold wax product. You apply the stuff to the carvings and then wipe it off. It will remain in the groove and highlight the carving like the original.

You can get it in colors but I like the gold best. It's available at hobby shoppes (and amazon).

An alternative is shoe polish cream but it isn't as durable.

 

[Bill Stuntz]

Looks great, Ian!

 

[Walesey]

Thanks Bill.

Thanks for the tip, Rob. I ave found a store not too far from me, that stocks "Buff n rub" (according to their Internet site), so I will investigate that one. I will come cleanly off the flat surfaces will it? It won't leave a gold smear over the black shellack surface?

Cheers
Walesey

 

[Rob P.]

It should rub off completely on the surface. It's just a wax with a lacquer solvent base. If it doesn't, a light wipe with a lacquer thinner dampened rag should clean it up. Lacquer will not harm the shellac surface.

IF you're going to use it on something that's been lacquered, then clear coat with shellac FIRST before using the Rub N Buff.

Use just enough to cover the groove to keep the mess down. It really spreads out too so just a touch will cover a lot of area.

 

[Walesey]

Drat! The place that advertised that they stocked it (for about $6.95), no longer stocks it! It is available on e-bay, for about $8.50 PLUS another $8.50 for postage (!!!!) I will have to search further afield.

Walesey

 

[Rob P.]

Hobby shoppes that cater to decoupage, antiquing, and painting supplies will/should have it. Usually in the section where they carry gold leaf stuff.

 

[Paul Lathem]

Another method to clean out the carvings with a sewing needle before buff-n-stuff or goldleaf pen. Really nice finishing touch. extra fine sandpaper for any excess, then polish out

 

[Bryan Prindle]

Very nice, You can see you put a lot of work into the clock.

 

[Walesey]

Thanks Bryan!

Cheers
Walesey