Schatz Royal Mariner issues

[gary0003]

I have acquired a Schatz ships clock. It only runs for a few hours when fully wound. Thinking this might be a weak spring, I have dismantled it to measure the spring, then re-assembled it while it was fresh in my mind. Unfortunately the chimes now only ring in pairs with no single 1/2 hour chimes - i guess I have got something wrong! Can anyone please suggest how to rectify the chimes and what is the cause of the short running time please?

 

[shutterbug]

All clocks wear out. That is probably why yours is not running for long. The spring is probably not the issue. It almost never is. We can help you with the strike issue, but you really should focus on the wear issues first.

 

[bruce linde]

if you don't know when it was last serviced, it needs it.… That includes addressing all issues with pivots, pivot holes, arbors, teeth, levers and pallets... and cleaning… Including the mainspring

also, there is no guarantee that the main spring you measured is the original mainspring... more research on the message board would probably be appropriate.

 

[R. Croswell]

I have acquired a Schatz ships clock. It only runs for a few hours when fully wound. Thinking this might be a weak spring, I have dismantled it to measure the spring, then re-assembled it while it was fresh in my mind. Unfortunately the chimes now only ring in pairs with no single 1/2 hour chimes - i guess I have got something wrong! Can anyone please suggest how to rectify the chimes and what is the cause of the short running time please?

First we need to be sure just what you are working on. Schatz made several ships bells clocks that are quite different. Are you sure this is the Royal Mariner, it should say so on the dial if it is. Pictures are always helpful. This clock does not chime, it strikes, may as well use the correct terms. You apparently have two unrelated problems, one, the clock does not keep running. and two, it does not strike correctly. So lets consider both. I assume that it IS a Royal Mariner.

The clock does not run because the balance wheel is not getting enough power from the main spring. Shutterbug said "The spring is probably not the issue. It almost never is", and I agree. The last time I looked the usual suppliers do not list the original size spring, so, as previously stated, if the spring has been replaced it may not be correct. Even a "weak" or set spring, or an incorrectly sized spring should power the clock just fine when fully wound. Spring problems would present as a clock that does not run as many days as it is supposed to run. Your clock probably does not run because of wear to the pivot holes and accumulated dirt and old dried up oil. There is nothing that you can adjust or do that will cause this clock to run properly until it is thoroughly cleaned, and the points of wear are corrected by installing bushings in the worn pivot holes. Wear is a common problem with these. The Royal Mariner uses a jeweled platform escapement which requires one with watchmakers' skills to service.

The striking problem is because you didn't get everything exactly right when you put the clock back together. You first need to understand how this clock produces the single strike for the half-hours. It actually drops both hammers on the half-hour and at the last moment the strike detent hook moves up and catches the second hammer before it hits the bell (see picture below). The detent hook is positioned by a cam that is out of view in the picture so that it can work only on the half hour strike. The position of the gathering pallet determines the moment that the hammers drop. Your description indicates that the hammers are dropping too soon (before the detent hook is in position). You may be able to correct this slightly repositioning the gathering pallet on its shaft. Steven Conover's book, Striking Clock Repair Guide covers this clock and how to adjust it so the second hammer does not sound on the half-hour.

It is an exercise in futility to adjust the strike before you fix the problems that are keeping the clock from running.

RC

 

[Willie X]

If your movement was made to allow the winding arbors/barrels to slide out, those slots are prone to wear out at the arbor and AFAIK there is no good way to repair this point. It's not a good clock for a beginner project and usually not a good timekeeper. Willie X

 

[R. Croswell]

If your movement was made to allow the winding arbors/barrels to slide out, those slots are prone to wear out at the arbor and AFAIK there is no good way to repair this point. It's not a good clock for a beginner project and usually not a good timekeeper. Willie X

I've never seen one that wasn't made that way, I suspect they all were.

 

[Willie X]

Nope ... many later Royal Mariners have Hermle 130-071 series movements, or similar.
The 'Royal Mariner' dials are still available too, AFAIK. The lettering is now generic, not the famous Schatz script like on the older ones. Willie

 

[R. Croswell]

Nope ... many later Royal Mariners have Hermle 130-071 series movements, or similar.
The 'Royal Mariner' dials are still available too, AFAIK. The lettering is now generic, not the famous Schatz script like on the older ones. Willie

I was referring to the ones with movements made by Schatz like the picture in post #4. That's why I asked Gary for pictures so we can know just what we are working with, but he hasn't responded.

RC