Serpentine Vienna hinge replacement

[nutmegtinker]

I just acquired this Serpentine Vienna regulator. I have fallen love with the design. The case is in overall good condition with the exception of widespread delamination of veneer on the interior. More on that later. My immediate question is how to re-hang the door. Due to its compound curves, the top hinge cannot attach to the edge of the case as it would on a simple rectangle. As far as I can tell, the top hinge was a pivot type with a pin connecting the top edge of the door to the top of the case. For now, there is only a common nail acting as a pin without a hinge. It is insecure and must be addressed before the clock is used. I have attached some photos. Can anyone identify the type of hinge and where I could source it?

 

[nutmegtinker]

The mystery of the serpentine hinge continues...
I have found these couple of images which onfirm that a pivot hinge is what is needed for this. Still, the design of the hinge is invisible and remains a mystery to me. Any clues from our serpentine afficionados or cabinet makers?

 

[TimWK]

I Have the hidden hinge on one of my clocks it too had a nail on both ends. mine has four screws holding the top on and a fifth hole to remove the nail. After removing the screws I replaced the nails with a a piece of round stock that fit the hinge pin brackets in the door and case. This worked well for me.
Best Regards

 

[nutmegtinker]

Thanks for sharing that. I think I have stumbled on a similar solution as well in the meantime. I found this pivot hinge at Timesavers which is in the mail: pivot hinge
Will report back how it works.

 

[Darrmann39]

Thanks for sharing that. I think I have stumbled on a similar solution as well in the meantime. I found this pivot hinge at Timesavers which is in the mail: pivot hinge
Will report back how it works.

Not a serpentine door but just a regular rectangular case mauthe but I'm sure if you could find something like them it would work. The piece that mounts to top and bottom of door actually just taps in has little v hooks then it gets screwed to case. The little pegs stop it from opening more then 90 degrees.
Sorry for the crude drawing . Might be able to make them

 

[nutmegtinker]

Thanks for sharing this. Yes, that looks like it would do the trick. Do you know where I could find some?

 

[Darrmann39]

Thanks for sharing this. Yes, that looks like it would do the trick. Do you know where I could find some?

Only ones I've seen on all the clocks i got. And I'm not exactly sure what they would be called. I think they wouldn't be too hard to make. The part that goes in door is. like 2 v's separted to stop it from spinning on one and the other part of the 90 has the hole the screw goes thru. I didn't need washer under bottom one but it could need one to keep it from bottoming out on case. A little file work to make a notch for to stop on and a little nail for stop.
Or just be careful when opening door and don't do all the stop process.
Or figure out exactly what they are called and search eBay. That can take awhile sometimes if ever.
The bottom part the screw would screw into would look like this if you can't see it in pics good

 

[Hudson]

The mystery of the serpentine hinge continues...
I have found these couple of images which onfirm that a pivot hinge is what is needed for this. Still, the design of the hinge is invisible and remains a mystery to me. Any clues from our serpentine afficionados or cabinet makers?

View attachment 646531 View attachment 646532

I have two Serpentine Vienna Regulators. One full size and one dwarf size.
They both have a standard hinge for the lower hinge.
I have not taken the doors off, but what I think I see is a simple pin in the top of the door going into a hole in the top of the clock.

 

[Darrmann39]

I have two Serpentine Vienna Regulators. One full size and one dwarf size.
They both have a standard hinge for the lower hinge.
I have not taken the doors off, but what I think I see is a simple pin in the top of the door going into a hole in the top of the clock. View attachment 649955 View attachment 649956 View attachment 649957 View attachment 649955 View attachment 649956 View attachment 649957

The only difference i see is yours doesn't have a base for a pivot hinge to mount to yours round off. His does and did have one of some sort.

 

[nutmegtinker]

I have two Serpentine Vienna Regulators. One full size and one dwarf size.
They both have a standard hinge for the lower hinge.
I have not taken the doors off, but what I think I see is a simple pin in the top of the door going into a hole in the top of the clock. View attachment 649955 View attachment 649956 View attachment 649957 View attachment 649955 View attachment 649956 View attachment 649957

Nice clock! Your input is reassuring that I am not looking at a completely kludgey set up. Mine came assembled pretty much as you are showing except that it looked like someone had done some Bondo repair and the hole for the pin looked like it had just been gouged out, not drilled. I would still prefer having at least a plate for the pin to pass through to minimize wear.

 

[LenzkirchFan]

I'm a Lenzkirch collector and I have found a few of their models have a pin at the top. They were designed this way. If your door has a worn out and enlarged hole for the pin you can repair by drilling a hole there and inserting a small piece of dowel with a little wood glue. The dowel should be snug but not so tight that it wants to split the wood surrounding it. Then drill an appropriate size hole for the pin.

 

[nutmegtinker]

The wooden dowel seems like a good idea. In the meantime, I went ahead and installed the small brass pivot hinge to the top of the door. Unfortunately, the existing lower side hinge limited the clearance on top. It ended up rubbing a little. I think I will try plugging the hole as suggested. Thanks for all the input.