Seth Thomas Banjo clock repair help

[Don McD]

Hi,
First post. I'm really a watch guy, but currently have a clock problem.

My wife has a Seth Thomas banjo clock (4811) that has stopped running. She took it to a clock shop and they said "$3000 to fix it." ?
they're clearly not interested in working on this clock.

It has a 200-005 movement. I thought I might be able to buy a replacement movement but Clockworks doesn't have anything in the 200 series.

Can anyone help me with a source for a replacement movement? I worry that none is available as I'd expect the repair shop would have proposed this as an alternative to repair otherwise.

I could put a quartz movement in it...but nobody wants to hear about that indignity.

DonMcD

 

[bruce linde]

no idea what a Seth Thomas banjo clock (4811) is, or what a 200-005 movement looks like... but that is a ridiculous price... i'd do it for a not-to-exceed $2k.

in the meantime... photos of clock and movement would help. while your best bet for a replacement movement is probably ebay, there are lots of qualified professionals who hang out in this forum who you could send it to.

the question becomes: what's it worth to you? having a pro look at is probably going to cost a least $100-200 ... which might be more than it's worth.

pardon my ignorance about this movement, but if it's mechanical it can be fixed. if it's electro-mechanical, it can probably be fixed.

photos would help inform the discussion....

 

[Don McD]

no idea what a Seth Thomas banjo clock (4811) is, or what a 200-005 movement looks like... but that is a ridiculous price... i'd do it for a not-to-exceed $2k.

in the meantime... photos of clock and movement would help. while your best bet for a replacement movement is probably ebay, there are lots of qualified professionals who hang out in this forum who you could send it to.

the question becomes: what's it worth to you? having a pro look at is probably going to cost a least $100-200 ... which might be more than it's worth.

pardon my ignorance about this movement, but if it's mechanical it can be fixed. if it's electro-mechanical, it can probably be fixed.

photos would help inform the discussion....

Of course $3k is absurd. Seems like a FU no-bid. Don't know why he didn't just say he wasn't interested in doing it.
I am not averse to paying a fee hundred bucks even if that exceeds the objective value of the clock. I believe in maintaining things instead of discarding and replacing.

The 4811 notation indicates that the clock was manufactured November 1948. The 200-005 is standard Seth Thomas notation.

Don

 

[shutterbug]

Check around for a different repairman. A restoration of the movement should not exceed three figures, and should be in the lower half of them.

 

[R. Croswell]

It has a 200-005 movement......

DonMcD

Can you check that number again. Are you sure it isn't 205-000? Some pictures of the movement and the clock should help. Most clocks that stop running can be repaired for much less than $3000 without the need to replace the movement. For clocks that have movements that are still being produced a new movement may be less expensive than repairing an old movement.

RC

 

[EscapeWheel]

This clock is discussed here:

ST banjo age question | NAWCC Forums

Comment #10 shows the S.T. A200-005 movement.

 

[R. Croswell]

This clock is discussed here:

ST banjo age question | NAWCC Forums

Comment #10 shows the S.T. A200-005 movement.

Yea, that was 9 years ago, I'm afraid my memory now closer to 9 days. Anyways, here are pictures of that movement. The suspension spring hangs from the bracket at the top and the long leader wire puts the pendulum about where it is here.

RC

 

[Don McD]

Yea, that was 9 years ago, I'm afraid my memory now closer to 9 days. Anyways, here are pictures of that movement. The suspension spring hangs from the bracket at the top and the long leader wire puts the pendulum about where it is here.

RC

View attachment 633099 View attachment 633100 View attachment 633101

That's the clock alright with one odd exception; the pendulum door is hinged on the left on my clock. Seems odd that this wasn't standardized. Is the lower number a date code (same format as on the label on the back of the case?). The number on my movement is about six months earlier than the case code which would make sense.

My searching did not reveal any replacement movement available. My wife is taking the clock to another shop next week. We've done business with them before. Just seems the first guy my wife went to (much closer to home) just wasn't interested in doing the work.

Thanks for the info!

 

[R. Croswell]

If the movement is all there it should be able to be rebuilt. This one is a little unusual but shouldn't be an problem. Not uncommon for a case and movement to have slightly different dates. Check for screw holes for the door hinge on the other side. Maybe the holes got sloppy and someone hinged the other side? Maybe someone else has noticed the same thing.

 

[Don McD]

My wife took the clock to our guy in Wayland, MA yesterday. He estimated $150 for repair. Much more in line with expectation. So I won't be looking for a replacement movement after all.

He was aware of the first guys who quoted the batshit-crazy price. He says they do that all the time and some people just pay without questioning...