so is this a Kern and Link or a Kern ans Sohne

[EliTom]

This was the first 400 day clock I ever bought back in about 2007 and it has run but now stops very quickly

I guess it's not worth a great deal but I may well strip it and clean it and see how it goes

More interested in its history

The bible would indicate backplate number 1667 Kern and Link but Mervyn Passmore guides indicate a Kern and Sohne - both early 1930s

Backplate measures [FONT=arial, sans-serif]68mm x 92mm which kinda fits[/FONT]

[FONT=arial, sans-serif]no markings at all on the backplate and I cannot find anything online with a similar dial

any ideas folks?

pics below

EliTom[/FONT]

 

[Tinker Dwight]

I think that date is most likely around the right date.
These movements have very little wear because they
run so slow. It will respond well to cleaning ( especially
the main spring ). ( do not dunk-n-swish, even if that is
all you know to do. These clocks do not respond well
to that ).
It is a nice clock. Do you have a picture with the pendulum
bob?
Tinker Dwight

 

[EliTom]

thanks for the reply

Yes I though after I had posted it has no pendulum on !!!

so here it is complete

also what *is* the best way for an amateur to clean a mainspring? When i did my Hauck the other day I just cleaned it in my US cleaner then sprayed it with chainlube oil (all I could find that day) !!!

and note to self - must buy / make a let down tool !!!!

PS - don't know why my camera / this site post my pics sideways !

EliTom

 

[KurtinSA]

EliTom -

Any chance you're using an iPhone for the pictures? I understand there's orientation tag data within each digital picture and forums could read those tags and orient the picture correctly. But I understand that vBulletin software doesn't do that. Therefore, the user would need to rotate the picture before uploading. Windows has tools installed to do this. It requires taking the picture, rotating, and then saving it as another name. I'm not sure if someone is doing this right from their phone...might not have those capabilities.

Kurt

 

[Tinker Dwight]

The best way to deal with the spring is to find
someone with a spring winder. Possibly a clock club near
you. On these small barrel springs any attempt to
hand wind them will surely cone the spring and
possibly end in personal damage to one of your
body parts as well.
There is no way to clean them without removing the
spring from the barrel. Anything else is wishful thinking.
I have a home made letdown tool but being a hobbyist,
it is often misplaced. Although not recommended, I
often back, the one I'm working on, by hand ( no
finger damage yet ). I do go slow and make sure the
click is engage before removing my hand. I also
carefully inspect the click and ratchet before starting.
I'd never attempt it on some of the damaged ones
I've seen.
I use a home made winder as well.
Tinker Dwight

 

[EliTom]

yes - in the case of my Hauck I also let the mainspring down using the key by hand - very slowly ! however it was probably only wound by one turn or so anyway and the click is extrenal so easy to see that it is fully engaged.

As so too have a home made winder - a Joe Collins version, made many years ago but only tried for the first time last weekend - and it worked a treat.

the unwound spring was washed in my US cleaner - not the spring in the barrel !

EliTom

 

[John Hubby]

This was the first 400 day clock I ever bought back in about 2007 and it has run but now stops very quickly

I guess it's not worth a great deal but I may well strip it and clean it and see how it goes

More interested in its history

The bible would indicate backplate number 1667 Kern and Link but Mervyn Passmore guides indicate a Kern and Sohne - both early 1930s

Backplate measures 68mm x 92mm which kinda fits

no markings at all on the backplate and I cannot find anything online with a similar dial

any ideas folks?

pics below

EliTom

This is a Kern & Link clock made sometime between 1931 and 1937. Mervyn needs to update his info regaring Plate 1667. The complete history is that Kern & Link were formed in 1929 to purchase the 400-Day clock machinery and tools from Kienzle, which was used to start their own business. The clock designs were basically Kienzle, however the back plates were revised to eliminate the double hole punched at each suspension guard mounting position as a first step. The initial production from about 2nd half 1929 and onward through 1930 and into 1931 was identified with Kern & Link stamps. In 1932 Johann Link left the business to pursue other interests; Adolph Kern continued to operate the company as Kern & Link until 1937 when he brought his sons into the business and reorganized it to become Kern & Söhne. This history is confirmed by trade advertisements and announcements across this period. I have a 1936 K&L ad and copies of announcements while the company was still Kern & Link as well as the announcement that it had become Kern & Söhne.

From 1932 to 1937 the K&L clocks had no identification at all on the back plates. However, when Kern & Söhne was formed they immediately registered the KS logo and trademark and started stamping those on all their production. Thus, even though the back plate layouts may be the same you will find that if it the clock has no mark on the back plate it will be a K&L. Further, there were no Kern & Söhne clocks before 1937, and after that they were all identified as such.