Urgos 380 weights & pendulum length

[ManFromAbora]

Several years ago I acquired a 3 train German grandfather clock that had an Urgos movement in it. Pretty sure it’s a marriage of movement in the case as holes don’t really line up on seat board. Now that I’m getting my schedule cleared up I’m thinking of tackling this one. It has a pendulum but I think it was just stuck in it. No weights. As I am unable to find this particular model number (380) I’m hoping someone here can provide some information about what the weights should weigh. No pendulum length. (I’ve read that included the complete length including suspension spring.)

 

[Jeff T]

I would put about 41/2-5 pounds on the the time and strike and 61/2-7 on the chime and see if it goes. if you have pendulum just put it on and see what kind of rate you get. no need to buy weights till finding out what it needs if you dont have any, just use soup cans nuts and bolts whatever to get the weight in a sack or something and hang it on the chain

 

[Willie X]

Most take more weight than Jeff mentions but I like that as a starting point. Look up 'overswung', you need some of that, but not to much.

There is about a 98% chance your clock is a 'seconds beater'. The length will be whatever it takes to beat 60 seconds per minute.

Willie X

 

[Dick Feldman]

That style clock/movement normally takes a fairly large diameter weight and normally takes a relatively heavy weight. That should allow a fairly wide range of diameter on the weight shells.
There is a simple and fool proof method to determine the minimum weight requirement for a movement.
Use a fisherman or similar spring type scale by anchoring the bottom end of the scale to something stable (like a hook at the bottom of the case) and attaching the other end of the scale to the drive end of the clock chain/cable, etc. Wind the clock till the scale is stretched showing a value above what you would expect the clock movement to need. Then run the clock on the energy stored in the scale. When the clock stops, the weight shown on the scale will be the minimum weight the movement will run with. Add 25-40% of that value for a workable weight value.
As Willie has suggested, the pendulums on these clocks are many times seconds pendulums. Consult The Modern Clock by Ward Goodrich for an approximate length. In inches, I think that should be near 39 inches.
Unfortunately, missing weights and missing pendulum will likely not be the cause the clock stopped running or will not run. Those things happen after the clock has been discarded/abandoned, etc. because of wear in the movement.
Best,
Dick

 

[shutterbug]

I'll just add to Dicks suggestion that the movement has to be in good shape. Otherwise, the measurement will be skewed by wear in the movement.