German What is Missing?

[jont23]

Hello all. I am a complete newb to all things horological and am glad to have found your website. I have a vintage Junghans alarm clock movement and pendulum. Something is missing! I cannot seem to track down anything about this particular movement. Does anyone know anything about this. I have attached some photos I have taken, and a couple from a website. I am not sure if the pendulum is the correct one. I am renovating the case which is why the movement is removed, but it does seem to work although I have let down the mainspring whilst I tinker with it.

 

[new2clocks]

Hello all. I am a complete newb to all things horological and am glad to have found your website. I have a vintage Junghans alarm clock movement and pendulum. Something is missing! I cannot seem to track down anything about this particular movement. Does anyone know anything about this. I have attached some photos I have taken, and a couple from a website. I am not sure if the pendulum is the correct one. I am renovating the case which is why the movement is removed, but it does seem to work although I have let down the mainspring whilst I tinker with it.

View attachment 744586 View attachment 744592 View attachment 744593 View attachment 744594 View attachment 744595 View attachment 744596

Welcome to the forum.

I have attached some photos I have taken, and a couple from a website.

It would be prudent to show us pictures of your clock only to avoid confusion.

Regards.

 

[jont23]

Welcome to the forum.



It would be prudent to show us pictures of your clock only to avoid confusion.

Regards.

Ok, good point. They are all my pictures except for the case and the movement mounted in the case.

 

[new2clocks]

I have a vintage Junghans alarm clock movement

Your Junghans movement is far from 'vintage'.

The five-pointed star with 'J.' trademark was registered in 1888 and was in use until the next Junghans trademark, which was registered in 1890.

There is some evidence that shows your trademark was used prior to its 1888 registration - possibly as early as 1881.

Regards.

 

[JTD]

Your Junghans movement is far from 'vintage'.

Just to clarify: your clock, which seems to be over 100 years old, would qualify as 'antique'. 'Vintage' is usually used to describe newer items.

JTD

 

[Burkhard Rasch]

it is missing the suspension spring and rod. This Junghans clock is built like contemporary american clocks and I´m pretty sure You can use an american type of suspension spring. See that You get one from the usual suppliers like Timesavers etc. The correct length has to be found by try and error. I wonder wether the pendulum depicted in Your 3rd pic realy belongs to that clock..?? HTH
Burkhard

 

[Richard.W]

Burkhard brings up some interesting points.

I'd use a Timesavers #18913 suspension rod/spring assy, and a Timesavers #10237 adjustable bob. The pendulum you have is proabably not correct, but with the lower glass painted over the bob won't be seen anyway. The 18913 will give you 12 tries to get the length right.

Hope this helps.

 

[jont23]

Your Junghans movement is far from 'vintage'.

The five-pointed star with 'J.' trademark was registered in 1888 and was in use until the next Junghans trademark, which was registered in 1890.

There is some evidence that shows your trademark was used prior to its 1888 registration - possibly as early as 1881.

Regards.

Thanks very much for your reply. I had not realised that the movement was so old! Very interesting info.

 

[jont23]

Just to clarify: your clock, which seems to be over 100 years old, would qualify as 'antique'. 'Vintage' is usually used to describe newer items.

JTD

Thanks for this. I will remember the difference between 'vintage' and 'antique'.

 

[jont23]

it is missing the suspension spring and rod. This Junghans clock is built like contemporary american clocks and I´m pretty sure You can use an american type of suspension spring. See that You get one from the usual suppliers like Timesavers etc. The correct length has to be found by try and error. I wonder wether the pendulum depicted in Your 3rd pic realy belongs to that clock..?? HTH
Burkhard

Good question! The pendulum came with it. Of all the movements that I have looked at on Google images, I cannot find a good photo of the movement as it should be. Apart from the missing items it seems in working order, as it does try to tick if wound. I will investigate Timesavers.

 

[jont23]

Burkhard brings up some interesting points.

I'd use a Timesavers #18913 suspension rod/spring assy, and a Timesavers #10237 adjustable bob. The pendulum you have is proabably not correct, but with the lower glass painted over the bob won't be seen anyway. The 18913 will give you 12 tries to get the length right.

Hope this helps.

This certainly will help. Thanks very much for the info.

 

[EscapeWheel]

Of all the movements that I have looked at on Google images, I cannot find a good photo of the movement as it should be.

Post #1 here has a pretty good picture of a movement that looks like yours.

Gilbert Junghans, the Other Brother | NAWCC Forums

Is that a crying baby on the glass?

 

[jont23]

Post #1 here has a pretty good picture of a movement that looks like yours.

Gilbert Junghans, the Other Brother | NAWCC Forums

Is that a crying baby on the glass?

That's great, thanks! I have searched for ages trying to find pics!

 

[jont23]

That's great, thanks! I have searched for ages trying to find pics!

I have now cleaned the movement and found a new pendulum leader and pendulum. The clock only ticks now when the movement is mounted off level. Have I got the right leader? I cannot see how to fit it any differently. I have tried it both ways around and different lengths. Anyone any ideas? Pics enclosed.

 

[EscapeWheel]

If you go through this how-to you might get it working. "Adjusting the Crutch" is probably what you need to do.

Beat Setting 101 | NAWCC Forums

Your movement looks great!

 

[jont23]

Thanks very much for this. Very interesting info. The clock is ticking nicely now (the right way up)! I took the courage to dismantle the movement to clean it, and managed to put it back together again! My next task is to fix the hands back on and figure out how to set the alarm.

 

[JTD]

My next task is to fix the hands back on and figure out how to set the alarm.

To set the alarm, turn the alarm-setting disc so that the hour you want the alarm to go off is lined up with the 'tail' of the hour hand. If you look at the first photo you posted you will see that the alarm would have gone off at 10 o'clock (the 10 on the disc is lined up with the back end of the hour hand).

Just in case you don't know, these alarms are very loud and you can't turn them off, they will only stop when their spring winds down. For this reason, many people don't wind the alarm fully.

JTD

 

[Willie X]

You may want to cut a bit off the top of the suspension spring (about 3/16) and also shorten the suspension rod (at the bottom hook) about 1/4".

Then lower the bob to get a good rate. This may give you a little better pendulum action. And your pendulum bail will look better.

I'm assuming it's keeping time in the last photo?

Willie X

 

[jont23]

You may want to cut a bit off the top of the suspension spring (about 3/16) and also shorten the suspension rod (at the bottom hook) about 1/4".

Then lower the bob to get a good rate. This may give you a little better pendulum action. And your pendulum bail will look better.

I'm assuming it's keeping time in the last photo?

Willie X

Thanks for the info. I will look into this.

 

[jont23]

To set the alarm, turn the alarm-setting disc so that the hour you want the alarm to go off is lined up with the 'tail' of the hour hand. If you look at the first photo you posted you will see that the alarm would have gone off at 10 o'clock (the 10 on the disc is lined up with the back end of the hour hand).

Just in case you don't know, these alarms are very loud and you can't turn them off, they will only stop when their spring winds down. For this reason, many people don't wind the alarm fully.

JTD

Yes, you are right about the volume of the alarm! I have taken the bell out whilst I am working on the clock as it kept going off! Unfortunately the alarm setting disc is damaged and I not sure if it will work properly until I find a way to fix it. Thanks for the info as to how to set it.