While winter resists to move on quickly, and the grass in the fields, gardens and other green areas is dormant, what a better way to kill time (until spring comes) than to open up an antique mantel clock, disassemble it, investigate it and hopefully put it back together again. Before I continue I should say than I am not a horologist and certainly no expert in clock repairing, but I like discovering why a clock is not working. You would be surprised how many times simply looking at the movement (the moving parts and pieces inside) helps you identify what the problem is. And that is already a lot.

It is true that scythes and mantle clocks have nothing in common. However keeping good timing helps even when mowing!

This Sessions mantle clock was my first one. It was filthy inside and outside, and I observed that the movement—except for the missing pendulum—was complete. There was no sign of a big problem. So I got a pendulum. It ran for a few minutes and stopped. But all it needed was a small adjustment, and a lot of patience, Finally it is running with the precision expected from a clock.

Here is an ongoing bigger project. I have the case, the face and a few other parts. Now I just need to find the remaining missing parts and put it together in the next few weeks (or months)

This nice Gilbert also needed a few minor adjustments and now keeps the time very well, but it chimes the way it wants and as many times it wants. and other times it chimes and don’t stop until it runs out of wind.

So I will disassemble it and try my best to put it back into working order.

If you have pets, sometimes is a good idea to close the toilet lid!