Restoring the Wall Clock at Mauthe's (FMS): Phase II - Tending to the Clock's Mechanism

Restoring the Wall Clock at Mauthe's (FMS): Phase II - Tending to the Clock's Mechanism

In a quaint local shop, a 100-year-old German FMS Mauthe wall clock, a relic from the past, has embarked on a new journey of restoration. The clock, purchased over a century ago, now stands as a testament to the craftsmanship of its era.

Upon initial inspection, the movement of the clock was found to be in generally good condition, despite not having been serviced for some time. However, several adjustments were necessary to ensure its proper functioning. The most critical of these was the positioning of the stop wheel, which plays a crucial role in the strike mechanism.

The reassembly of the movement was straightforward, with most adjustments to the strike side occurring outside the plates. A new bushing (#7 Bergeon at 0.80 mm) was used to replace the enlarged pivot hole discovered during the process.

Unfortunately, a broken suspension spring was found in the clock movement. These springs, which weaken with age, are often replaced by clockmakers to maintain the clock's performance. The replacement spring was ordered from a supplier.

The back plate of the clock bears several numbers, each holding a piece of its history. The number 20934, for instance, refers to a production run, although the exact date assigned to that number remains unknown. On the other hand, the number 55006 is a patent number issued to Heinrich Kielmann in 1890/1, concerning the method of hanging the pendulum. The back plate also has the number 105, which represents the number of beats per minute.

One of the most intriguing discoveries was a slightly bent arbour on the second wheel of the strike side. This was straightened out using a hollowed punch tool. Interestingly, the minute hand of the clock was soldered to the arbour, a practice less common in clock repairs, particularly for German FMS Mauthe wall clocks. This method, while historically accurate, presents challenges in terms of adjustability, flexibility, durability, and ease of repair.

The clock's pendulum rod measures 42 centimetres, as indicated by the number engraved on the back plate. The movement test stand was extended to accommodate the long pendulum, a necessary adjustment for the clock's restoration process.

Four pivot holes needed some degree of attention, specifically two on the strike side and two others on the centre wheel and the motion works wheel. After a thorough cleaning and servicing, the movement is now running well.

The Adler gong on the clock has the FMS eagle on the block, a symbol that was placed on gongs going forward in 1898. This suggests that the clock is from about 1898 - 1905. As the restoration process nears completion, this centennial clock continues to reveal its secrets, offering a glimpse into a bygone era.

During the restoration process, a replacement suspension spring was ordered for the broken one found in the clock movement. Similarly, data-and-cloud-computing technologies could be employed to track the progress of the restoration of vintage clocks like the FMS Mauthe wall clock, providing a digital record of its journey.

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