Refurbishing a Waterbury York parlour clock's non-working strike mechanism with innovative solutions
In the spring of 2019, a 1900 Waterbury York parlour clock, a charming yet neglected piece, found a new home at auction. The clock, with its intricate design and vintage charm, was an inexpensive purchase, but it came with numerous issues that required a meticulous repair.
The clock's movement had suffered from frequent repairs, some professional but others amateur, as evidenced by well-worn pillar screws. The strike side was initially non-functioning, and the time side had a broken mainspring cowl, repaired teeth, a replacement time side mainspring with a new catch, punch marks to close the pivot holes, and overall filth.
The repair process began with careful disassembly of the movement, allowing for a thorough inspection of each component. Common issues with the strike side of Waterbury York parlour clocks often include misaligned or bent strike levers or racks, worn or dirty pallets and pinions, weak or broken strike springs, issues with the rack and snail, and dirty or gummed-up pivot holes and bushings.
In this particular case, the levers on the movement were bent multiple times, making it challenging to determine their correct positions. The locking lever and the stop wheel needed adjustment for the clock to strike. Persistence was key in repairing the Waterbury York, as the bent levers required careful straightening to ensure proper functioning.
A step-by-step approach was taken, starting with cleaning all moving parts with appropriate clock cleaning solutions. Worn pivots or bushings were replaced to reduce friction, and the strike rack and snail alignment was checked and reset to ensure accurate counting. Weak mainsprings or damaged components of the strike train were replaced, and the mechanism was adjusted and properly lubricated with clock oils.
Safety precautions were taken, such as using C-clamps to restrain the mainsprings during adjustment. An eighth of a turn adjustment was made to the stop wheel, and the locking lever was bent down slightly to ensure the pin caught the lever. After several adjustments, the clock started to strike, which was considered a victory.
The dial had to be repositioned due to the crutch loop being in contact with the back of the dial, causing the clock to stop. The dial was carefully adjusted, and the clock now keeps good time.
Steven Conover's book, "Striking Clock Repair Guide," was a great help in repairing the Waterbury York, providing valuable insights and guidance throughout the process. For those seeking highly specific guidance for Waterbury York parlour clocks, antique clock repair forums, specialized horology books for Waterbury clocks, or clockmaker expertise should be consulted for detailed repair manuals or advice.
Today, the restored Waterbury York parlour clock is an attractive piece, ticking away with the rhythm of time, a testament to the patience, skill, and dedication required to bring a neglected timepiece back to life.
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