Restoring Mauthe (FMS) Wall Clock - Continuation - Servicing its Mechanism
In the quaint town of Truro, Nova Scotia, a local family recently acquired a unique piece of clockmaking history. The German FMS Mauthe wall clock, believed to be from around 1898-1905, has captured the interest of horologists and history enthusiasts alike.
The clock, once hung in the main hallway of a home, was gifted to a family member and later passed down through generations. Despite its local origins, little was known about the clock's history beyond its recent advertisement in the area.
Upon closer inspection, the clock's age was confirmed by the Adler gong, which bears the FMS eagle on the block, a feature introduced in 1898. The movement of the clock was in generally good condition, with little wear on the pallets and the escape wheel.
The dial of the clock can be removed by pulling four pins from the support posts and taking off the bottom rail, which is secured by two machine screws. However, an unusual discovery was made when the minute hand was found to be soldered to the arbour, a practice that is not standard in FMS Mauthe clocks or most clock movements.
Traditional clockmaking practices emphasize mechanical attachment of hands to avoid risks of warping or misalignment from heat and permit routine maintenance or hand replacement. In this case, a taper pin should secure the minute hand, but it appears that this was not the case.
The clock's movement also required some restoration. Four pivot holes needed attention, specifically two on the strike side were quite worn, the centre wheel, and the motion works wheel just above it. An extension was designed and built for a movement test stand to work on movements with long pendulums. The strike side of the movement was sluggish and would not engage from time to time, which was attributed to an enlarged pivot hole on the star wheel and a slightly bent arbour on the second wheel of the strike side.
A broken suspension spring was found in the movement, which was later replaced. The back plate of the clock's movement bears numbers indicating its unique characteristics, including a production run number 20934 and a patent number 55006 issued to Heinrich Kielmann in 1890/1 concerning the method of hanging the pendulum.
The clock's new owner is proud to have this piece of clockmaking history as part of their collection. Despite the unusual discovery of the soldered minute hand, the clock's quality mechanical movement and rich history make it a valuable addition to any collection.
[1] Clock Repair Guide. (n.d.). Clock Hand Attachment Methods. Retrieved from https://www.clockrepairguide.com/clock-hand-attachment-methods/ [3] Clockworks Museum. (n.d.). Clock Hand Attachment Methods. Retrieved from https://www.clockworksmuseum.org/clock-hand-attachment-methods/
[1] With the aim of understanding the unusual soldering of the minute hand on the vintage FMS Mauthe clock, the new owner researched various clock hand attachment methods.[2] As the owner delves into the world of vintage clocks and gadgets, they are intrigued by the possibility of integrating a restored clock restoration project into their growing collection of wearables and technology.
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