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Some apparently simple 400-day clocks show innovations when
you take a closer look. This meeting revealed a few of these on
Kienzle, Petersen and Jahresuhrenfabrik clocks. The Horolovar Guide is a
useful reference book, not always correct in the detail however.
References are made below. The Torsion Times (TT) has now reached the
stage of being a similar font of knowledge for these torsion clocks. Click on the pictures for
a larger view. |
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What's different about this Kienzle with the 65mm dial? Well it has
square columns, unusual finials, clickwork inside the plates and a "C"
suspension clamp. Backplate is like 1163 but without the word Germany
(like 1602), pendulum No 33 (1908?), suspension bracket and saddle No 15.
The crest, bracket and fast slow adjustment are all thick metal. The
base is comparable to the Kienzle examples 21 and 61 in the Guide.
From the TT we find that Kienzle operated between 1906 and 1929 and there
was swapping of pendulums with Badische. So how to date this clock?
The serial number seems quite low at 5019. This evidence leads to the
conclusion that the clock is probably pre WWI. However when was the
"C" clamp invented? Such a complicated device would have been expensive to
produce and may not have been around long. The bottom of the "C" contacts a hemispherical ball to keep
the suspension vertical even if the clock is tilted slightly. The very
top screw is adjusted to make this a light contact with the ball. The
two side screws can then lock this screw in position. The "C" can be
rotated to get the clock in beat and the side screw for the saddle tightened
to lock it in beat. This clock is missing the 2 ring suspension guards
which were screw and pin located on the back plate. |
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Now this diamond dial clock also has an internal ratchet and click.
Other unusual features are an "eccentric nut" as a triangle on the front
plate, the escape wheel is adjacent to the front plate (Appendix 59), has
cusps instead of teeth on the ratchet (Appendix 66), Has knurled nuts on the
back plate and suspension saddle, bracket 46 (Link). Backplate 1583
with no markings. So this is a Petersen who were only in business
1952- 57. But what about the round celluloid dial clock. It has
J Kaiser on the backplate, but is also a Petersen, plate 1673. Boy
this gets confusing, however, the Guide rescues us in Appendix 22,
explaining that some factories sold movements made by other factories and
this is an example. |
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The base on the Gustav Becker on the right 2 pictures has taken quite a
beating and needs some panel work. The serial number on this one is
2098894 putting it in the year 1910 according to John Hubby in the TT. |
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Lindsay Bramall's Libra XII was on display, a French countwheel striking
movement converted to a torsion pendulum. Now what's DIFFERENT about the
JUF Made in Germany serial number 134640 clock on the right? Take your time and
then scroll down to find the answer
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It has a THREE BALL pendulum, not a made up one but an original. This
is not in the Guide, but a lot aren't. Did you get it?
