FRENCH CLOCKS:
Most french clocks are fine examples of extremely well made precision
instruments. They usually have tapered pivots made of very hard steel. In fact , almost
all of the steel in a typical french clock is very hard and all the pivots are highly
polished. The mainspring barrels in a french clock
certain nothing moves when you do (except the set screw , of course!) . Be absolutely
certain that the hour tube still has endshake after this cam is secured. Now move
your attention to the back plate. There is a cam friction fit on the back of the
centerpost that needs to push the hammer lift assembly out (via the swivel lever
on the back plate) far enough to clear the indexing pin so the hammer lift assembly
is in position to lift the hammers that will sound the quarter hour chime after the trip
lever releases. On the hour this cam must just be starting to lift the swivel lever in
order for the hammer lift assembly to be in the correct position when the quarter
hour chime starts. This mechanism can take as long a 1 and a quarter hours to self
corr
arbors must not be switched ; they will not fit ; they are custom fit to the barrel.
The arbors are tapered and this should not be changed.When rebushing these clocks ;
do not change the pivots, leave them tapered; and ream the bushings so that they fit
the tapered pivots.
The dials on most french clocks are ceramic and the numbers are fired on
in other words , the dials are painted , then fired. The numbers that are fired on will
not come off. However. some french clocks have artwork or printing that was put
on after the dial was made. BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL AND NEVER TOUCH
THE NAMES THAT ARE ON THESE DIALS. THEY WILL EASILY RUB OFF
WITH THE SLIGHTEST TOUCH.
French clocks that have a rack and snail system must have the rack set
exactly at the apex of the 12 o’clock position. PICTURE. If they are not set this
way , they will be off at 12, 9 or 1 and will bind up on the strike. The snails are
usually smooth , but often it will be possible to see where the rack has been dropping
by looking for little indentations where the rack has been hitting for many years.
Many french clocks have long straps that hold the mechanism in the
large hole in the front by fastening through the back to the door that is on the back.
There are usually two holes in the side of the back door that the screws fit through
to fasten to the straps . Be careful : do not tighten them too tight ; particularly if
the case is ceramic. The case may crack. Also the straps may have slightly worn
threads and tightening them too tight will strip the threads , and then you will have a
major problem .On the french clocks with an alarm; do not turn the alarm hand set When the alarm is sounding.When reassembling a french carriage clock use tape to
hold the door in place whine the rest of the clock is being assembled. To tighten a
french clock hammer ; unscrew the hammer 1 turn and carefully punch inside near
the arbor hole then re-tighten the hammer; do not remove the hammer to punch, the
hole will close too tightly.
Most french clocks facilitate the lifting of the hammers (or hammer as the case
may be ) by means of pins on the #3 wheel in the strike train. The setting of these pins
as they relate to the amount of hammer lift and gear travel before the hammer is picked
up can be frustrating to say the least. What can be done is to assemble the clock and
observe where the hammer drops as the strike gear train is moved slowly by hand
( not paying any attention to the shutoff pin on the upper wheel ( unless of course
it is shutting off in exactly the correct position); then make note of ;or mark ;the
exact tooth on the 3rd wheel that is at a predetermined reference point. Now , move the
gear train ahead till it shuts off , lift the plates carefully and separate the 3rd
wheel and the 4th wheel just enough to move the 3rd wheel so the tooth that was marked
s back exactly at its reference point ; without letting any other of the gears shift
position. This works best with the type of mechanism that has a removable plate
for the 3rd wheel , but will work with with solid plates too unless the pivot on the
3rd wheel is excessively long.
Some of the small time only carriage clocks have a centerpost that has a
square arbor through the back plate that is for setting the hands. There will usually
be an arrow to indicate which way to turn the post. Watch the hour tube on these .
It will often bind up and the clock will appear to loose power and will usually stop.
Often the bushing on the hour tube will have old oil that will not come out with
normal cleaning routines. Keep in mind that a small amount of friction here will stop
the clock.