Grandmother Clock

[preprius]

I have a delimna,   my friend is 95 yrs old, lives on a 5 acres still drives on roads and his tractor. So he is in good shape.

He asked me about helping him find someone to fix a grandmother clock that he had not wanted to wind it since his wife died 9 yr ago.  Now he wants to run it again. It does not wind on 1 (left) of the 3 springs, middle winds but pendulum does not run more than 2min. 

I found several places but wants $1k.

I found on line that his mechanism does not have a replacement. But a new mechanism that does the same thing can be swapped out $650+ just for mechanism. 

He is not rich.  The clock was won in a raffle in the mid 1960s.  But the clock was built on 1950s.  Maker Daneker,  66,  "Mauthe" movement with 2 type of chimes.  Westminster at top of hour, and chimes every 15min.

How do I tell this guy it is not worth getting it to run again?

 

Or

If anyone here knows a better approach of how to fix it.   

I don't want do the re-work. I still have a day job.

 

 

Edited November 18, 2024 by preprius

[JTTHECLOCKMAN]

Many times when clocks like that sit for long times they need to be cleaned and oiled. It maybe just a case of that. It would be worth finding someone who works on clocks like that to at least look at it and they can tell you better. yes it will cost but it does have value along with sentimental value. If he truely is a friend you may throw in on the repair also. Money is just paper. friendships are hard to find. Can not take it with you. Just an opinion. 

[barb.j.enders]

I have the grandfather clock, that I sold to my mother-in-law, and have had it serviced at least twice now.  I was working at a clock store in the late 90's and she had always wanted one.  Each service the technician removes the movement to take to the shop to work on.  Each service runs about $500.  That is now about half the cost of what I sold it to her.   Sometimes the sentimental value is worth more.

[OCtoolguy]

I too have an old wall clock that I gave my wife for her birthday back in 75. It needs to be cleaned and oiled. I am flabbergasted at what that service will cost. It's twice what I paid for the clock or more. I'm torn as to what way to go. When Les (Rockytime) was still with us, he was going to give it a try if I had the fortitude to removed the mechanism and ship it to him. Needless to say, that never happened. I'm still hoping to find a hobbiest who might want to make a few bucks. The other problem is trust. At this point in time, I've lost all my faith in my fellow man as to their integrity. Good luck with your search.

 

[Scrappile]

You might check YouTube. Several videos on cleaning clock movements.

[JTTHECLOCKMAN]

3 hours ago, Scrappile said:

You might check YouTube. Several videos on cleaning clock movements.

There are plenty of videos. here is one. https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/relatedvideo?&q=grandmother+chime+clock+cleaning+videos&qpvt=grandmother+chime+clock+cleaning+videos&mid=B5547DF3798134E5779AB5547DF3798134E5779A&&FORM=VRDGAR

[preprius]

Thanks all.

I talked to a 2 clock shops.  

I can take the movement in to 1 of them and he will give an estimate.

I watched quite a few YouTube videos also.   It seems easy to lube.  but not dismantle. 

I might take the main spring drum out to have it serviced.   That is if the estimate is too much money.

I learned in 3rd grade that mechanical things are not my thing.

[preprius]

Update: 

I took the movement out of the wooden case. Took all of 5 mins.

Drove 1 hr to the clock fixing store. He took 3 min to check it out.  Estimate $250 3 weeks.  

So before Christmas , Joe will have his grandmother clock working. 

 

 

[Jim McDonald]

39 minutes ago, preprius said:

Update: 

I took the movement out of the wooden case. Took all of 5 mins.

Drove 1 hr to the clock fixing store. He took 3 min to check it out.  Estimate $250 3 weeks.  

So before Christmas , Joe will have his grandmother clock working. 

 

 

Wish I could give you multiple thanks and likes on this.

Merry Christmas to you and your friend.

[preprius]

History repeats ,

I broke his clock. 

I prefer electronic ones. 

Sometimes I can change batteries without breaking the the unit.

Part is on order. I will pick it up next week.

 

 

[JTTHECLOCKMAN]

15 hours ago, preprius said:

History repeats ,

I broke his clock. 

I prefer electronic ones. 

Sometimes I can change batteries without breaking the the unit.

Part is on order. I will pick it up next week.

 

 

Thanks for the update. This is why pros get the $$

[preprius]

Last update. 

I called the clock store.  He said he had the part that I broke.  He said bring the whole case in and he would fix it in hour.  I picked up Joe and the clock drove the 1 hour. Dropped off the clock.  Took Joe for steak burgers.  Picked up the clock.  Then we went another hour farther away to visit to woodcrafters.   Got back home and set the clock up leveled it.

It works, both chimes, he is happy. 

 

[Jim McDonald]

Steak burgers, Woodcrafters and a repair all in the same day. 

Sounds like a triple dip at the ice cream store.