Expert: Martin Meyer - 12/19/2009

Question
HI MARTIN **I HAVE A *WESCLOCK BABY BEN STYLE 2 DELUXE ALARM CLOCK* WHAT INFO I KNOW ABOUT IT IS - COLOR GREEN/CRACLE FINISH- 3 1/2" TALL AND 2 1/4"DIAL - IT HAS PATN.DATE ON BACK WHAT I CAN BARELY READ OF 1927-1928-1929 IT HAS ALWAY KEEP GOOD TIME AND THE ALARM WORKS - MY PROBLEM WHEN I WOUND IT UP THIS MORNING THE WIND UP KEY WAS NOT TIGHTNING UP TO WERE IT WOULD LET IT START TICKING - I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE IT REPAIRED BUT HAVE CALLED TWO CLOCK SHOPS IN VA. AND NONE WERE OF ANY HELP - ANY HELP ON REPAIRING IT WOULD BE VERY-VERY-MUCH APPRECIATED THE CLOCK HAS BEEN IN OUR FAMILY SINCE IT WAS NEW - THANKS LEWIS-N-VA.  

Answer
Hi Lewis,

I'm not sure what you mean by "the wind up key was not tightening up". If you mean that the key is tight and won't turn any farther, then the clock is fully wound and not running for some other reason. If you mean the key turns and turns but never gets fully tight, then the mainspring is broken and needs to be replaced. If you try to wind the key and it just snaps back, then the click or clickspring (the ratchet mechanism that keeps the mainspring wound) is broken.

In any case, it is difficult finding a clockmaker who wants to work on these clocks, for a number of reasons. Mainsprings can be hard to find, and often limited to "new old stock", that is, remaining parts made quite a long time ago when such parts were still in production, but never used. These old clocks almost always have many worn out bearing holes, which must be repaired with bushings. The main plates of these clocks, which the bearing holes are in, are steel rather than brass, and so more difficult to rebush. Finally, these are strip-pallet balance wheel movements, making them more work to repair than pendulum clocks. Altogether, they add up to a labor-intensive and expense repair that will usually exceed the value of the clock.

I would recommend doing a web search for clock repair businesses that specialize in these clocks, and send the clock to one of these. Most local clockmakers will not be interested in repairing these clocks.  http://www.clockmasteronline.com