Expert: William J Perkins - 6/15/2009

Question
I got this clock in a yard sale, everything is there except the weights. There is what appears to be monofilament line hanging from where most clocks have chains. The end of each line has a loop. The pulleys are there. The pictures I see on the web seem to shoe the line looping around the pulley some way and returning to the gearing. I don't understand how the closed loop attaches and how the line can drop down from the gearing, enter the pulley and return to the gearing. Can I find a diagram somewhere? Are the weights 3 pound? Do you have suggesting for a part number from timesavers?

Answer
You can purchase weights and shells from any of the major clock material houses.  To name a few that serve the public as well as the trade, Empire Clock Co., Merritt's Antiques, TimeSavers and Ronell Clocks.  All these firms have a presence on the Internet.  Gustav Becker produced some of the finest clocks of his time, generally speaking, they were so finely engineered that weight requirements were surprisingly minimal.  It is essential to stay within the designed range.  Excess weight will cause rapid damage.  Now as to hanging the weights, the first thing I would do is to get rid of the monofilament line and go to a braided line, also available through the materials houses.  The line, what ever it might be, is attached to the inside of the winding drum, is passed over the wheel of the pulley and hooked to the bottom of the clocks front or back plate.  Examine the plate bottoms and you will see what I am talking about.  As the line passes over the pulley wheel it goes through the yoke, (this is the device from whence the weight is hung).  To determine the designed weight requirements hook up a grandmother clock wight shell, load it with sand to 3 lbs.  Start the clock running gradually remove sand until the clock stops.  Add back a tad of sand until it runs.  Weigh the shell and you will have determined the weight requirement for that train.  You would do this performance after correcting any faults, the clock must be in perfect running order, otherwise you will end up with heavier weights than are needed.  I do commend a book to you, "THE GUSTAV BECKER STORY".  regards WPM