You are here:

Clocks, Watches/Hermle Mantle Clock

Advertisement

Expert: - 1/9/2010


Question
I bought this clock at a flea market and was told that it was over 100 years old.  It is suppose to be a German clock.  I looked in the inside and all I could find was a marking of 12 CM with a line below it and then 196 underneath.  I do not see an imprint of Germany on it.  So I'm in doubt.  It does say Hermle on the face piece. Please advice.  

Answer
Abel, the only pendulum lengths I could find for Hermle in that range were 11cm and 15cm.  I'm not sure Hermle made a 12cm, but I will do some more research.  I have read that Franz Hermle built his first clock about a hundred years ago and founded the Franz Hermle clock company in 1922.  The 12cm is the theoretical length of the pendulum and the 196 is probably the number of beats per minute.  If you can send a clear digital photo of the back of the movement, I might be able to better identify it.  My shop email address is below.

John Newman
THE VILLAGE CLOCKSMITH
Old Prattvillage
Prattville, Alabama
klokdok@juno.com

(Due to the number of Allexperts questions and
the workload I have at my clock shop, I regret
that I cannot answer personal email questions on a timely basis
other than Allexperts follow ups.)

Clocks, Watches

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

John Newman

Expertise

As much as I would like to offer values of clocks, I am not a certified appraiser and will not venture into giving an unresearched guess. There is very little published information on what I consider to be the value of "modern production clocks". Considerations are what the clock originally sold for, the condition of the case and movement, and particularly the area in which you live, the demand and the economy. ALSO, WATCHES ARE NOT MY FIELD. However, I can advise the clock owner on proper maintenance of a clock to keep it running, small corrections and adjustments and how to move a clock without damaging it. I can also advise on obtaining parts for clocks. It helps if you can send any information on the clock movement which is usually found on the back plate of the movement. I have been a clockmaker for about 35 years and was plant engineer in the mid 90's and later operations and engineering consultant at Emperor Clock Company in Fairhope, Alabama. I now have my own clock shop.

Experience

One of my greatest accomplishments was traveling to China to assist a clock factory in building clocks to the standards which we required. With the proper specifications and quality control, some beautiful clock cases were built. The factory people from the wood carvers to the plant manager were very congenial, friendly and I left a lot of wonderful friends when I returned from my trips.

Organizations
Chamber of Commerce Small Business Committee

Publications
Horological Times, a publication of the American Watch and Clockmakers Instute. Collaberated column author, with Photos and ideas for clock movement conversion article.

Education/Credentials
Associate of Science Mechanical Engineering Technology Emperor Introductory Clock Repair (Eventually taught a portion of the class after becoming employee)

Awards and Honors
Small Business of the Quarter (Prattville, Alabama) Leadership Class of 2009 (Autauga County, Alabama)

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.