Expert: John Newman - 6/1/2010

Question
My bride has an old clock she would like "me" to look into repairing. The works are marked with a logo (JAK within a gear), Kieninger, and the numbers 94291. The works are chain driven with two weights. I was unable to find any other markings. The clock works and keeps good time.
The case is very different from the GF clocks of my experience. The top is a smooth arch. The door is one piece to the works, weights and pendulum. It is embellished with an outside corner and applied carvings. The glass is in two pieces, round for the clock face and a large beveled rectangular piece with a concave arch in the top edge that matches the arch of the clock face. The bottom of the door has a strip of applied dental molding. The bottom of the case has two reliefs, applied molding, turned ball feet in the front and a simple continuation of the case for the rear feet.
We are however missing some parts......
It appears that there were 4 hammers and 4 chimes on each side of the works.
Facing the clock, the left side is missing 2 chimes furthest in (shortest?) and furthest out (longest?). Two hammers are also missing. The right side is missing the furthest out chime and one hammer.
The hammers appear to be a gang assembly that slides onto the works with a key way and a wing screw to secure. The chimes are suspended from a block and held in place by a threaded set screw?
Do you have any info on this interesting clock? Are these types of parts available for this clock? Are they expensive?
Thanx from a hopelessly lost husband!

Answer
Andrew, It sounds like you have one of the old German clocks with a 12" round brass dial (if not let me know).  These were very popular floor clocks made from around 1915 to 1935.  The movement seats on a board that slides out of the case.  Since it has two weights, I would imagine the 4 strike hammers one one side strike in unison and then the 4 strike hammers strike on the other side resulting in a "bim-bam" strike sound.  The four/four arrangement is rather rare.  Unfortunately, these particular assemblies are not manufactured any more and purchasing individual rods to replace the broken ones is rather difficult.  I would really be best to take the clock to an experienced clockmaker and let him match and tune the rods or even replace the whole set of rods.  These are available in tuned sets, but the two sides are tricky to select for the same bim-bam sound.  The hammers would also be difficult to locate or they might have to be made.  One thing just came to mind and that is that the clock could have been manufactured with the rods and hammers being installed to achieve the good bim-bam sound.  The more I think  of it, I think that is a probability.  If the rods do have to be replaced, the arrangement is that the rods are made by casting them in a brass plug which is tapered and threaded so it will screw tightly into the cast iron chime block.  I usually have to put the assembly into a vice and us a special screwdriver to remove them.  They are in there tight.  

I think this is the way the clock was manufactured, but I could be wrong.  I can't see the clock or hear what the strike rods sound like.  As I mentioned before, take it to an experienced clockmaker and let him look at it.  If you don't know of one near you, contact me at my shop email address below and let me know the area in which you live and I'll see if there are any of my Internet Clocksmith members near you.


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.)