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Clocks, Watches/Emperor Grandmother Clock

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Expert: - 7/27/2010


Question
face of the clock
face of the clock  
QUESTION: Same old story...moved across country with my clock and it died.  
It is an Erhard Jauch Unrefabrik Made for Emperor Clock Company.  Made in Germany.  On the left of the stamp are the numbers 77 474 and on the right 260 456.  

I am repairing the suspension spring myself.  I pick it up on one of my travels back home to California from the clocks retailer (sold the clock sometime before the 70's).  

My question is if I run into trouble...how much would it cost to replace the entire system?

Thanks for your time

ANSWER: Bethy, the suspension springs can be replaced but not repaired.  If you are replacing it and it still doesn't run, I will try to help you diagnose it.  If you have seen my previous posts on Allexperts, I have stated that these particular units had some excessive wear problems, and when they do start failing it is rather costly to restore them to full operating condition.  There are conversion kits available to replace these movements.  I have a description of the kit and what you have to do to complete the job.  However, I do not sell or discuss prices on the Allexperts Website, as it is for advice only.  I can send you some details if you will email me at my shop address below.  Good luck and let me know.  BTW, if you do need just the suspension spring I do have them.  Having been the plant engineer at Emperor Clock, I work with them and am the "unofficial" Vintage Emperor Clock Consultant.  Let me know.

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

Note:  Because of the number of Allexpert questions and follow ups,
and the excessive backlog in my shop, I regret that I can only answer
the Allexperts related questions in a timely manner.




---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Any trick for weight chain over winding.  It seems that the ends are stuck in the workings of the clock.  Somehow the weights were removed and the chain ends were wound beyond reach.  

I was thinking about retrieving the ends and megshifting an extension to the weights to jumpstart the mechanism.

or

Removing the entire insides and attempting to reconstruct and repair?

ANSWER: Bethy, if you can get up to the tab ends of the chains you can make extensions to get it going.  I make these occasionally for the chains that are up in the clock.

For each chain, cut a piece of coat hanger wire about eight inches long.  Form a small hook on each end.  Hook the wire on the tab and hang the weight from the other.  Run the clock for a bout a day and the weight will have dropped enough to unhook the wire and rehook the weight to the chain tab.  Good luck, and if you have any more questions, get back with me.

John Newman
THE VILLAGE CLOCKSMITH
Old Prattvillage
Prattville, Alabama


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Your help has been invaluable.  the clock is up and running.  

1.  what is the best thing to do to oil the clock?  
2.  what year do you think this particular model is from?

Thanks for all the expert advise.

Answer
Bethy, I have a writeup I did on troubleshooting and maintaining a clock along with some labeled photos.  If you will email me at my shop address below, I'll send you the information.  You probably have an Emperor model 120 clock and the movement is what we call the Jauch "77".  They used these movements from the 1970's until the mid 1980's, when they changed to Hermle.

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.)  

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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)

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