Expert: Michael Radi - 7/24/2010

Question
QUESTION: My mother-in-law recently passed away at 93 years old, and left me her beautiful wooden wall clock and a bag containing the pendulum on its rod and a small brass tool, sort of like a reverse allen key with two tiny bars for turning.  I remember the clock having a working pendulum years ago, but there appears to be no way now to attach it.  The top of the pendulum rod has a rolled edge that looks as if it could hook over something.  Obviously some parts must be missing, but I have no idea what.
I can't find any brand on the clock.  On the face, it says "Quartz" and "Made in England".  The plastic working case on the back takes one C battery, and has "Kienzle" and a sticker that says "Metamec Quartz".  It keeps perfect time.
Any idea how I might attach the pendulum so it will swing?

ANSWER: It's possible that the clock movement was replaced with one that does not have a feature for driving the pendulum. If you sent me a photo of the back of the clock movement I could tell you for sure.
Quartz movements that drive a pendulum have a swinging arm that comes down the back and is driven by an electro-magnet that would be part of the movement near the bottom of it.
If someone put a non-pendulum movement in that clock it would be quite easy to purchase and install a new movement that can drive a pendulum. The movements are $10.95 + shipping. You might have to replace the hands too but there is a large selection of hands for quartz movements available.
Michael
www.norkro.com
clock parts and repair

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

QUESTION: Okay, here's the final shot so you can see the plastic parts that stick out on the top and one side of the workings, and don't seem to have any function at the moment.
Let me know what you think.
Thanks again,
Terry

Answer
I suppose there is a possibility that the movement once had a pendulum hanger and that there is an electro magnetic coil inside the case below the battery but I'm having a really hard time figuring out where the swinging arm would have been. In any case if you want the pendulum to work you will need to replace the movement. You will probably need to get new hands too. German movements, like yours, used a different mounting hole size for the hands.
If you want to get a new movement and hands this is a link to where you can start:
http://www.norkro.com/webpages/quartz2.htm
The hands are here:
http://www.norkro.com/store/index.php?main_page=index%26cPath=3_137
Let me know if you need more help.
Michael