Expert: Kenneth Saunders - 11/5/2007

Question
My friend gave me a clock and it needs some repair or a new kit.  Im just am not sure what kind it is other than an emperor grandmother.  On the back right there is a number 368352. and on the back left there is 3 seperate numbers  77   3   78.   Are these number useful.    It also says made in Germany.   Are there repair kits, it does not work at all.

Answer
no kits to repair any of these. the number by itself 77 or 78 is the unit number of the mechanism made by the Jauch company who is long out of business the number on the same line with the 3 is the year of mfg. The difference is handshaft length -- check here for coversion to a modern Hermle movement:http://www.dakotaclockworks.com/jauch-list.html       
   note about the dial mounting - but these Emperor kits have the movement mounted in frames that the dial can be screwed to after the mounting legs are removed.
   perhaps the original movement is not in that big  trouble? Remove the chime rod monting board across the back by the two bolts and after removing the pendulum and the three weights - the entire movement, dial, chains and all can be removed by taking out the several wood screws holding the flange of the wood frame in the back of the clock--then take it to a pro for a look see and a free quick estimate.