Clock identification

[rgmt79]

Can anyone help me identify this clock please?

18765266_10212973561683937_895427862_o.jpg (61.69 KiB) Viewed 5819 times

[Bernie Weishapl]

Could you post a couple of pictures of the movement?

[rgmt79]

ok, I have now visited the owner of the clock for a better look. He even allowed me to remove the movement. There are no markings in or on the wooden case or anywhere on the movement that I could see. The movement seems intact except the suspension spring is missing. Also, the fast/slow mechanism appears to be missing. The pendulum rod is broken at the top end. The owner believes it was damaged (probably dropped) during a relocation more that 50 yeas ago. I suspect the pendulum was not removed for transit. Some of the wooden decorative features have broken off, but the pieces have been kept. The domed glass front is also missing. For me it's a very interesting clock and would like to know if anyone can help with some idea of clock maker and age of clock. I am only posting a sample of the many photo's I took, so please ask if you would like to see any particular detail. The clock has been in the same family for at least 3 generations and they believe it was originally purchased in Prague, Czech Republic and is now located in Brno.
The clock measures: 29" H 21" W 8" D with dial 8' dia. Dial face is hand painted enamel.

[willofiam]

Hey rgmt79 please try to resize your photos to a smaller size before posting them. Thank you, William

[brianw]

Hi. The general layout of the mechanism looks very similar to the one I posted on the forum some time ago ( https://www.clockrepairtips.com/forum/v ... f=2&t=2004)
I never did find out the make of my clock, but I am pretty sure that it is German.

[rgmt79]

In response to your request William, I hope the following resized photo's are easier to view...sorry for not realising that earlier...

Richard

[rgmt79]

Thanks for your input Brian, I saw your clock and yes there are some similarities but some clear differences too. e.g. my clock has a working calendar feature with a 3rd hand on the dial...the mechanism can be seen on the front view of the movement. The closest I have come to something very similar in overall appearance is a clock made by Austrian clock maker C Doeller (o with an umlaut) from Vienna dating around 1800. Unlike your clock, there are no markings or repair notes at all. In fact it does not look as the movement has been disturbed at all and at first glance seems to be in good order except for the lack of suspension spring.

Do you have any more photo's of your movement, especially showing the silk suspension spring you refer to?

Thanks,

Richard

[brianw]

Hi Richard. I've still got the clock but it is packed away at the moment. I'm in the process of building a new workshop in my garden and all clock work has come to a halt, probably until next spring. When I get back to it I will get some more photos for you. I'm interested in the fact that your clock actually has a working calendar. I wonder if mine originally had one but someone in the past has removed that part of the mechanism. It does seem a bit pointless having a calendar hand and dial that doesn't actually do anything.

[rgmt79]

I have come to the conclusion that the clock was made in Vienna, Austria in the early 1800's at the beginning of the Biedermeier period, which began in 1815. Vienna was full of individual clockmakers at that time and many did not sign their products. The clock case is a classic Biedermeier design in a French style, but instead of gilded bronze favoured by the French clockmakers, the Austrians were not into casting bronze at the time, using gilded wood carvings instead. Anyone disagree with my conclusion?

Richard

[brianw]

Hi Richard.
Interestingly my clock is gilded carved wood so perhaps it too is Austrian. Does your clock have a pull repeat cord the same as mine?
Brian

[rgmt79]

Yes Brian, it's a full Grand Sonnerie calendar clock.

Richard