Modern Silver Junghans Dial

[arutha]

Hi all,
last year at a branch BHI auction I picked up a nice Napoleon Hat style Junghans Mantel clock, two train but with chiming. It has a modern silver dial and black transfer type numerals. The face looks almost as if it has an aluminum coating but around the number 2 there is an area about 35x10mm where the silver/aluminium has been rubbed away. Is there any way to restore this without re-doing the entire face, its just the thought of replacing all those numerals with transfers would give me nightmares for months. I dont need the touch up to look invisible, although that would be nice, but just to dull down the horrible area wich is so much darker. I will post a picture when I can find my camera
Thanks in advance for any help.
Paul.

[willofiam]

not able to help much but wonder if you found a place that re-silvers clock faces then they might be able to help out. All I know is if the face is silvered then DO NOT SCRUB just lightly wipe with soft cloth, cant wait to see the pics when you get them, I have 2 old mantle clocks with silver faces, one is the Ansonia sonia 3, the other is a Junghans mantle but have never seen another like it. William

[arutha]

I was only the second person to bid on it and got it for just £7.00!
Come on then William, I have shown you mine, now lets see yours

[Bob Tascione]

Hi Arutha,
That was a GREAT deal!!
I would be curious to know how a “touch up” with one of the many silvering kits would turn out. I’m pretty sure there would be a bit of a mismatch but it would certainly look a lot better. I’m not sure if you can alter the shade of the pastes in any way. There may be a way but I don’t know it. Maybe making your own paste would give you more control over the tint or shade. Here’s an excerpt from De Carle’s Watch & Clock Encyclopedia in the “Workshop Hints and Helps” section at the back of the book explaining how to make and apply the Silvering paste.

Grind together in a mortar 1 oz. of dry chloride of silver, 2 ozs. cream of tartar (potassium bitartrate) and 3 ozs. common salt. Add water to form a creamy, fairly thin paste.
To apply: Thoroughly and completely clean the work and do not handle the surface in any way thereafter. Dab a clean and fairly stiff brush into the paste and brush it on to the work using a circular motion. A frosted silver surface will result which should also be found to be quite uniform. Wash thoroughly in running water and dry; lacquer to prevent tarnishing and do not wrap or stand the work in or near any paper, cloth, et., other than sulfur or acid-free quality.

He also goes on to give directions on mixing compounds for a “frosted” effect.

Maybe by experimenting with the amount of ingredients added it would be possible to match your dial more closely.

Here’s a link to some silvering paste. I don’t know how well this particular paste works but should give an idea of what’s available out there. www. priorypolishes.co.uk/shop/front/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=43

If you do the job please let us know how it turns out Arutha,
Enjoy,
Bob

[willofiam]

[arutha]

This one I just sold, again a Junghans;

[arutha]

I have been speaking to a dial restoration specialist about this dial and another small HAC clock I have with a scruffy dial. You can only re-silver a dial if the base metal is brass. She said she has given up on 20th century dials of this type as they never look very good when restored. Let that be a warning to you if you ever plan to buy one of these clocks with a scruffy dial, if you cant get a replacement it will always look scruffy
I am going to try to buy some different aluminium and silver paints and see what I can do, the bit I am dreading most is applying the new transfers.

[Author]

Posts