Possibly ready:

[ralberto2001]

Hey everyone! I am still working on Gilbert clock! Last I posted it was under topic mainspring. Well I started a new one because it seems like that one is getting long.

Any way! I got the parts as clean as I could get them! Do you all think I should get a wire buffer on my lathe to them?
Next question: I noticed that some pivots had been bushed.
If I have to rebush those do I knock those bushings out and start over,or do I team out the bushings?
Next Question: the winding arbor bushings, what kind of bushings are those? They look different!
As far as the parts and plates, should I call that patina! LoL!

[ralberto2001]

Hey everyone ignore the picture with the main spring retaining rings in it.
That was one of the dirty pictures. Some how it got in there.
Thanks Richard.

[bernie weishapl]

Any way! I got the parts as clean as I could get them! Do you all think I should get a wire buffer on my lathe to them?

I would say it came out well. I would never use a brass or any other brush on the plates unless you don’t care about the antique value.

Next question: I noticed that some pivots had been bushed.
If I have to rebush those do I knock those bushings out and start over,or do I team out the bushings?

Next Question: the winding arbor bushings, what kind of bushings are those? They look different!

Most times I just push the old ones out with new ones.

As far as the parts and plates, should I call that patina! LoL!

Yes patina is what I call it and head down the road.

[chris mabbott]

Richard, I know Bernie is going to laugh at this but maan , I would clean that up like a mirror buddy, it would take me a week though
Whereas I wouldn’t use a wire wheel, but rather a brass polish or a compound, then I would use a liquid sealant, I think it’s called curators something or other, which retards the oxidation that is lovingly called patina 😆

Brass was once called…. “Poor mans gold” because a high grade of brass can imitate the look of gold when it’s shiny.
I perform this magic on brass/gilded pocket watch movements. The nice thing is that after a short time it will have the aged look again. Don’t pay much attention to me though, I have a condition known as shine disorder 😆

[ralberto2001]

Hey Bernie, thanks as usual for the advise!
I would sure love it to hold it’s antique value for sure
We’ll on to the next step,I do know that before I start examining the parts
I have already seen gears with bent arbors, but it will be fun doing this all.
Oh also, in the bottom picture there is a round pop on plate that
goes on the front of the clock face and has numbers on it like a clock, what is that called
and should I buy another because that would be seen on the face of clock?

And Chris that really is funny! I actually had a dream about one day making a clock
Gears and plates and all out of a mirror
Anyway, thanks everyone, Richard.

[gerene]

@Ralberto2001 wrote:

Hey Bernie, thanks as usual for the advise!
I would sure love it to hold it’s antique value for sure
We’ll on to the next step,I do know that before I start examining the parts
I have already seen gears with bent arbors, but it will be fun doing this all.
Oh also, in the bottom picture there is a round pop on plate that
goes on the front of the clock face and has numbers on it like a clock, what is that called
and should I buy another because that would be seen on the face of clock?

And Chris that really is funny! I actually had a dream about one day making a clock
Gears and plates and all out of a mirror
Anyway, thanks everyone, Richard.

I don’t know for sure because I am not familiar with this movement, but if that “pop on” part sits on the arbor for the hour hand it is most probably to set the alarm function. I would not get a new one if it is not broken but just clean it up very well and make it shine .
As for the question should all plates etc be shining, I also try to get them to look “new” but that does not add anything to the functioning of the movement, opinions vary on this matter. Maybe for real antiques (like a few hundred years old) it would be a different story, but I do not get those in my humble workshop very often . Those mostly handmade movements require an in depth knowledge of restauration techniques. For the movements I work on, which are most of the time (semi) mass produced, I am with Chris and like to get them “as new” again. But then I do this as a hobby and do not try to make money with it, so time is not an issue.

Jan

[ralberto2001]

Thank you! Jan for the advise. Richard

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