Category Archives: Vienna Regulators

Gustav Becker Wall Clock. Two-weight. 1800’s.

Posted on March 20, 2017 | 1 comment

A two-weight Gustav Becker  wall clock with an engraved face and pendulum.

Gustav Becker Wall Clock

Gustav Becker, Two Weight. 1800’s.

Weights

The weights are replacements, but aren’t they lovely? That’s one thing about being a clock collector and repairman: you end up with a lot of extra parts. When it comes to gears and springs, that’s no big deal. Even pendulums, you can find a long draw for. But weights – Heavens to Betsy! Weights are, well – duh! – heavy!

Unusual Chime

This clock is a little unusual in that it strikes the hours on a ‘chime rod’ as opposed to a coil gong which was typically used on this type of Vienna wall clock.

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My Vienna Regulator Repair Project Clock.

Posted on February 25, 2017 | 4 comments

For this Vienna Regulator Repair project, I married these two (movement & case) up to make this clock.

My Vienna Regulator Repair Project Clock

My Vienna Regulator Project Clock

It’s my second project clock. The first was an old case with new movement. Although the case in this clock is relatively new, I think the marriage is perfect. The face size and pendulum length and swing couldn’t be better. Eight day. movement.

Vienna Regulator Collection

View the other clocks we own of this ilk:

Vienna Regulator Wall Style Clock Dachluhr Vienna Regulator A Three-Weight Vienna Regulator

Vienna Regulator. Viennese Wall Clock. Ca. 1860

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A three weight Vienna Regulator

Posted on February 19, 2017 | 1 comment

My finest Vienna Regulator.  A three weight Vienna Regulator dating from approximately 1870.

Three Weight Vienna Regulator

Three Weight Vienna Regulator

This clock has ‘Grand Sonnerie’ striking. It first chimes the quarter, then the hour. For example, at 6:30, it chimes twice on the quarter then 6 times on the hour. At 9:00, it strikes 4 times on the quarter then nine times on the hour. This feature is also known as blind man’s clock.

The three weights drive the two striking trains and the time train.

I never run this clock for more than a day because the chiming could drive me insane and all the Vienna regulators I own have a very ‘tinny’ sounding chime! Vienna regulators are some of the most beautiful clocks to collect. However, they are also the worst sounding clocks…..the ‘Grand Sonnerie’ is not so grand!!

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Two Weight Vienna Regulator

Posted on February 18, 2017 | 1 comment

A Two Weight Vienna Regulator with a second hand. Late 1800’s. As we’ve mentioned before, we are well-aware that these are not referred to as Vienna Regulators in Europe.

Two Weight Vienna Regulator

Two Weight Vienna Regulator

No markings on the movement. I don’t think the weights on this one are original and the case crown may be a replacement. I need to get around to stripping and cleaning the movement on this clock, the weight cords need to be replaced. The original material would have been made of cat gut. My cat is very nervous at the moment!!

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Vienna Regulator-style wall clock ca. 1880

Posted on January 12, 2011 | 1 comment

This is a Vienna regulator-style, unmarked German 8-day clock.

vienna regulator-style clock
It has a spring-driven movement, with fine quality gear work and machined pinions. vienna regulator-style clockUpon disassembly, I noticed that both main springs had hairline cracks at the hole or barrel end. I annealed the spring ends and cut off the defective tips and reformed new hole ends.

Mainspring Failure

I always check mainsprings for fractures such as this whenever I remove the springs. Mainspring failure is always a recipe for disaster. If a spring breaks under load it can potentially render a movement unrepairable if gears and pinions are damaged…well worth the time to perform some preventative maintenance.

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Dachluhr Vienna Regulator.

Posted on January 14, 2010 | Leave a comment

One of my finest clocks, a Dachluhr Vienna Regulator. Technically, it is a clock simply in the Dachluhr style. A regulator with dead beat escapement and maintaining power.

Jeweler's Regulator Dachluhr Vienna Regulator

Dachluhr-style Vienna Regulator

Not sure exactly what age this is, best guess is late 1800’s. I rebuilt and cleaned the movement and discovered that the maintaining power (MP) spring had failed. A previous tinkerer had fashioned a bent piece of wire as a substitute, forcing the maintaining wheel and main wheel apart. I have removed the bent wire and pinned the two wheels together temporarily while I hunt the world for a replacement MP spring. Any suggestions are welcome!

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CONCLUSION: Vienna Regulator project. Ca 1860.

Posted on January 13, 2010 | 4 comments

The more I dug into this Vienna Regulator repair project the more problems I discovered:

  • Ratchet (click) on winding barrel brokenvienna regulator repair project
  • Pallet retaining screw broken on verge
  • Winding barrel ratchet lever bent
  • Porcelain dial center retainer corroded beyond repair
  • Case required complete disassembly and rebuild.
  • Add correct weight and cable

It would be easier to list the only item not needing repair….The pendulum!!

Upon inspecting the case, I found a number of Phillips head screws had been used in prior repairs, to hold the case together along with a couple of steel braces. Also, there was an excessive amount of glue. It looked as though this clock had taken a dive off a wall at some stage in its history. The hinges were also rigged.

vienna regulator repair project

Repaired Movement

vienna regulator repair project

I have never had to disassemble a clock case to this degree before. I broke down all the parts and completed the clean-up to remove all the old glue and refinish the joints correctly then reassembled. I only had to refinish a few areas where the old finish was beyond saving. The overall result was very pleasing and the case is now back to original.

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Vienna Regulator. Viennese Wall Clock. Ca. 1860

Posted on January 6, 2010 | 2 comments

This clock is a time only Vienna Regulator (Vienna wall clock or Viennese wall clock in the U.K.)

Viennese Wall Clock Vienna Regulator

Lots of work to do on this one…way more that I thought when I purchased it.

The case needs to be reworked as sometime down the line attempts at resotration have been poorly done. The door hinges are not original, nor are they remotely similar to the originals. The joints are badly glued or screwed together… You get the picture.

The movement also had a major problem. When I inspected it, I found that the click spring was broken, not a particularly bad problem with most clocks. However, with this one, the click spring is part of the winding barrel assembly. A new click spring was not an option.

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