1909 Gilbert Mantel Clock Set Up for Frank #2
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- Опубликовано: 20 окт 2024
- How to set up Gilbert Mantel Clock for Frank at Perkins House Museum.
Historical Society Web site is here: www.whitmancou...
James Martin can be contacted at jamesmart55@hotmail.com or 509-868-2499
I recently inherited my great grandfather’s clock. It’s a Gilbert very similar to this. The clock hadn’t run in my lifetime, but I received it because it held happy memories of my grandparents’ house. I was told by a clock repair shop that it would cost $400 to fix it. By watching your video, I was able to get it running myself. I’ve had to adjust the running speed a couple of times, but it’s been running great for the last 12 hours! Thank you ❤ I never could have spent the $400 to fix it.
Great!
Glad I could help.
Just make sure its clean, they tend to collect dust.
Dust in between the steel pivots and the brass pivot holes will cause some wear, usually the oil starts to turn black as a sign.
@@jamesmartin5370 Should I spray compressed air into the workings? It’s bound to be dusty, but would that force dust into the clockworks?
@@andreahazen9013
Yes, it will force dust into the clockworks, dust particles stick to the soft brass and will act like sand paper on the steel pivots.
Best way is to dismantle and clean, then pivot holes are final cleaned by hand twisting peg wood through them or some similar type of wood.
While they are apart the steel pivots are polished as needed and bushings installed if needed.
Today many clock shops don't dismantle them, they just run them through an ultrasonic, lube and send them out.
Years ago when money was scarce, many owners of these soaked them in solvent, dried or compressed air then used, then lubed and put back into service.
Some people will put solvent in a syringe, modify the end to seal on each pivot hole and force solvent through each one.
I am sure you will come up with a way to preserve it and keep it operating for many years to come.
@@jamesmartin5370 maybe use a soft make up type brush?
@@andreahazen9013 That would probably work, the insides of the cases on these can gather a huge amount of dust and they too should be cleaned.
Look at the pivots where they go through the brass plates, if the oil is clear and thin its fairly clean, if the oil is blackish and thick that's a sign its time for a cleaning.
Was able to get my family's 1906 Gilbert Garcia working again after watching this video. I've worked on other older clocks but suspected this one to have a unique setup. Thanks for posting.
Glad I could help out
Holy moly that's alot of clocks! Beautifull. I love the sound of all the clocks. It's very soothing. 😁
I've had to muffle the speaker on the camera to tone the ticking down on the later videos, usually let them run for a week or two before sending them back to the customer.
@@jamesmartin5370 ahh that's cool! So you sell them? I just got into clocks and pocket watches and been buying so many and made tiktok videos of unboxings and my amateur restoring videos 😁
@@wolfrikgreen No, don't sell, just busy keeping other peoples timepieces.
@@jamesmartin5370 ahh that’s cool! Tinkering and seeing all the different types of clocks. Dream come true🙂
Beautifully done. The movement looks brand new! 🕰🤎🕰
This one is in a small town museum, I am told its wound daily and keeping good time.
*hi, thank you for this post. I found a GMC at the Habitat and fell in love with it even before I took it in for repairs! I got it back and it works only it keeps stopping and I don't have the correct key turner for it. I'm not even sure when it was built (made). How do you check when it was made is there a stamp? Brilliant clock LOVE IT!*
There is a book by Tran Duy Ly that has Gilbert clocks that might help dating it.
Many Gilbert movements post-1900 have a date code, usually a simple two digit indicator of the year in which it was made. This would give an approximate date for the clock itself. Check both front and back plates of the movement for the code - if it is there.
I actually saw a partially broken one of these in a thrift store. The bottom piece was missing, a hand was missing, and the pendulum was missing. But it chimed nicely.
Might be a good idea to go back and pick it up..
@@jamesmartin5370 They were literally selling a broken clock for $40... but they downed it to $20 but still, very high price for a broken clock
Other websites say never move a clock backwards at the minute hand, but you can move the hour hand backwards to synchronize the strike, this is the method I used on my first antique clock, it's a William L. Gilbert Clock Company movement with a 1925 engraved inscription on the Australian made case. This clearly contradicts the instructions at the end of you video. It appears to me as a beginner that the minute hand is keyed but the hour hand is just pressed onto it's arbour, would the possibility of the hour hand coming loose explain the instructions in your video. Also a fact check please, did the William L. Gilbert Clock Company change it's name to the William L. Gilbert Clock Corporation In 1934 ? If this is true then could the instructions be for a post 1934 clock ? The pendulum also appears to have an up and down knob at the top, is this a further time adjustment function along with the S-F key on the face. Thanks for your video, sorry about all the questions but I'm just beginning to learn about clocks.
Moving minute hand backwards as indicated on this design of movement to synchronize the strike is per manufactures instructions. Not sure of date publication on the instructions on the clock case.
Hour hands are friction fit on the hour wheel tube and can be moved if they are loose enough to slide on the hour wheel tube.
Sometimes they are pressed on tight, and the hour hand ends up being bent, broken or beaks free from its bush, this might be why the factory instructions discourage homeowners from moving hour hand.
Many clock companies were bought, sold, went bankrupt and during those times many name changes were made to legally separate the old company from the new one. I don't have information on this part of the history of the Gilbert company.
Yes, Pendulum adjustment knob if for further time adjustment.
hope this helps..
@@jamesmartin5370 Hey James thanks for that information, yes the penny dropped for me, moving the S-F key on the face adjusts the height of the pendulum. Thanks for you reply, John.
I thought you aren't supposed to turn the minute hand backwards? I have an 1890 Gilbert Mantel clock. Can i turn the hour hand either way though?
Every Mfg. and movement model has their unique requirements for manual minute hand operation.
Yes, hour hand can be turned either way, its is mounted on hour wheel with a friction slip joint, the fit up is tapered so if it becomes loose just gently press it back on.
@@jamesmartin5370 Thanks for the information!
I have one (not as fancy) and going back to 8 then 12 does not advance the ding count.. any ideas ?
Pull the dial off so you can observe what's happening when you rotate the hands.
Most likely an area that may need a drop of oil.
Hi, where could I purchase that key for the same mantle clock I have? Great videos, they really helped me learn about these beautiful time pieces...thank you.
I have an assortment of keys.
They can be also be found on the web, see below link:
www.google.com/search?q=double+ended+antique+key+clock&sxsrf=ALeKk03oQyNNccOx8By4S45kDo0nsgjFGQ:1602588270176&source=lnms&tbm=shop&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjl_8HEurHsAhVaHTQIHc3GDNYQ_AUoAXoECAsQAw&biw=2048&bih=1010
time pieces just tell the time, clocks strike as well or strike and chime.
i need one of those keys where can i find one
There are many different sizes.
You need to first measure the size you need.
Cost clock supply houses have a selection, a lot of vintage ones are showing up on ebay now.
Loo
My Gilbert black mantel clock was serviced in the 1990s I believe. There are two keys inside. The original one that turns the two settings in the clock face but then there's a smaller what looks like a newer one. It doesn't turn anything on the clock face? I'm sure an expert like you could tell me what you think it is. It was found inside the clockworks along with the other key.
Original ones for these will be signed as "Wm L.G.C. Co."
The newer one is most likely a loose clock key that someone decided to store inside the clock.
@@jamesmartin5370 after I wrote you I was looking harder to find out why it wasn't chiming and there was another original key stuck up there for some reason for it so there are two original keys but they look different. The newer stainless steel one doesn't seem to fit any of the holes for it. I can't figure it out. I used a magnifying glass and I dont see any markings or signature on either of the original keys.
Gilbert made some brass and nickel plated keys not sure about chrome, for a visual, below is an original one with signature:
www.ebay.com/itm/223466079019?chn=ps&mkevt=1&mkcid=28&srsltid=AfmBOooXQf0RkdbmPvQHpqjOdhacjHM2qKKvWBCASbsBn5pUq8XL0I5XY7k
@@jamesmartin5370 yes that's exactly what I have but I have another one that looks like the same material and age but is slightly different. Not sure how I could show you a photo of the two side-by-side but for some reason I now have three keys. Do people really sell these keys for $100. If I have 2 and I find they both work then I might sell one.
I am not a key collector, so can't say how many sell at that price.