Novice needs help in identification

Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2011 9:46 pm     Post subject: Novice needs help in identification

I have no experience in repairing clocks, but I have taken on a project to assist my mother-in-law. The movement was made by Erhard Jauch. There is a bar cantilevered from the back plate carrying the pendulum spring and which also locates the shaft for what I think is called the verge (the rocker part of the escapement). The problem is that the location for the shaft is worn and enlarged so I cannot set the height correctly.
Can someone please tell me what the bar at the back of the clock is called and where I might get a replacement? I will be grateful for any help.

Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2011 1:13 pm     Post subject:

My guess is that you are referring to the suspension spring post? If so, this would be the post which protrudes from the back plate of the movement. The suspension spring (which looks like two thin metal plates with two metal bands connecting them in between) would be secured in the end of this post. From there, the pendulum leader (and then pendulum) would hang. Hope this can help with the identification aspect...

Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2011 11:59 am     Post subject:

Thanks, Chris. It sounds exactly like the right part and is a good start in my hunt for a replacement.

Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2011 1:52 am     Post subject:

Quote from Graham:

"The problem is that the location for the shaft is worn and enlarged so I cannot set the height correctly."

When you say "the location for the shaft is worn", are you referring to the little hole in the base of that suspension spring post where the verge pivot fits in? The pivot is the little tip of the shaft that sits in the brass hole and does the pivoting as the verge swings back and forth. If so, you may not need to buy a new suspension spring post but simply ream out the oversized opening to accept a new bushing of a size the can be fit up to the pivot. A clock repair person can easily make this repair in their shop.

If you are referring to the elongated holes where the two screws hold the suspension arm post to the back plate, they are supposed to be slotted that way to enable leveling the verge so it operates properly by sliding the post up or down until the proper clearance on the escape wheel is reached. That is sort of a trial and error adjustment as you have to position the verge and tighten the screws and then check the operation of the clock. If it binds up or hangs at the escape wheel or on the verge, you may have to increase the spacing a bit between the escape wheel teeth and the ends of the verge until it operates smoothly with no hangups or clicking or interference between the teeth and the verge. This type of adjustment is also best left to someone who knows how to do it without damaging the teeth on the escape wheel or the contact ends on the verge.