Clock Mystery

[abstibus]

I have a Vienna wall clock by Gustav Becker that has been silent for about two years and has suddenly started up again on its own.
(I was not able to find a clockmaker who could take a look and tell me what was wrong, so I had more or less given up).
As far as I know, it has not been moved at all. It gave me quite a shock to hear it chime this morning.
Could anyone suggest why it might suddenly decide to start?
Could anyone also suggest a clockmaker in N Ireland who might look at it for me?
Many thanks.

[Hopkirk]

So it's working at the moment?

f it ain't broke, don't fix it.

[abstibus]

Yes, it's still working, but a little TLC never hurt anyone!!

[stewey]

Annemollie, were you able to estimate the age of your clock from the link I gave you?

[abstibus]

Hi, stewey
I have just got back to AB and read the link you (very kindly) sent me. I have printed off the logo page and descriptions, and will check 'my' logo against them as soon as I get a chance.
Many thanks indeed.
I will get back to you as soon as I can.
a-m

[stewey]

Anemolle, any estimated age on that clock yet: as you can see, I am really interested:)

[abstibus]

Hi, stewey
I have done lots of hopping on and off chairs to try to identify the logo, but am having a problem. I have also taken photos with the iPad, as the camera flash obliterates the marking. It looks like it may be 1894-1903, but the anchor does not tally. Mine seems to be wider at the base with quite narrow arms/legs rather like that of 1852-1875.
There seems to be a clock in the centre of the crown, btw.
I have never mastered photobucket or tinyurl. If you want to set up a throwaway mailbox, I could send you a photo.
Thanks a lot for your interest.

[dickythecook]

Anne, my dad loves clocks. I told him the other day about your posting. Could you send me a pic to show him. {[email protected]}
Although clocking up the years he has just repaired a similar timepiece that has not ticked for over 50 years. ( He also made the missing decorations for it ) dtc

[shoota]

A word of caution:
If it transpires that your clock is of any substantial value make sure you have photos of the case and especially the workings so it can be identified. Get a receipt when it is collected and take the collectors vehicle registration number.
A relative of mine left a valuable timepiece at a repairers and found out some time later that the movement had been changed for a cheap one - they had no way of proving it....
I'm sure it will be unnecessary but 'just in case.'

[abstibus]

H, dicky
I could take a photo of the entire clock tomorrow but am sending you one of just the face from my throwaway. Trying to identify the age, as you can see from stewey's post.
Perhaps your dad has some ideas?
Super to have so much interest.

[abstibus]

Thank, shoota. I will be very careful.

[abstibus]

Stewey,
my mail is [email protected]

[stewey]

Bit of a long shot: however, you might find a similar clock here:
http://isearch.avg.com/images?s=sideNav&q=gustav+becker+clocks&;sap=hp&lang=en&mid=13515afcb5e947d1b500d153d4bee701-ccf1b786aa5c640269e6067037367bbde4e77885&;cid={77797350-71F8-4D65-938F-921B135CD15B}&v=14.0.2.14&;ds=AVG&d=10%2f26%2f2012+10%3a49%3a54+PM&pr=fr&snd=hp&pid=avg

[FredPuli43]

Clocks of the 'Vienna Regulator' type are right devils to set up; it's not for nothing that they have a marked swing indicator on the backboard; and they won't usually run at all unless perfectly vertical. This one started on its own, which suggests that the train that operates the chime had stuck and some minor change freed it. That could be a slight knock or almost anything. Once the mechanism was freed the weight dropped again, unhindered, and the clock chimed. Presumably it didn't 'go' by the clock itself starting; it needs the pendulum to swing for that to happen.

Chances are that the clock needs cleaning by somebody competent, who may remove oil put there by some well-meaning person in the past; clocks need no, or microscopic amounts of, very thin oil; and that the mechanism is sound and needing no work. Mind, then you have got to get the little B set up to run when it's on the wall!

[stewey]

Yes, Fred, quite often clocks seem to develop minds and personalities of their own, and attempt to thwart any tries of yours to get them in beat, and synchronized. It's amazing how many people think that a pendulum "drives" a clock, whereas it regulates the release of the energy stored within the main-spring or the weights. I find it a very interesting subject. I would love to see a photo of Annemollies's clock. Cheers.

[abstibus]

Stewey
I am trying without much luck to upload photo from iPad. Really trying!

[abstibus]

dtc
Can you check your mailbox, please?

[abstibus]

Stewey
I think I have managed to do it with help from another Aber:
[IMG]http://i47.tinypic.com/2e214dj.jpg[/IMG]

[abstibus]

Try this, stewey:
http://i47.tinypic.com/2e214dj.jpg

[stewey]

Annemollie, from what I can see of the dial and the upper-case molding, you have a extremely fine example of the type. As shoota mentioned previously, get lots of documentation on this clock before it leaves your home: close-up photos of identifying marks and symbols as well as general shots of the entire clock. Many of these clocks, especially the two and three weight types, can be worth thousands of pounds! A close-up of the mechanism in-situ would be great. By the way, I hope that you don't have it hanging sideways as it appears in the photo:)

[stewey]

Check out the prices on this site:

http://www.viennaregulators.net/forsale.php