Mantle clock

[fletty]

Now, I’m not an horologist and I do know that horology is NOT the study of horror movies but a mate asked me to repair a mantle clock case that was having its own attack of the horrors? Firstly, the brass inlay had come out and secondly, a real horologist had restored the clock mechanism but refused to return it until the case had been fixed AND it was placed somewhere level. The mantle on which the clock lives, is brickwork and so levelling the clock was a bit hit-and-miss? I thought I could make a sympathetic base that had levellers but I really had no idea how to reglue the brass inlay without making a mess of the case?
I have just finished the repair and still have 2 days for clear coating the base before the clock is returned at a pub lunch on Wednesday.
3 pieces of the brass inlay had come out...

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..... and so I cleaned the tiny rebate as best I could with an awl and then ran liquid hide clue in to the rebate before holding the brass in place with clamps..

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I cleaned off the excess glue with a damp cloth before placing new clamps in the cleaned areas and then cleaned where the clamps had been. While this was going on, I cut a new base, machined a cove edge, stained () it to match the clock case, fitted threaded brass inserts and made 3 conically pointed brass screws to act as levellers...

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Its looking pretty good but I’m hoping that the clear finish yet to be applied to the base, won’t change the colour too much...

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[old1955]

Very nice fletty.

Ross

[apple8]

As an aside, I noticed one of the chargers in the last pic appears to be an Apple charger with an AC plug adapter that was subject to a recall. The recall ones are round and the new ones are rectangular with rounded corners. Apple supplies free replacement either online or in store.

[fletty]

As an aside, I noticed one of the chargers in the last pic appears to be an Apple charger with an AC plug adapter that was subject to a recall. The recall ones are round and the new ones are rectangular with rounded corners. Apple supplies free replacement either online or in store.

Wow, thank you, well spotted!

[auscab]

Looks good fletty. Nice Match with the colour .

The glueing down of brass used to be done using Garlic in with the hide glue. Or the brass was rubbed with the garlic. I was told this a long time ago when I was an apprentice, and the guy who told me didn't exactly know how it was used.
If you google it it seems everyone who's talking about it is still trying to figure out how it was used.
I once crushed Garlic and added it to the hot hide in the glue pot . From memory it just made the workshop smell like a meal was being prepared ! I don't recall if the brass I glued down came back for repair with that mix . I don't think it did .

It would be pretty hard getting a better result with garlic on restoration like this because of the state of old brass not being completely loose , and the condition of the recess for holding the brass as well . So I don't bother. I may do if it were a new build using traditional ways though.

Rob

[fletty]

Thanks Rob
I may have inadvertently and unknowingly stumbled on to a variation of the ‘garlic method’? I had a garlic pizza for entree last night!

[auscab]

Thanks Rob
I may have inadvertently and unknowingly stumbled on to a variation of the ‘garlic method’? I had a garlic pizza for entree last night!

You Fumed it