Troubleshooting Forestville Mantel Clocks - A Less Than Enjoyable Experience When Things Malfunction! (Part II)
In the heart of a clock repair workshop, a nondescript Art Deco-style German clock, sold under the Forestville name, was undergoing servicing. This clock, originally not from the Black Forest region of Germany but made by the Forestville Clock Company of Canada, presented some unexpected challenges during its maintenance.
The mainspring barrels, an essential component of the clock, proved to be more challenging than anticipated. The mainsprings refused to catch on their hooks when being installed back into their barrels, causing a minor setback in the repair process.
The movement of the Forestville mantel clock features a rack and snail mechanism, with all adjustments except the stop wheel on the outside of the plates. This design allowed for a more straightforward approach to servicing, as the mainspring barrels could be removed separately for inspection and maintenance.
The servicing process was not without its victories. The broken pivot on the front plate center wheel was successfully repaired using a piece of pivot wire from an assortment of 0.85mm to 1.10mm wire, as no wire of the appropriate size was available. The escape wheel, after oiling the pivots, excluding the jewelled ones, was running well.
Typical repairs of broken pivots in German Art Deco mantel clocks with Forestville movements involve removal of damaged pivots, machining and fitting new pivots, bushing worn holes, polishing, and careful reassembly to restore functionality and accuracy. In this specific case, out of an abundance of caution, an additional 2 bushings were installed, bringing the total to T2, T3, T4, rear plate, and T4, T5, front plate, all on the time side.
However, the servicing process also revealed that there is more wear on the time side of the clock, requiring at least 3 new bushings, two on the front plate and one on the back. After two 8-day running cycles, the movement of the Forestville mantel clock appears to be functioning well.
The next step in the servicing process is to re-install the strike hammers and other moving parts. Once completed, the Forestville mantel clock will be returned to its case, ready to keep time once more.
Although the servicing of this Forestville mantel clock presented some unexpected challenges, the repair process demonstrates the intricacies and precision required in maintaining these mechanical masterpieces. The clock, despite its non-German origin, showcases the universal principles and techniques of clockmaking that transcend regions and makers.
The servicing of the vintage Forestville mantel clock, a mechanical masterpiece, is not only highlighting the intricacies and precision required in maintaining such items but also demonstrating the universality of clockmaking principles, as the clock repairs prove similar regardless of the clock's origin. In the near future, the home-and-garden lifestyle enthusiast may once again have the delight of watching this restored mechanical beauty ticking away amidst the data-and-cloud-computing technology, contrasting the traditional with the contemporary. The clock's servicing process, while presenting challenges with the mainspring barrels, also offered an opportunity to explore lesser-known aspects of clock servicing, such as bushings replacement, further deepening knowledge of these mechanical wonders.
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