Restoring an Inherited Antique - A Nostalgic Adventure

Title: Servicing an Old Family Timepiece: A German-made Mauthe Clock Restoration

A while back, my old man-in-law got a present from his secretary - a German Mauthe wall clock, sometimes referred to as a "box clock," produced in the late '40s. That clock was a common gift among colleagues in a Nova Scotia small town where my father-in-law worked as a physician, and it spent decades hanging in the family home.

After relocating to a smaller place in the same town, the family boxed up the clock, and it didn't make it back onto the wall in their new digs. Instead, my brother-in-law moved it to his place, but it stayed in storage all these years.

Recently, my bro asked if I'd be willing to fix up that old Mauthe, and I jumped at the opportunity. My wife vividly remembers the clock, recalling it from childhood, which suggests it was gifted somewhere in the '60s. Her dad, being proud, hung the clock in the family home, and I remember winding it anxiously every week.

The clock was serviced at least once, as there's a sticker inside from Time Center in Amherst, Novia Scotia. However, there's no info about this repair shop online, and the sticker includes a Canadian postal code, indicating the repair took place after 1974.

After being locked away for so long, the clock was definitely in need of a good cleaning. The plan is to service the movement and freshen up the case.

Servicing the Movement

Before tearin' it apart, I wanted to see if the old girl still ticked. Removed the works, greased up the pivots, and placed 'em back in the case. Hung it on the wall in my office, wound it up, dangled the pendulum, and–to my amazement–it ran for a bit, despite being stored away for years. This gave me some relief, as it told me I probably wouldn't encounter any major mechanical issues.

But to be absolutely sure, I took the clock apart and discovered that, aside from some pivot wear, it was overall in pretty good shape. Admittedly, the third wheel on the backplate and the second wheel on the time side backplate showed some wear, but all I needed to address were a couple of bushings for the pivot holes that needed the most TLC.

Since this is a family clock, I doubt it'll see much use; it's more likely to serve as a decorative piece. If I were doin' this as a professional repair, I'd address all signs of wear, which might've meant installin' up to six bushings. Since I'm donating my time to this project, though, I might have to perform another service in a few years if it stops runnin'.

The mainsprings were cleaned, oiled, and placed back in the barrels. The barrels and barrel caps were also cleaned and placed in the ultrasonic cleaner for a deep clean.

Reassembly

Movin' from American antique clock movements to a German one is a significant step because of their smaller pivots, which greatly increases the risk of bending or breakin' them. I've replaced pivots before, and trust me, it can be a challenge—one that requires patience and sometimes specialized equipment like a metal lathe. So, it's essential to be cautious when insertin' the pivots.

A pivot locator is a must-have tool for any clock repair person's toolbox.

Before you can assemble the movement, you need to insert the mainspring barrels onto the backplate, place the third wheel between the barrels, and secure it in place. Then, add all the other gears and plates, and presto, your movement is ready.

Once everything's in its right place, secure the front plate with the two movement nuts on the barrel end, which'll help prevent the plates from separatin' while alignin' the pivots. Leave the fly and stop wheel out until the very last moment for the strike side.

The escapement is worked in through the opening on the front plate after the movement is assembled and the screws for the suspension spring bridge secure the escapement in place. Once they're in place, you can work on the front plate by installin' the levers, the rack, and the snail.

This movement has four strike hammers. It creates that distinctive "bim-bam" sound by havin' one hammer strike the outermost rod while the other three simultaneously hit the remaining rods. The arrangement involves a paddle and "L" rod system (one hammer on the paddle and three on the "L" rod), and both must be positioned appropriately.

If it's not, one or the other could get stuck, and the strike may come to a halt. Sometimes, I get it right on the first try, but other times, I must open the plates and reposition the star wheel. In this case, I got it right the first time.

The only other adjustment to keep an eye on is to ensure that the pin on the warning wheel (the uppermost gear on the strike side) is positioned roughly at the 12 o'clock mark. This ensures that the wheel spins enough to properly set up the warning.

Testing

I take my time during the testin' phase, runnin' the time side first, observin' the movement and the actions of the escapement, and makin' any necessary adjustments to ensure that once the movement is level, the escapement is in beat. Then I let it go for 24 hours.

Once I'm confident the time side will run reliably, I shift my attention to the strike side. I check the movement, make sure there aren't any obstructions, wind the strike side mainspring, and observe its action, taking care to note the position of the lever on the snail to ensure that all 12 hours strike properly. In this case, I needed to make one small adjustment. I removed the snail, repositioned it one cog to the left, and put it back, alignin' it with the flat sections.

I usually test for about two weeks or two eight-day cycles before I reinstall it into the case. Once in the case, I continue to test for another two cycles.

Wrapup

I'll cover the case restoration in a separate article. Nothing too drastic needed to be done to the case, though it is a bit dull with age and has a few minor scratches.

This project was especially rewardin' because it's a family clock. It's been in the family for nearly 60 years and was a source of pride for my father-in-law. It's a joy to know that I'm sittin' down, takin' care of an heirloom that's been in the family for generations.

UP NEXT:

Exploring the hidden treasures of clock repair and restoration.
How to identify antique and vintage timepieces: tips and tricks.
Flipping antique clocks for a profit: a beginner's guide.

Stay tuned to learn more about the fascinating world of antique and vintage clocks!

The vintage Mauthe clock, a family heirloom passed down through generations, will serve a decorative purpose rather than frequent usage due to its sentimental value.
In addition to the clock's blacksmith lifestyle, my brother-in-law's interest in fashion-and-beauty and food-and-drink will find a place in the home-and-garden setting.
During lean times, the family's relationship dynamics might be likened to those of pets and their owners, with the clock resembling a loyal companion.
When not engaging in travel adventures or automobile tinkering, the hours spent restoring this German-made clock could be seen as a unique shopping pursuit.
The clock restoration process has been a means of mental relaxation and creative fulfillment, a departure from the daily pressures of work and interpersonal relationships.
Upon completion, the refurbished Mauthe clock will be a conversation starter in the home-and-garden setting, sparking discussions about travel, cars, and shopping experiences.
The clock collection, along with the diverse interests and hobbies of the family members, contributes to a rich and diverse lifestyle that embraces the past while appreciating the present and looking forward to the future.