7 Attachment(s)
Friesan Clock restoration
i posted in the Clock section wanting a clock restorer. I got no responses so looks like it’s up to me:D
First of all, here’s the clock in question
Attachment 452729 Attachment 452732
The case is in a very poor state as you will see in the upcoming photos.
I found a clock restorer in Tinonee ( small town out from Taree NSW) who was willing to have a look and see if restoration was possible. He has restored similar units in the past.
Visted there today and the upshot was the clock mechanism itself was all there, including weight, pendulum, chain and rollers which were all jammed up inside the front cover. This unit is unusual as it has an hour striker mechanism as well as an alarm mechanism The hour mechanism is only on the high end units. It is well over 100 years old and he’ll know more once he cleans up the mechanism.
He is familiar with the units and had the top hood and lower cover off in seconds:D and the mechanism out a couple of minutes later.
A quick appraisal and the clock mechanism looks like it is missing no parts but is seized and should be able to be restored. The beautiful hand painted dial facia, hands the decorative brass shim just needed careful cleaning and he gave me a rough estimate with a firm quote once he had closer look.
The case was another matter. It was only missing one corner finial but the back board is split, the hood piece broken in places with its leather cover in tatters and the lower cover has loose sections. It also needed complete refinishing. It would cost more to restore than the mechanism and you add them both together and no way I could afford it. Also, he has heaps of antique clocks needing repairs with one grandfather clock case needing case restoration with the ornate base eaten out by borers so another case repair was not really an option.
So, I’m taking on the job of restoring the case.
Here’s what I’ve got ahead of me
The Hood
Attachment 452730 Attachment 452731
The Backboard with main frame
Attachment 452734Attachment 452733
Pendulum cover with brass section design with glass panels
Attachment 452735
This is will be a long restore as I have put no deadline on the mechanism and he said he will need the finished case to fit it to.
He has given me some tips on restoring the brass and finishing so I should be able to restore it to it’s former glory
additional
I was showing the photos to a friend and, if you look at the third last photo showing the split you can see “I J” which were the great grandparents initials, then something I can’t make out yet, then maybe “1829” then something so, if that’s the case, it’s older than we thought.
Finishes/coating for unfinished timber
All loose bits have been removed, all damaged bits repaired apart from the backboard tongue - still waiting in the router bit, so I’ll probably start reassembling next week.
Now it’s all stripped, there are many areas of the clock case, which are not on show, such as the interior surfaces of the hood, that have no coating/ finish, and the timber is very dry. Do I leave it like that or is it worth using a finish such as an oil, or some coats of shellac etc. to protect /nourish it?
Its easier to do while disassembled.
Cheers