Monthly Archives: August 2012

Early 1700 Dutch grandfather clock

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I had a rare opportunity to restore this early 1700 Dutch clock which had been in storage for over 50 years and needed a lot of work.

 

The face shows the name Daniel LeFèvre – Haarlem.  It has a calendar and a pie shape dial which indicates the day of the week.  I have not been able to find information on Daniel LeFèvre but a Dutch clock expert, Mr. John Ruhland, agrees the clock is from the early 18th century.

It has the traditional Dutch striking mechanism, with 2 bells.  The small bell is used for the half hour and it rings the number of strikes for the upcoming hour.  That is: at 1:30, the clock strikes 2 on the small bell.  Then on the hour, it strikes 2 on the big bell. It also has an alarm operated by a separate weight.

The case is in a very good condition.

 

 

 

Grandfather clock at the British High Commission Residence

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                                                               A couple of years ago, I had the opportunity to work on the tall case clock at the residence of the British High Commissioner. It had stopped  after many years of service. It was interesting to find notes inside the clock indicating that it had been serviced by my predecessors Bill Graham and Ben Roberts, two members of the NAWCC, Ottawa chapter 111.

 

I got called again in July 2012 because the clock would not stop striking until the weight was down to the floor.  Upon inspection, I found  that the pin on the gathering pallet was broken. I had to put a new one in and secure it with a drop of solder.

Mrs Pocock,  the lady of the residence, asked me to have a look at another British mantle clock in the living room.  It had not been working since she and her husband moved into the stately residence.
The clock is a pure marvel of British engineering with a double fusée mechanism.
I was pleased to use my horological skills to make it run and strike again.