More Cluses

I wondered how long it had been since our canine companion was last serviced.

As noted the movement was quite dirty. It's important to point out that said movement was very much inside a case and not openly exposed to the elements.

Here is the entire clockworks removed and sitting on my bench.

Those two vertical metal strips (horizontal when in the case) are used to secure the movement to the back plate of the clock. They're held with screws to the back plate. When removing said screws I saw a clue on how long this clock has sat untouched in its case.

Yes that clean section is where the screws met the straps to secure them. Unless the clock lived in a dust bowl this movement hasn't been serviced in many decades.

Time to dive in.

This is a striking clock, meaning striking the hours but not chiming like the Westminster chimes. It does not use a Rack and Snail rather a count wheel. Not unusual for earlier French clocks. Count wheels are much simpler mechanisms than R&S. They have their challenges but complexity is not one of them. Here it is on the upper right of the back plate.

Also on the back is what is likely a serial number (possibly a model number) and the length of the pendulum required for the movement. Note that the pendulum length is written as '84 M/M' which also speaks to this being a later generation of the Mouvements de Paris. Older versions typically had pouce et lignes measurements for pendulum length marked at the base of the plate on either side of the pillar pin (as discussed in an earlier post). 

Also discussed in our earlier post are the nuances of pendulums but suffice it to say that a shortcut to assess the length of a pendulum is to measure from the middle of the hook (for the suspension spring) to the middle of the pendulum bob (the circular weight at the bottom). 

Et voila!

Seems a match. 

Note that pendulum that came with our clock is a replacement. That rating nut (the thumbscrew in the middle of the bob) is used to adjust the height of the pendulum bob (thus adjusting the speed of the clock). This version is a modern update to its design but the pendulum is French in every respect. Not at all uncommon for pendulums to get lost and replaced and replacements typically work fine.

Also of note is the aforementioned Brocot suspension unit.

Looks shipshape to this reporter but it is not one of the original versions as it has no "Brocot" stamp on its adjustment wheel (also shown in that earlier post). 

Top-us blank-us.

Definitely original to the clock movement but one of many cluses that this clock was made in the later era of the Mouvements de Paris. 1890s? 1900?

Il n'y a aucun moyen d'être sûr.

What I am sure about is that the dial is a classic French enamel and in great shape.

No makers signature but beautiful enamel on both sides.

Now to get that movement apart.