Wind to unwind

The movement on Ted's Adamantine is a fairly standard, turn of the century, American varietal. And when you're disassembling one the first thing you do is clamp the mainsprings.

The mainsprings are very powerful and the gremlins will see to it that I'm badly injured if these springs are not carefully constrained.

Dem gremlins are known for their dia-bo-lickal sa-ba-tay-jee.

I have a couple clamps made just for this job.

That spring on the right is about half wound. It actually needs to be tightened so I can slip the clamp on.

I have what is a called a let-down tool which can both wind and release a mainspring.

And here are the two springs clamped.

And now the movement can be safely disassembled.

The Falling Hare

I don't know how aspiring clockmakers of old were able to track all the steps of their work. 

Strike that. I do know. 

Endless documentation, notes and drawings.

Thankfully I can snap endless pictures.

Now starting on the rear plate. 

I need to remove the crutch (1) but I need to take off the suspension spring and its rod (2). They are bound in a bent pair of guiding pins (circled).

First repair, realign the bent guide pin.

Doing that freed the suspension spring and I could remove the spring and rod. Then I pulled the anchor keeper (3) and was able to remove the anchor (4) and the crutch which is attached to it.

Underneath was an anchor saddle pivot that was on a screwed down brass cock. 

Never seen one of those before.

OK! I think I'm in the weeds a bit much for the lay reader. I'll jump ahead.

A year ago I was working on the DUFA box clock and discovered a tricky but valuable lesson on making sure that I capture the exact locations of key levers BEFORE I disassemble a movement. 

Ergo photos of our Adamantine friend like this:

A couple of striking levers highlighted.

I did learn the hard way.

With most everything on the outside of the plates removed it was now time to unscrew the posts that hold the plates together. And yes I couldn't remove that escape wheel without taking the plates apart. An unusual design but nothing concerning.

A couple of the more truculent parts decided to hitch a ride on the plate removal.

She's a bit dirty but looks still in good shape.

Believe it or not I would only call this moderately dirty.

And here is the remaining carcas stripped to the bone front plate.

These are the wheels of the time train.

And these wheels and levers constitute the strike train.

I visually inspected all of them looking for wear, bent teeth, cracks, etc.

Virtually every wheel looked like this one, more or less.

Dirty but in good shape.

Exciting right!?

Coming up next... A bath.