This unusual box, easily identified as by Ami Rivenc by the lion cartouche stamped on the governor arm, was in a real mess. The case had lost large chunks of veneer, probably due to sunlight or hot or damp storage. The mechanism was so caked in oil, grease and dirt that it hardly moved. However, there was nothing broken within the mechanism and the box could be partly re-veneered. The original tune sheet was miraculously intact. The box was treated as a separate project to the mechanism.
The Movement
These images show the thick layer of oil and muck.
The comb has been removed and the mechanism set going to allow the spring to fully wind down ready to be stripped down for a full degrease and cleanup.
The comb has been removed and the mechanism set going to allow the spring to fully wind down ready to be stripped down for a full degrease and cleanup.
The entire movement dismantled.
The smaller parts wiped to remove as much oil and grease as possible.
The bedplate and cylinder degreased.
The rest then soaked in Horolene clock cleaning fluid for the morning.
The smaller parts wiped to remove as much oil and grease as possible.
The bedplate and cylinder degreased.
The rest then soaked in Horolene clock cleaning fluid for the morning.
All components cleaned, apart from the mainspring and its housing. That's for another day as the spring needs to be removed for cleaning and the housing needs to go to have a new male Geneva Stop component made by a local engineer.
The jewel bearing for the endless governor mechanism is missing and a new one needs to be sourced.
Other than that, all components seem to be in good working order.
The plan now is to gild the Bedplate (this did not work well and so it was painted), re-clean all the brass to make it really shiny and reassemble.
The jewel bearing for the endless governor mechanism is missing and a new one needs to be sourced.
Other than that, all components seem to be in good working order.
The plan now is to gild the Bedplate (this did not work well and so it was painted), re-clean all the brass to make it really shiny and reassemble.
The mainspring has been removed from the barrel and has been cleaned to remove all traces of oil.
The Geneva Stop-work and spring barrel went to Geoff Crowther to have a new male Geneva Stop part machined and fitted.
All brass fittings had a second and third polish using firstly Wrights Silver Polish and then Autosol before being buffed.
The pins have been straightened
The bedplate was gilded, but later rest ripped and painted Antique Gold
The control levers cleaned and polished.
The 112mm long x 35.64 dia cylinder has undergone a huge transformation which is difficult to show in the pictures.
The Geneva Stop-work and spring barrel went to Geoff Crowther to have a new male Geneva Stop part machined and fitted.
All brass fittings had a second and third polish using firstly Wrights Silver Polish and then Autosol before being buffed.
The pins have been straightened
The bedplate was gilded, but later rest ripped and painted Antique Gold
The control levers cleaned and polished.
The 112mm long x 35.64 dia cylinder has undergone a huge transformation which is difficult to show in the pictures.
Final things to do:
Source & fit jewel bearing - Complete
De-rust & clean comb - Complete
Replace spring into housing and oil with Horoglide - Complete
Reassemble governor assembly - Complete
Reassemble winding mechanism - Complete
Reassemble drive & cylinder - Complete
Refit comb - Complete
Test & adjust running mechanism - Complete
Reinstate into the box - Complete
Source & fit jewel bearing - Complete
De-rust & clean comb - Complete
Replace spring into housing and oil with Horoglide - Complete
Reassemble governor assembly - Complete
Reassemble winding mechanism - Complete
Reassemble drive & cylinder - Complete
Refit comb - Complete
Test & adjust running mechanism - Complete
Reinstate into the box - Complete
Movement fully reassembled and running well.
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Valse de Faust
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Carnival of Venice
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The Case
Front and back panels stripped of veneer as it was too badly damaged to save. Both ends patched using veneer from the removed pieces. All four panels sanded ready for new veneer to back and front.
Restoration complete
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Carnival Of Venice
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Waltz by Faust
The Carnival of Venice
Tout a la Joie
Mignon
Cavalleria Rusticana
A La Maliban
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