Junghans Crispi Wall Clock and Strike Mechanism Issues: Customers Complain About Faulty Functioning
A Tale of Resilience: Restoring a Junghans Crispi Wall Clock
In the winter of 2017, I embarked on an intriguing restoration project—an antique Junghans Crispi wall clock, circa 1898. Arriving as a box of parts, I sensed the seller's intention to complete it but failure to do so. Yet, the case had been meticulously reconstructed, creating a challenge I couldn't resist.
Much of the clock remains original: the movement, pendulum, dial, hands, coil gong, and movement bracket. The base and top section of the case, crown, backboard, vertical columns, and decorative trim are all original pieces. I added newly crafted glass, trim features, finials, and their bases. Some parts had been replaced around 1980, though the previous owner took care to replicate the woodworking techniques of the period.
Evidently, the clock took a significant hit during the Halifax Explosion of 1917. The disaster, which occurred on December 6th, took place near the family home in north-end Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. After restoring the case, I worked on the movement, but during the process, I managed to break both the strike paddle and a retention spring. Fortunately, I had these professionally serviced.
For nearly three years, the clock ran perfectly. However, its strike side recently became erratic, and after postponing repairs due to other projects, I decided to disassemble and inspect the movement. Surprisingly, I found a slightly bent strike side cam wheel arbor and parts that had undergone extensive bushing work in 2017. I repaired the broken spring using a micro drill and Threadlocker Red to bond the spring to the plate.
After reassembling the movement, I patiently lined up all parts, carefully aligning the paddle, cam lever, and strike paddle, while ensuring the stop wheel pin was in the 12 o'clock position. It took a few attempts, but with persistence, the movement began to run smoothly again. Surprisingly, the strike side remained erratic, leading me to believe it might be a design issue or the slightly bent cam wheel arbor causing it to "wander" over time.
Given its historical significance, I took the opportunity to delve into this clock's past. The Junghans archive catalog revealed that the clock was available in the 1898 catalog. The antique oak case boasted burnished brass trimmings, and the Crispi, as it was called, was designated #1758. It was available with a white or ivory-colored celluloid dial or a white or ivory-colored 5 3/4 inch enamel dial (this clock). The length of the clock, 40.3 inches, suggests that it was likely marketed to countries such as the United Kingdom and Italy.
In conclusion, restoring this antique Junghans Crispi wall clock provided a remarkable opportunity to connect with a piece of history, particularly its remarkable connection to the Halifax Explosion of 1917. This clock serves not just as a timekeeping device but also as a symbol of resilience and endurance. Let's hope its erratic strike side continues to improve and that we can appreciate its silent testimony to history for many years to come.
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