Sunday, October 30, 2016

Ansonia "La Duchesse" initial examination

This clock is from my sister's landlady.  Here's a link to a similar model.  Inside the clock, behind the back plate is handwritten in pencil "H. Paul, June 26/85."  Presumably this means that this clock was completed on June 26, 1885.


The outside of the clock isn't in good condition.  The case is rusted, with much of the original black enamel having fallen off.


 One of the hinges has broken off, and it seems that the owner used tape to hold the glass in place as a result.



The dial surface is porcelain, which cleaned easily with dish soap and a toothbrush.

Also, it seems that the back of the bezel rusted onto the dial's gilded edge.  Rust is remarkably difficult to remove from gilding, at least without damaging the gilding...  I've removed what I could by carefully brushing with a toothbrush.


The two lions on either side of the movement appear to have been painted with a gold paint of some sort (apparently not gilding).  They were nearly black with gunk/rust.  After spending most of the afternoon in the ultrasonic cleaner, I think most of the gunk is off, but it has revealed that the gold paint is mostly gone.


The movement is missing its pendulum.  I think because the markings on the movement indicate "3 3/4", this means that the pendulum ought to be about 3.75 inches or so.  Nothing else seems amiss on the movement, though we'll see!

Here are a few other views of the movement...











No comments:

Post a Comment