Refreshing the mechanical movement and revitalizing the case of a Gilbert Admiral clock
In a local antique shop, an intriguing clock, the No. 3027 Gilbert Admiral, also known as a schoolhouse clock, caught the eye of a keen collector. The clock, hanging without a price, was a treasure waiting to be discovered.
The collector, preferring wall clocks for their convenient placement and ability to draw attention, decided to acquire the Admiral. However, upon closer inspection, it was found that the centre pinion of the clock's movement was cracked and had dropped down the shaft, causing the gears not to engage the cannon arbour.
The movement was also dirty and hadn't seen servicing in a while. Undeterred, the collector embarked on the task of repairing the cracked centre pinion.
Repairing a cracked centre pinion in a vintage mechanical clock like the Gilbert Admiral requires precision and careful handling. Common methods include replacement of the pinion, soldering or brazing the crack, fabricating a new pinion, or seeking professional help.
In this case, the collector chose to use Permatex permanent thread-locker Red, equivalent to Locktite Red, to secure the cracked pinion. After 24 hours, the Permatex was allowed to cure before reassembling and testing the movement.
The Gilbert Admiral, now in good working order, is an 8-day time-only octagonal short drop model, produced circa 1901. It features a calendar function, making it one of the schoolhouse clocks discussed in the article. The clock's original Maltese hands are stripped of bluing, and the calendar hand stripped of red paint. The clock also has a very tarnished brass bezel and a factory paper dial with the maker's name painted out on the bottom.
The collector traded a rare gallery clock for the Gilbert Admiral, adding another fascinating piece to their collection. The collector's acquisition of the Gilbert Admiral schoolhouse clock serves as a reminder of the intricate repair processes these vintage clocks often require and the rewarding results they can bring.
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- The collector, with a preference for wall clocks, considered the vintage No. 3027 Gilbert Admiral, a schoolhouse clock, a potential addition to their collection.
- In the realm of fashion-and-beauty and lifestyle, the collector's journey to repair the vintage clock could be an interesting read for those who appreciate intricate repair processes.
- After the repair, the Gilbert Admiral, now a working 8-day time-only octagonal short drop model, could be paired well with home-and-garden decors, given its unique design and history.
- The collector's decision to travel to various exotic locations (implied) might have been influenced by the desire to find and acquire rare vintage clocks like the Gilbert Admiral, adding to their collection.
