Mantle clock question (and ceramic watches?)

[beRto]

I have a mantle clock that just doesn't want to work:


It has a simple quartz movement powered by a AA battery - so nothing fancy. I've brought it in for repairs twice now, but each time it'll run for a few months and then stop again. It stopped the other day, so I put in a fresh battery and tried one more time. It ran for a few hours and stopped.

Any ideas what the problem could be? I'm not really confident that bringing it in a 3rd time will do much - is there anything else I could do?


p.s. while searching for this clock problem, I saw they are now using ceramics to make watches. Sounds cool - anyone heard of this, or own one? Is it a gimmick, or a legitimate improvement over steel?
http://www.iwc.com/forum/en/discussion/21445/

[jestercinti]

I have clock people that tell me it's probably easier to just replace the entire clock gear mechanism.  This site is very helpful for that:

http://www.clockworks.com/quartz.html

Sorry, don't have a quick fix.

[beRto]

I have clock people that tell me it's probably easier to just replace the entire clock gear mechanism.  This site is very helpful for that:

http://www.clockworks.com/quartz.html

Sorry, don't have a quick fix.

Thanks for the suggestion.  I don't mind replacing the mechanism - I just want the clock working reliably.

Is the site you mentioned just a suggestion/example, or have you actually bought from them before?

Thanks again!

[jestercinti]

Me personally, no. But I have heard a lot of good things about them.

Your call.  It is a good resource if you need it.

[yamahonkawazuki]

movements shot. ( i work on watches and clocks on a daily basis. )any craft store wlil sell movements like this. ( have to remove hands, face, and take movement in and find oen that matches

[beRto]

movements shot. ( i work on watches and clocks on a daily basis. )any craft store wlil sell movements like this. ( have to remove hands, face, and take movement in and find oen that matches

Thanks yama. When I wrote this post, I figured you would be the only one to read it and respond lol!

I'm trying to find a matching movement on ebay (clockworks.com didn't seem to carry one in the right size)... the problem is there is too much selection! Each one that looks close is always different in some tiny way. Oh well, I'll keep looking. 

By the way, any thoughts on the ceramic watches?

[yamahonkawazuki]

they7 are very nice. but pray to GOD the end that holds the band never breaks. ( very unlikely. and IWC is a an almost upper tier watch maker. so no shitty construction. will see what i can find regarding your mantle clock. be back when i locate it

[yamahonkawazuki]

if you can. get me a good picture of the movement. with battery in, and with removed. and use somethign for scale. so i can figure otu whats the best bet. those things are nto cheap. that particular clock was 175cad. not some cheap shaZam!.

[beRto]

if you can. get me a good picture of the movement. with battery in, and with removed. and use somethign for scale. so i can figure otu whats the best bet. those things are nto cheap. that particular clock was 175cad. not some cheap shaZam!.

Thanks a lot, Yama! The measurements are as follows:

• length = 56 mm
• width = 56 mm
• thickness = 17 mm (+ 1 mm standoff - the raised bit around the shaft)
• diameter of hour hand shaft = 5 mm
• shaft length = 6 mm (this seems to be the hard part to match, usually they seem to be about 9mm)
• the shaft is not threaded; the unit was just attached with double-sided tape.

These two are the closest I could find so far. Do you think either will work?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280847320473
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220981508561

And here are the pics:

[beRto]

those things are nto cheap. that particular clock was 175cad. not some cheap shaZam!.

It's a nice clock, so I was kind of disappointed by the movement - it looks like a standard cheapo movement. Similar ones (made in  China) seem to sell for less than $10.   

they7 are very nice. but pray to GOD the end that holds the band never breaks. ( very unlikely. and IWC is a an almost upper tier watch maker. so no shitty construction. will see what i can find regarding your mantle clock. be back when i locate it

Wow, I didn't realize IWC such a luxury brand - looks like they sell over $10k! But I think the ceramic is used for other less expensive watches too. I saw some examples from Timex.

I'm not planning on buying one anyways, I was just curious about the material.

[yamahonkawazuki]

i would wear an iwc ( international watch company. if i recall correctly. im trying to get into the school run by the founder of swatch. in miami.  once i get my affairs in order, rep said i have a GREAT shot. no tuition charge. just have to buy my own tools. ( most of which i already own. except for a lathe and a few screwdrivers

[yamahonkawazuki]

will see what i can find on teh mantle clock movement. for a replacement. it is chinese btw. no biggie. once im finished, well once youre finished twill be better than new

[yamahonkawazuki]

found solution for mantle clock. man i wish you were closer id service it myself. but these prices arent bad at all
http://www.klockit.com/products/dept-157__sku-AAAVV.html

[bill14224]

My mother has a kitchen clock with the same type of cheapo movement and amazingly it's been running since 1978.  Many of them die after a short time, others last and last.

A neighbor of mine around the same time used to make and sell wooden clocks coated with polyurethane.  He used the same movements.  The movements were $5 each at the time.  He told all his customers if it stops running just call him and he'll replace the movement.  They've never been reliable and apparently still aren't.  I hope you are lucky with your replacement movement and it's a good one!

[beRto]

i would wear an iwc ( international watch company. if i recall correctly. im trying to get into the school run by the founder of swatch. in miami.  once i get my affairs in order, rep said i have a GREAT shot. no tuition charge. just have to buy my own tools. ( most of which i already own. except for a lathe and a few screwdrivers

That would be great... good luck! 

[beRto]

found solution for mantle clock. man i wish you were closer id service it myself. but these prices arent bad at all
http://www.klockit.com/products/dept-157__sku-AAAVV.html

I had seen those, but didn't think they would work for me. It says the shaft diameter is 5/16", but mine is 5 mm (more like 3/16"). Also says the shaft length is 7/16", but mine is 6 mm (about 1/4").

Are these dimensions less critical than I thought? I guess the shaft diameter only matters if I want to reuse the clock arms, but if the shaft is too long I think it will interfere with the glass. What do you think?

[yamahonkawazuki]

heres the thing. if it doesnt hit the glass it will fit. hands wise, movements are supplied with hands. select the ones that look like what you had.  = problem solved. like i said, if i ere closer or it could handle a mailing id take care of it for you.

[yamahonkawazuki]

if you can. get me a good picture of the movement. with battery in, and with removed. and use somethign for scale. so i can figure otu whats the best bet. those things are nto cheap. that particular clock was 175cad. not some cheap shaZam!.

Thanks a lot, Yama! The measurements are as follows:

• length = 56 mm
• width = 56 mm
• thickness = 17 mm (+ 1 mm standoff - the raised bit around the shaft)
• diameter of hour hand shaft = 5 mm
• shaft length = 6 mm (this seems to be the hard part to match, usually they seem to be about 9mm)
• the shaft is not threaded; the unit was just attached with double-sided tape.

These two are the closest I could find so far. Do you think either will work?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280847320473
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220981508561

And here are the pics:

IMHO i think the second oen would be the better deal. cause in most of the ads, the second hand was an option. that cost a tad more. now heres an IWC. like i said pricy
http://www.ebay.com/itm/IWC-INTERNATIONAL-WATCH-CO-SHAFFHAUSEN-SS-AUTOMATIC-CHRONOGRAPH-MENS-WATCH-/290694778966?_trksid=p4340.m1374&_trkparms=algo%3DUPI.GIROS%26its%3DI%252BC%252BS%26itu%3DUCI%252BUCC%26otn%3D15%26pmod%3D170820423262%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D7618295582829886669  whats the iwc that caught your attention?

[yamahonkawazuki]

if it wouldnt cost a fortune id say send the mantle clock my way. i cna source the parts, reassemble and return to you. but that would be your call

[yamahonkawazuki]

holy christ ceramicstyle batman
http://www.ebay.com/csc/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=IWC+ceramic&LH_Complete=1&rt=nc