Seth Thomas model number 2 malfunctions - fixing the cleaning and brushing mechanisms should restore its functionality
Restoring a Vintage Seth Thomas Regulator #2 Clock: A Careful Servicing Process
After three weeks of dedicated servicing, a 90-year-old Seth Thomas Regulator #2 clock is running smoothly once more. This American classic, popular between 1860 and 1950, has been carefully restored to its former glory.
The clock, standing at 36 ½ inches tall and veneered in mahogany, resembles the 1860 version of the #2. It features Arabic numbers, spade hands, a one-piece bow-tie, and a seconds hand 2 inches above the center cannon. The clock's pendulum bob and weight were polished during the servicing process, improving its appearance.
Servicing an antique clock like the Seth Thomas Regulator #2 requires meticulous cleaning, inspection, and replacement or fitting of worn bushings in the movement pivot holes. This process restores smooth operation and prevents further wear on the clock’s components.
The first step in the servicing process is the disassembly of the movement, carefully removing it from the case and taking apart the gear train and other components, noting their original placement for reassembly.
Thorough cleaning follows, using an appropriate clock cleaning solution to remove old oil, dirt, and old grease that could impair function.
Inspection for wear is crucial, checking all pivots (the ends of gear shafts) and bushings (the brass or bronze bearings in the plates and frames where pivots rotate) for wear. Wear is indicated by elongated or oval-shaped pivot holes or loose motion in the gear arbor. Wear is common where the movement has operated for many decades.
If bushings are worn, they need to be replaced or "bushed out." This involves drilling out the worn pivot holes carefully to remove old bushings or enlarge worn holes to a round shape. Press-fitting new brass bushings of the correct diameter into the drilled holes follows, and these bushings are then re-bushed (reamed) to the proper size so the pivot fits with just the right amount of endshake and side shake, enabling smooth rotation.
The pivots are polished and checked for straightness to ensure they rotate smoothly inside the new bushings. After bushing installation and cleaning, the movement is reassembled, lubricated, and tested.
Setting the regulator to control the pendulum’s swing and ensuring the clock keeps proper time is the final step. While the specific detailed procedural manual for the Seth Thomas Regulator #2 is rare, servicing antique Seth Thomas regulator movements follows clock repair best practices.
Given the age and mechanical nature of the Seth Thomas Regulator #2, addressing worn bushings is critical to restoring reliable and accurate operation. If you do not have specialized clock repair tools, it is advisable to consult or employ a skilled horologist experienced specifically with Seth Thomas regulators. This type of servicing preserves the historical and mechanical integrity of the clock.
- The restored Seth Thomas Regulator #2 clock, a testament to the fashion-and-beauty of vintage clocks, stands tall in a home-and-garden setting with its timeless design and elegant mahogany veneer.
- After an extensive travel across multiple cities, a horologist specializing in clock repair found a rare antique clocks auction and acquired a vintage Seth Thomas Regulator #2 clock for restoration.
- While enjoying a food-and-drink evening with friends, our horologist proudly displayed the restored clock on their coffee table, contributing to an enriching lifestyle conversation about the history of the clock.
- The horologist, eager to dive into the next challenge, browsed through travel guides looking for vintage clock shops in Europe to service more vintage clocks, such as the Seth Thomas Regulator #2, and expand their collection.
- As the horologist fine-tuned the vintage car engine, they imagined the excited faces of collectors admiring their gleaming 1930s-era automobile alongside antique clocks, like the Seth Thomas Regulator #2, at a classic car show, where the vintage details and timeless aesthetics captivate enthusiasts one and all.
