Schatz ATO clock with decorative pendulum

[dennishoy]

The clock is now finished. The pendulum lack of power was due to a worn pivot point. Repeated use of metal polish has smoothed off the edges and all is fine. No need to touch the electronics this time.

The only annoyance is a small hairline stress crack to the perspex dome.

The pictures show the completed pendulum assembly and the finished clock.

[Refugee]

I got a solid brass clock for free and all I had to do was allow a life assurance company to put me on there junk mailing list. It sat in a box for about 15 years as it did not fit in with the decor where we lived.
It found a location 4 years ago on the mantlepiece.
The battery only lasts for about 6 months due to the quartz movement having to drive the stepper device that operates the lunar cycle display.
Right now it has been displaced due to some engineering work.

[dennishoy]

That's quite a nice little clock.
The type that operates 'something else' like a lunar display or chimes is quite rare, although a dummy pendulum was an attraction for a few years.

If you open the back and look at the movement, it should have a maker's name cast into it somewhere; probably German and certainly not British if it lasts as long as 6 months between battery changes (unless the British manufacturer could fit a 'C' or 'D' cell into a much larger case).

[Refugee]

It is an early single AA cell movement with a slightly longer output spindle for the hands to fit onto.
It is not that easy to see exactly how the lunar cycle display is driven by the movement but it does have a notched wheel that runs against a sprung finger so that the display wheel is not loose and sloppy.
I will take a photo this evening.

[dennishoy]

I've had a quick search in the clock forums and I think this clock is quite unusual because of the extra lunar wheel. Ok, it doesn't have a key or mechanical movement, but these early clocks are becoming harder to find. It would be interesting to learn whose movement is used for this clock.

[Refugee]

It is an early example of a quartz movement of the same plan as the modern ones. It is a thru hole PCB from the late 1980s.
It is branded Eastern Time LTD.
The brand name on the face confirms to us all where I got it from.
The moon phase wheel must have 56 teeth and will be pushed on by a pin of some kind on the hour hand to advance it one full turn per lunar cycle.
The black on the wheel spring is a small smudge of lithium grease I put there in order to give the battery an easy life while it is pushing the wheel on.