Restored 1930s Art Deco Westminster Chime Mantel Clock Alpine Carved Case
Restored 1930s Art Deco Westminster Chime Mantel Clock Alpine Carved Case
Art Deco Oak Westminster Chiming Mantel Clock
Meet Heidi — a handsome Art Deco oak mantel clock of generous proportions, with a domed arched top, angled shoulders and a richly figured, warmly toned case. The lower front carries hand-cut decoration in the form of stylised wave crests above a beaded and fluted moulding set with small carved florets, a confident piece of period cabinet work that gives the clock real presence on a mantel or shelf.
Behind the hinged nickel-plated bezel sits a brass chapter ring with bold black Arabic numerals and an open centre, allowing the grain of the case itself to form the dial background. It is an unusual and rather handsome arrangement, and one that sets this clock apart from the more common silvered-dial examples of the same era.
The Movement
A German eight-day triple-train mechanical movement, wound at three separate arbors so that the timekeeping, quarter chime and hour strike trains each run independently. A single weekly winding of all three keeps the clock going. The Westminster melody sounds at the quarter, half and three-quarter hours, with the full melody followed by the hour count struck on the hour.
The chimes are played on a bank of tuned steel rods rather than a coiled gong, which gives a brighter, more resonant tone with a longer decay. The rods are clearly visible through the rear door.
The backplate is stamped 12 cm / 190,66 together with the movement number 44370. The 12 cm figure denotes the pendulum specification. The movement carries no maker's name or trademark, as was common with movements supplied in bulk to case makers and retailers, so it is offered here as unsigned German work rather than attributed to any particular factory.
The chiming can be silenced when quiet is preferred. This is done using the locking bar at the rear of the movement, reached through the back door, rather than by the selector on the dial face. The dial selector itself does not operate the mechanism and should be treated as decorative.
The movement has been fully dismantled, cleaned, inspected, correctly lubricated and reassembled on the bench, then set up, tested and regulated over an extended run. It is running, chiming and striking correctly, with the chime sequence in step with the hour.
Service Carried Out
- ✓ Movement fully dismantled and all three trains stripped
- ✓ Plates, wheels and pinions cleaned and rinsed
- ✓ Pivots and bushes inspected under magnification
- ✓ Mainsprings cleaned and lubricated with Novostar spring oil
- ✓ Pivots oiled with synthetic clock oil
- ✓ Escapement checked and beat set
- ✓ Chime and strike trains synchronised and tested
- ✓ Chime rods and hammers adjusted for even tone
- ✓ Case cleaned and revived by hand, original finish retained
- ✓ Extended test run on the bench before listing
Case & Dial
The oak case is well figured, with strong medullary ray flecking across the arched top and a deep, warm reddish-brown tone to the finish. The angled shoulders and domed crown are characteristic of British and German mantel clock cases of the interwar years, while the carved wave motif and beaded plinth moulding place it firmly in the Art Deco decorative idiom.
The case sits on a stepped ebonised plinth. Hinged rear access allows the movement, chime rods and pendulum to be seen and adjusted.
The brass chapter ring has mellowed to a soft gilt tone with even age-related patination. This has deliberately been preserved rather than refinished, as it forms an important part of the clock's authentic character. Slender polished spade hands complete the dial.
A Note on Movements of This Type
Between the wars, the clockmaking towns of the Black Forest and Württemberg supplied movements in very large numbers to case makers and retailers across Britain. Triple-train Westminster movements chiming on rods were among the finest of these, requiring far more skill to make and to set up than a simple hour-striking train. They were bought in by British firms and fitted into locally made oak cases, which is why so many clocks of this period pair a German movement with an unmistakably British piece of cabinet work. Movements from this era were built to a standard rather than a price, and a well-serviced example will keep good time and chime reliably for many years to come.
Dimensions
| Height | Approx. 22 cm (8¾ in) |
| Width | Approx. 38 cm (15 in) |
| Depth | Approx. 12 cm (4¾ in) |
Dating
Indicatively dated to circa 1930. This is based on the case form and carved decoration, the style of the dial and hands, and the construction of the movement. It is offered as an evidence-based estimate rather than a documented date.
Condition
Presented in serviced working order. As an original clock of around ninety years of age, it carries the patination and light cosmetic marks consistent with its years. Please study the photographs closely, as they form part of the description.
Please note that the chime and silent selector on the dial is not connected and does not operate. Silencing is done using the locking bar at the rear, as described above, and the clock otherwise runs, chimes and strikes as it should.
Supplied with a winding key and the pendulum. Mechanical clocks can need a little adjustment after transit and should be set up on a firm, level surface. Clear setting-up guidance is included, and I am always glad to help by message afterwards.
Bought Ready to Run
A full service on a triple-train chiming movement is skilled work, and having one carried out commercially usually means a substantial bill and a long wait for a bench slot. This clock has already had that work done, so it can be wound, set and enjoyed from the day it arrives.
Packing & Delivery
The pendulum is removed and the chime hammers and rods secured before packing. The clock is then double boxed with generous protection and sent by a tracked, insured service. Packing clocks properly is a skill in itself, and one I take seriously.