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Servicing an Antique HAC Mantel Clock: A Journey Through Time
In the world of antique clocks, every tick and tock has a story to tell. One such tale belongs to an HAC mantel clock, a piece of German clockmaking history that has found a new home with its current owner.
The HAC mantel clock, a product of the Hamburg Amerikanische Uhrenfabrik (HAU) company, is a testament to the craftsmanship of late 19th and early 20th-century German clockmaking. HAU, also known as the Hamburg American Clock Company (HAC), was a notable manufacturer known for its pendulum-regulated movements and mechanical mainsprings, features that are still valued by collectors today.
This particular HAC mantel clock, bought earlier this year from an online estate auction site, is a typical 14-day German time and count-wheel strike, produced around 1900 to 1910. The movement, requiring 9 bushings for servicing, with 4 on the backplate and 5 on the front plate, has been meticulously serviced. After assembly and oiling, both the strike and the time side are running well.
The movement's mainsprings have an interesting detail—the time side has the HAC cross arrows stamped on it, while the strike side mainspring has been replaced at some point in the past. Winding the clock once per week ensures more accurate timekeeping.
This HAC mantel clock marks the owner's first piece from the company, joining a collection that already includes other German clockmakers such as Junghans, Mauthe, Hermle, Jauch, Gufa, and, of course, HAU. The clock was found during the Christmas season, adding a touch of holiday magic to its story.
As the servicing of the movement is complete, the next step is working on the case, a process that will reveal more about this antique clock's history. For those interested in following this journey, consider subscribing to get the latest posts sent directly to your email.
References:
[1] "Hamburg Amerikanische Uhrenfabrik (HAU)." Watch Wiki, 2021, https://www.watchwiki.org/en/Hamburg_Amerikanische_Uhrenfabrik.
[2] "Hamburg American Clock Company." Antique Clocks, 2021, https://www.antique-clocks.com/hamburg-american-clock-company/.
[3] "Hamburg Amerikanische Uhrenfabrik (HAU) - History." Clockworks Museum, 2021, https://www.clockworks.org/HAU/HAU.html.
Despite its vintage origins, the owner's latest acquisition, the HAC mantel clock, coexists harmoniously with modern smart-home devices. Intriguingly, this collection of gadgets features smart-home devices that can sync with the clock's accurate timekeeping, demonstrating how technology from different eras can complement each other.
