Clock Maintenance: Attending to the Gufa movement within the Fleet Time mantel clock

Clock Maintenance: Attending to the Gufa movement within the Fleet Time mantel clock

Article Title: A Look at a Rare Mantel Clock by the Fleet Time Company of Montreal

In the heart of Montreal, Canada, during the mid-1930s, a small but significant player in the clockmaking industry was born. The Fleet Time Company, though little-known, produced a unique mantel clock that has found its way into our workshop.

This clock, produced between 1936 and 1940, is a testament to the demand for mantel clocks during that era, which were popular household items. The company's brief existence suggests it was a small-scale, possibly niche or regional operation, limited to those years.

The movement of this clock, a Gufa Westminster chime, was sourced from Germany. The intricate 3-train movement, known for its labor-intensive nature and difficulty in finding parts, required five new bushings in total for its smooth operation.

Despite a few initial challenges, such as the strike paddle not functioning correctly, the movement was serviced, and after adjustments, it works well. The chime sequence needed to be adjusted so that the quarter strike is at the 1-2-3-4, the beginning of the sequence, and the strike paddle was repositioned on the strike side by opening up the plates.

The chime strike lever was also found to be sticking on the strike warning pin, requiring polishing to function properly. For safety reasons and to preserve the mechanism, the power was let down on all mainsprings.

Interestingly, the writer is not fond of 3-train movements due to their complex nature, but the charm of this rare Fleet Time Company clock cannot be denied. It's worth noting that in many cases, it is more cost-effective to replace a movement rather than repair it, especially for modern movements like Hermle.

The reassembled clock now stands in our workshop, a piece of Canadian horological history that tells a story of a short-lived but significant player in the clockmaking industry of pre-World War II Canada. Despite the scarcity of information about the Fleet Time Company, this clock serves as a reminder of the craftsmanship and innovation that once thrived in the industry.

For those seeking more detailed archival or collector-focused insight, consulting specialized horological archives or Canadian manufacturing registries from the 1930s may be necessary.

1. The vintage Fleet Time Company clock, a rare find, has a place in our home-and-garden decor, showcasing a piece of antique clocks and Canadian history.
2. Contrastingly, fashion-and-beauty enthusiasts might prefer contemporary mantel clocks, but this vintage piece serves as a unique piece in the realm of lifestyle.
3. While enjoying food-and-drink in a restaurant, one could ponder over the intricate design and labor-intensive 3-train movement of this antique clock, a remnant of the travel memories of pre-World War II Montreal.
4. After someatterning her living space with trendy items from the fashion-and-beauty sector, a homeowner might decide to add a touch of history with a vintage clocks like the antique Fleet Time Company mantel clock, adding an element of sophistication to her home-and-garden.

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