VR-266 - Porthole 2 weight Vienna Regulator by Gustav Becker
The German movement is marked with the distinctive Becker circular trademarks, and is serial numbered 429664. Based on the trademarks, this clock comes from the Braunau, Bohemia Becker factory. The references seem to agree that the factory was started in 1888, in the former Austrian - Hungarian Danube Federation of Braunau. Braunau (now Broumov, CSR) was annexed by Czechoslovakia after World War I. Unfortunately a dating system has not been established for the serial numbers from the Braunau factory.
Striking on a long, straight gong, this clock has a porcelain dial in perfect condition with no chips or hair-line cracks. The dial has grommets to the winding holes, a nice touch that helps eliminate chipping the dial while winding the clock, and the pendulum adjusting nut is made in two parts so you can lock the nut in place (ok - I’m not sure why the nut would move, but it is interesting to note that on some of the nicer clocks they use the two part nuts, almost like they think the nuts will unwind or something). The pulleys are embossed, the clock has its original, ornate, metal beat scale, original wall stabilizers, perfect (if tarnished) pendulum bob with steel back, good condition weights, with a few dings, but also with top plates that are knurled around the edges - a nice touch. I mentioned the straight gong - for some this is a very desirable feature in that the straight gongs have a deeper, more resonating tone than the more conventional coiled gongs. And this gong, being longer than most, is quite deep and melodious.
The case is in very, very nice condition, as I hope you can tell in the photos. It is very clean, and doesn’t even have a crack in the port-hole surround, which nearly all of these clocks have developed over the years. And, the case has a key-locked door (quite rare on a Becker) and all of the glass is old and wavy!
Note too the unusual, correct headpiece, and the lovely carving to the section below the headpiece. This clock has a number of lovely features that make the case stand-out.
The port-hole style case is ready to hang, in very nice condition, and it is a Becker to boot!
Read MoreStriking on a long, straight gong, this clock has a porcelain dial in perfect condition with no chips or hair-line cracks. The dial has grommets to the winding holes, a nice touch that helps eliminate chipping the dial while winding the clock, and the pendulum adjusting nut is made in two parts so you can lock the nut in place (ok - I’m not sure why the nut would move, but it is interesting to note that on some of the nicer clocks they use the two part nuts, almost like they think the nuts will unwind or something). The pulleys are embossed, the clock has its original, ornate, metal beat scale, original wall stabilizers, perfect (if tarnished) pendulum bob with steel back, good condition weights, with a few dings, but also with top plates that are knurled around the edges - a nice touch. I mentioned the straight gong - for some this is a very desirable feature in that the straight gongs have a deeper, more resonating tone than the more conventional coiled gongs. And this gong, being longer than most, is quite deep and melodious.
The case is in very, very nice condition, as I hope you can tell in the photos. It is very clean, and doesn’t even have a crack in the port-hole surround, which nearly all of these clocks have developed over the years. And, the case has a key-locked door (quite rare on a Becker) and all of the glass is old and wavy!
Note too the unusual, correct headpiece, and the lovely carving to the section below the headpiece. This clock has a number of lovely features that make the case stand-out.
The port-hole style case is ready to hang, in very nice condition, and it is a Becker to boot!
