VR-397 - Altdeutsche 3 weight Austrian Vienna Regulator of week duration by Winbauer & Dangel in Wien
In as much as Claterbos does not list either a Winbauer or Dangel, I suspect we would find, if we lived in the last quarter of the nineteenth century, that there was a clock, watch and perhaps jewelry store in Vienna by this name. I suggest this because it is apparent, when looking at how the name was put on the dial, that the lettering it is not as pronounced as that typically found on these dials. I suspect it was added after the clock was made, and delivered to the shop where it was first sold.
I find that each clock that I look at leaves me with a first impression - my “at a glance” feeling for a clock. This one left me with two thought, firstly, the very delicately pierced hands, amongst the finest in this web-page. Next was the overall “tidy” nature of the case. Tidy. As in all of the bits seem to fit perfectly, not too big, not too small, just very well balanced. I especially like the feel it gives of not being too big - not overpowering. I suspect if it had a top and a bottom it would be a fairly impressive piece. As it is, I rather like its simplicity, including the lovely way the bottom just curves back, giving it a rather complete look - like it really doesn’t want the complications of a bottom finial.
Note the rather understated door column treatment - not gaudy, or overstated, but very nicely done - in a sort of a prim and proper way. The column tops being very precisely done, but not flashy. Sort of like the understated elegance of a 50's Bently motor car.
I also rather liked the carved bit to the backboard, enclosed as it were in a picture frame. This matches the carving on the tail, and enhances the rather elegant impact of this piece.
Note too, the key-lock door, and the use of strips of wood to hold the glass in the case and door - and the wood is stained and finished to match the case - laying in just so - not the un-finished strips one finds in some later clocks.
Then there are the paint spatters - granted, it would only take 20 minutes or so to gently pop them off with a fingernail, then lightly rub with my favorite rubbing compound, and wax to perfection. And, if I weren’t so far behind on getting clocks shot for this catalog...
None the less, I find this piece very nice, understated, and elegant. Other than cleaning up the rather profuse paint spatters on the base, and giving it a good waxing, I would leave it as is.
The mechanism is of the standard one expects of a Viennese piece - exquisite wheel work, very fine pivots, all very well done. And, while it could use cleaned, it is in excellent condition. The dial is very nice condition, with very minor hairline cracks to the 4 and 8 position on the chapter ring. And, with grommets to all four holes in the dial, the names in script to the center, and the wonderfully fine hands - this dial makes a wonderful statement.
A word on hairline cracks. I do not have time to go through these pieces before listing - and, too often, when I do go through a clock before putting it on my site, it sells right off the bat - so it never manages to make the site. But, when one cleans a dial with hairline cracks the cracks virtually disappear - you see, it is the smallest bit of grime in the crack that makes them visible. As part of cleaning a mechanism I use an ultrasound cleaner and a mild soap and bleach solution to remove the grime from the minuscule cracks. End effect is you will have a very difficult time finding them after I have gone through the mechanism. And, when I go through a mechanism I fix any little niggling challenge that I find, including replacing the weight lines with a modern, braided very high strength line that will last for a very long time.
While I did not list the pulleys as the first thing I noted on this clock, they are the thing that will probably stick in my mind the longest. These are not the typical embossed (as in stamped) pulleys - the covers have been beautifully engraved - both front and back. The more observant of you probably noted that I shot the back of the pulleys, since I usually have the screw heads showing - and since most people consider the screw-head side the front of the pulley. In this case I shot the back just to show that they too are engraved, and every bit as nice as the fronts.
The weights are in good condition (look closely in the picture of the pulley, and note that even the washers below the weight hooks are knurled on their edges!), the bob near perfect (with one minor ding), and the beat scale is just right - understated, and a perfect compliment for this piece. And, this piece has its original wall stabilizers and a rather nice wooden-handled winding key.
This clock is an excellent example of the upper end of the Viennese clocks of the last quarter of the 1800's.
Read MoreI find that each clock that I look at leaves me with a first impression - my “at a glance” feeling for a clock. This one left me with two thought, firstly, the very delicately pierced hands, amongst the finest in this web-page. Next was the overall “tidy” nature of the case. Tidy. As in all of the bits seem to fit perfectly, not too big, not too small, just very well balanced. I especially like the feel it gives of not being too big - not overpowering. I suspect if it had a top and a bottom it would be a fairly impressive piece. As it is, I rather like its simplicity, including the lovely way the bottom just curves back, giving it a rather complete look - like it really doesn’t want the complications of a bottom finial.
Note the rather understated door column treatment - not gaudy, or overstated, but very nicely done - in a sort of a prim and proper way. The column tops being very precisely done, but not flashy. Sort of like the understated elegance of a 50's Bently motor car.
I also rather liked the carved bit to the backboard, enclosed as it were in a picture frame. This matches the carving on the tail, and enhances the rather elegant impact of this piece.
Note too, the key-lock door, and the use of strips of wood to hold the glass in the case and door - and the wood is stained and finished to match the case - laying in just so - not the un-finished strips one finds in some later clocks.
Then there are the paint spatters - granted, it would only take 20 minutes or so to gently pop them off with a fingernail, then lightly rub with my favorite rubbing compound, and wax to perfection. And, if I weren’t so far behind on getting clocks shot for this catalog...
None the less, I find this piece very nice, understated, and elegant. Other than cleaning up the rather profuse paint spatters on the base, and giving it a good waxing, I would leave it as is.
The mechanism is of the standard one expects of a Viennese piece - exquisite wheel work, very fine pivots, all very well done. And, while it could use cleaned, it is in excellent condition. The dial is very nice condition, with very minor hairline cracks to the 4 and 8 position on the chapter ring. And, with grommets to all four holes in the dial, the names in script to the center, and the wonderfully fine hands - this dial makes a wonderful statement.
A word on hairline cracks. I do not have time to go through these pieces before listing - and, too often, when I do go through a clock before putting it on my site, it sells right off the bat - so it never manages to make the site. But, when one cleans a dial with hairline cracks the cracks virtually disappear - you see, it is the smallest bit of grime in the crack that makes them visible. As part of cleaning a mechanism I use an ultrasound cleaner and a mild soap and bleach solution to remove the grime from the minuscule cracks. End effect is you will have a very difficult time finding them after I have gone through the mechanism. And, when I go through a mechanism I fix any little niggling challenge that I find, including replacing the weight lines with a modern, braided very high strength line that will last for a very long time.
While I did not list the pulleys as the first thing I noted on this clock, they are the thing that will probably stick in my mind the longest. These are not the typical embossed (as in stamped) pulleys - the covers have been beautifully engraved - both front and back. The more observant of you probably noted that I shot the back of the pulleys, since I usually have the screw heads showing - and since most people consider the screw-head side the front of the pulley. In this case I shot the back just to show that they too are engraved, and every bit as nice as the fronts.
The weights are in good condition (look closely in the picture of the pulley, and note that even the washers below the weight hooks are knurled on their edges!), the bob near perfect (with one minor ding), and the beat scale is just right - understated, and a perfect compliment for this piece. And, this piece has its original wall stabilizers and a rather nice wooden-handled winding key.
This clock is an excellent example of the upper end of the Viennese clocks of the last quarter of the 1800's.
