VR-534 3 Weight Schlenker-Kienzle Mechanism
The trademark on this mechanism’s back-plate is very similar to a logo registered in 1898 to Schlenker-Kienzle. The only difference is the logo shown in Kochmann has the name Kienzle above the center section of the logo. I suspect this mechanism dates to perhaps 1905, and is a follow-on to the logo registered in 1898.
This mechanism uses the French-style strike springs (thin wire extending from the front plate) and, rather unusually, has letters stamped on the back-plate, winding drums, and winding drum gears to identify these components for their respective trains. I often see these same letters – “S” for hour train, “G” for time train, and “V” for quarter train – scratched into gears and springs and the like. But this is the first time I have seen them stamped in by the makers. The really funny part is the drums for the time and the quarter trains were miss-stamped – they do not fit as well in their designated holes as they do when reversed. Which is the way they were found when I took apart the mechanism.
This mechanism is one that I don’t think has ever had its winding drums taken apart. Some factories made the winding drums such that you could replace the line without taking the drums apart. I found 5 knotted ends in one of the drums, and, given the screws looked like they had never been loosened – a very original piece!
Read MoreThis mechanism uses the French-style strike springs (thin wire extending from the front plate) and, rather unusually, has letters stamped on the back-plate, winding drums, and winding drum gears to identify these components for their respective trains. I often see these same letters – “S” for hour train, “G” for time train, and “V” for quarter train – scratched into gears and springs and the like. But this is the first time I have seen them stamped in by the makers. The really funny part is the drums for the time and the quarter trains were miss-stamped – they do not fit as well in their designated holes as they do when reversed. Which is the way they were found when I took apart the mechanism.
This mechanism is one that I don’t think has ever had its winding drums taken apart. Some factories made the winding drums such that you could replace the line without taking the drums apart. I found 5 knotted ends in one of the drums, and, given the screws looked like they had never been loosened – a very original piece!
