Pictures

Wm. L. Gilbert 2071 Normandy Chime (bim-bam) Tambour Mantel Clock, circa 1920's

This is a typical tambour style mantel clock made by Wm. L. Gilbert Clock Co. The bottom is stamped 2071 which I believe is the model mumbler. The movement is a two-hammer "bim-Bam" movement which Gilbert called Normandy Chime. The hammer mechanism is typical Gilbert with a little pin wheel on the back of the movement that raises and drops the hammers through a series of levers and wires. A small "arm" attached to the back end of the minute arbor lifts and drops a single hammer on the half-hour. The sound is by a pair of tone rods in the base of the clock and the sound is quite nice. The movement has a solid brass back plate and a cut out front plate. Strike control is by count wheel. Gilbert made similar movements with plated steel plates, but the brass movement is much nicer. The bezel is fitted with a unique patented twist-lock retaining ring, which is stamped with a patent date of Sept. 17, 1920. Based on the patent date, and the style of clock, I would say this one was from around 1920.

As received the movement was very dirty and required eleven bushings. Both No. 2 lantern pinions were very sloppy. One had been soldered, and while it does not look very nice it does appear solid, so I simply soldered the other one. When I have nothing better to I'll make two new lantern pinions for this clock, but for now is is running just fine. At least one of the springs is an earlier replacement but both seem to be ok. The pendulum bob is obviously a replacement and the suspension rod appears to be a replacement trimmed to work with this pendulum. The case has been refinished and while not perfect, looks nice. The dial glass is plastic and looks to be a replacement, which I can change out for glass if and when I get around to cleaning up the other irregularities.



Not for sale
(donated to charity auction)

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Unless otherwise credited, the pictures and information on this page are the property of Robert H Croswell & Greenfield Clock shop, 4180 Main Street, Trappe, MD 21673 and may not be sold or used for commercial purposes without permission. © 2016
email:  bobby@greenfieldclockshop.com