False plates

QuestionEdit

I HAVE AN OLD GERMAN CLOCK WORKS (WORKING FINE) BUT I NEED TO FIND A FALSE PLATE REPLACEMENT FOR THE DIAL. THE CLOCK WAS MADE BY BADISCHE UHRENFABRIK AND I ALSO BOUGHT A NEW DIAL FACE AND DON'T KNOW HOW TO MEASURE WHERE THE WINDING HOLES SHOULD BE DRILLED. THANK YOU, ELLIE

AnswerEdit

Ellie, I do this occasionally and it is rather difficult and time consuming to match a dial to a movement for which it was not designed. The false plate has to be attached to the dial in some way to be reliable. I have used epoxy or drilled holes in the dial (behind a removable part such as the time ring) for screws to be screwed in matching holes in the false plate. Dial posts have to be mounted on the false plate to match the holes (if there are any) in the front plate of the movement. The dial posts have to be turned down to fit the holes and the posts and the shoulders have to be dimensioned so the dial is at the right distance from the front plate so the hand shaft protrudes the correct amount for the hands to be mounted with proper clearance from the dial. If the dial has a moon dial, the drive mechanism will have to be positioned and aligned. Then the EXACT dimensions have to be used when drilling or punching the holes for the winding arbors. I have designed a special tool for this using a digital caliper. If the holes are off slightly, the key will interfere with the dial when winding. As I said I occasionally install a false plate for this. I don't know exactly your application, but often I will attach the dial to the dial board or frame centered on the clock and then mount the movement so it matches the holes, which have been punched EXACTLY to be centered on the dial. If you would like to email me at my shop address below, I can discuss your application and maybe give you some more specific instructions. I will not be able to give you any details until after May 25, as I am out of state on a trip and will not return to my shop until then. Let me know.

Note: Because of the number of Allexpert questions and follow ups, and the excessive backlog in my shop, I regret that I can only answer the Allexperts related questions in a timely manner.