Can I clean the metal case safely?

Dusting with a soft dry brush is the safest approach for the case. Spelter finishes sit on the surface rather than penetrating the metal, making them vulnerable to friction. Avoid using liquid polishes or damp cloths. Chemical cleaners will strip away the faux-bronze patination and leave bare grey zinc exposed.

My clock has a broken arm on the main figure and I was wondering if a normal welder can fix this kind of metal?

Traditional welding will destroy the surrounding metal. The zinc alloy used in Antique Spelter Clocks has a very low melting point, meaning standard welding torches will simply melt the figure into a puddle. Restoration requires a specialist who understands cold metal repair. They use specialised epoxies or low-temperature solders to reattach broken limbs, followed by careful colour matching to hide the join.

Do these need winding every single day?

Most French movements from this period are designed to run for eight days on a full wind. You generally only need to wind the mainsprings once a week to keep them running on time. The mechanism usually has two winding arbors on the dial. One controls the timekeeping train, while the other powers the strike train that sounds the hours and half-hours on a bell.

There is a small metal disc on a threaded rod hanging at the back of the movement, but how do I use it to adjust the time?

That disc is the pendulum bob, and it controls how fast or slow the clock runs. Turning the small nut at the bottom raises or lowers the bob on its threaded rod. To make the clock run faster, turn the nut to raise the bob upwards. If the clock runs fast, lower the bob slightly. Always make very small adjustments, perhaps a quarter turn at a time. Leave the clock to run for a few days between adjustments to see the true effect on the timekeeping.

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Antique spelter clocks feature decorative cast-metal figural cases originally designed to imitate expensive bronze. They sit squarely on mantels, providing middle-class Victorian and Edwardian homes with an imposing focal point that housed a reliable spring-driven mechanism.

French Mantel Clock Le Premier Miroit Signed Francois Moreau

19th century

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French Mantel Clock Le Premier Miroit Signed Francois Moreau

From Shackladys Antiques

£1,100

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