Wooden Mechanical Metronome - Instrument Restoration
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- Опубліковано 20 вер 2024
- This German made, Maelzel style Metronome has seen better days. A fully mechanical device from around the 1950's, based off a patent from the early 1800's, this metronome has probably sat above an old piano gathering dust for quite awhile, not keeping time. In this video, I touch on some of the history and functions of the this antique, as well as explaining some of the techniques used to restore it such as polishing, staining and applying shellac in a way similar to French Polishing.
Music: www.bensound.com
And it seems to be the only metronome restoration video on UA-cam of such quality
Thank you kindly 😀
Excellent video! I appreciate the commentary and that you took the time to add captions.
Thanks heaps. I'm glad you enjoyed it!
I have just found a mahogany Wittner model made in Germany with bell last used in the 1960s, some differences but your video is a good general start to get it going again. It immediately releases the whole wound-up spring.
Very cool! Check the the gears are meshing and not spinning free on the shafts. Though I am not sure if the bell mechanism effects it or not.
Beautiful work
Thank you! 😀
As a watch/clock maker, i will say that Dremel hurt my soul, but it actually working is much better than it collecting dust. Excellent work!
Thank you! What is the preferred method? Just hand polishing?
What a beautiful job, it was a pleasure to see you working and hear the history behind the metronome. Thanks for sharing!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Awesome finish
This is really beautiful. The shine on the workings is so good even though they probably won't be seen it's great that you polished them up. Love the colour of the wood, it's so beautiful 😍
I totally agree!
The finish is absolutely gorgeous, loved watching your work
Thanks, I ended up giving it to a friend of mine that is a musician, and his jaw dropped when he first saw it. Really nice piece to work on.
Gorgeous -- I love the gloss, and the depth of the finish! Such beautiful wood!
Glad you like it! It has been passed on to a friend of mine that teaches music, and they say it keeps excellent time.
Stunning. I am amazed at the transformation.
Thanks heaps, Dave ✌
Вы находка,вдохновения!
Такие добрые слова, спасибо большое
Great to hear the history and how it all works .Great job 👍👩🔧
Thanks heaps!
I have one of these - same age, same maker, but mine has a Bell too. Mine is still in original finish, and is looking good. You did a great job of restoring this, and even cleaning all the mechanism parts ! Thanks for sharing your skills - fantastic to watch. Take care 🙂
I wish this was the bell version. In my research I saw them and they looked so interesting. Thanks for watching!
interesting project and excellent restoration. I like it 👍
Thanks!
Nice work. 👍
Thank you for saying!
Great work! I really enjoy the commentary. Cheers!
Thank you for the great restoration video! I have an old metronome I considered restoring and that’s how I found your video. Mine does not beat evenly so it may not be worth fixing.
Glad you enjoyed it! It may just need tuning. If it's similar to mine, the screw on the front and how it's components are aligned effects the beat. I recently gave mine to a musician friend that told me it was a little off so I spent a few hours adjusting and tweaking and now it's as good as any he has had.
Very good restoration 👍
Thanks heaps!
I definitely remember this one from school:) Great restoration - totally enjoyable!
Omg! That’s so beautiful 😍
Thank you! 😊
A joy for ever! Lovely restoration.
Glad you enjoyed it!
@@RestorationEndeavours sure I did! :)
Great video! I usually don't like sound over restoration videos but your explanations are really nice to hear! I just happen to have a similar metronome with a few imperfections, you made me wanna try and restore it :D
Thanks heaps. Definitely give it a go! I finally got mine tuned in perfectly and it's so satisfying. Good luck!
Clockmaker here --this is making hard work of a simple job. To remove the pins from the escutcheon without marking the wood, one only needs a fine pair of top cutters to get under the pins. The cutters rest on a razor blade to prevent them digging into the wood when levering the pins out. The parts of the movement can be cleaned either by using degreaser or a clock cleaning solution, power tools are not necessary as such methods are amateurish. In any case, the mainspring should be removed to clean it and check the hooking, using a mainspring winder to take it out and put it in without damaging the barrel edge and spring.
A gem the video, thank you very much. Please, I lost the secondary pendulum... how to replace it... How much does the secondary pendulum weigh in a Wittner...
It is cast in place on mine, so I am not sure. There would have to be a mathematical way to calculate what it should be. I will try and find out!
Nice job. What i don’t get is why you would skip the main spring. It is a quick and easy job to clean and reoil. With hardened sticky oil, the metronome is unreliable in its main job: keeping steady pace.
My main worry was that I wouldn't be able to rewind it properly. If I had at it again, I would give it a shot.
Nice. I'd like to restore a metronome I bought recently but I'm a bit nervous about taking the mechanism out. It works perfectly atm and I wouldn't want to ruin it!
That was my reasoning behind not clear coating parts and not opening the mainspring housing. I say go for it! Worst case scenario, they can be rebalanced but just go in carefully. Good luck!
@@RestorationEndeavours I've taken the mechanism out no problem but don't think i'll be deconstructing it any further. One problem I have is that I can't remove the metal from where the winder goes in the side of the wooden casing. I've managed to get the oval front plaque off the front but the other one isn't showing any sign of movement. Have you got any tips for removing this piece?
I had to use 2 razorblades to lift the plates a little before I could get under them. Hopefully it hasn't come off in the past and been glued back on!
@@RestorationEndeavours I got it off in the end but it was tricky. Thanks for the tips!
They were common in Argentina. I have the same brand and model...
Hi
All was good until the reassembly of the parts. I couldn’t follow which bit went where. Is there any video where this happens more slowly ? Thanks.
Are you working on one and need advice? Also, in the UA-cam player, you should have a speed control in the settings and you can slow it down if needed.
I enjoyed this video. Out of curiosity, what music do you play? Piano, Guitar?
A little Guitar and some Euphonium back in the day!
Nice job. Do we get to hear it?
I haven't watched this one in awhile..... do I never actually set it ticking? It's now in use by my friend that is a conductor. I'll have to borrow it back!
Wish we could hear how the actual mechanism sounds.
I haven't tried YT Shorts yet, but I will see if I can put something up for you!
Hi - would love to know what state you are in / I have a wittner metronome that needs restoration.
I'm in southern QLD. My advice would be to give it a try and take it slow, and watch lots of videos. That's one of the ways I learn what to do and what to avoid. Good luck!
Interesting to note but Aussies make note when using slang or a term not used widely eg metho. However, in Canada and USA they don’t feel the need to clarify terms. For example 4 O steel wool, they call it, what sounds to me as 4 ott. They all say it like this.
I think it is just myself realising how weird some slang can be, and that a lot of my audience is international.
"Ought" I hear that here in the U.S. .
Means "four zero" ("ought" meaning zero).
@@aaabbb8812 In my dictionary there is "naught" meaning zero and there's "ought" meaning "I ought to be happy now I understand the meaning of ought”
How much do you want for that door latch?
You could find a similar one from a timber working store. They sell them in brass. Try searching for a 'box hook latch'.
5:01 I can't even see what letters are curved.
Look through jewelry parts for your hook
Nicely done, you could be a little more gentle with your craftsmanship.
Thanks for the feedback! Do you mean in general or the new hook I made?