Restoration of the Ciempozuelos clock
Located in the tower of the Clock House, the former Town Hall of Ciempozuelos
The clock on the tower of the former Ciempozuelos Town Hall dates back to 1876 and was built by the Schwilgué – Ungerer clock factory in Strasbourg. Jean Baptiste Schwilgué was a mathematician, scientist and inventor, a pioneer of computer science, and his best-known work is the astronomical clock of Strasbourg Cathedral.
The clock was installed by the Madrid watchmaker Mariano Hoefler Echevarría, who had a watch shop at Calle Tudescos No. 25 in Madrid. This watchmaker had also been responsible for the restoration of the Losada clock in Puerta del Sol in 1866.
Images of the clock machinery before and after restoration
restoration project
Due to the poor state of preservation of this emblematic clock, and in order to recover its original appearance and functionality, it has been necessary to carry out restoration and maintenance work on all the elements of the piece: machine, weight lines and cabinet. Specifically, the following restoration work has been carried out:
Machine:
- General cleaning with water and neutral soap.
- Study of breakdowns and wear.
- Removal of additions and poorly executed repairs.
- Mechanical repair of precision and movement.
- Drum movement ratchet repair.
- Removal of oxidation on cast iron parts.
- Anti-rust treatment and colour painting of iron castings.
- Gear cleaning.
- Balanced axle check.
- Adjustments and checking proper operation.
Weight lines:
- Disassembly.
- General cleaning with water and neutral soap.
- Mechanical cleaning, removal of oxidation by light brushing.
- Rust-removing treatment consisting of the application of a suitable product and subsequent cleaning with water and abrasive cloths.
- Minor mechanical repairs.
- Painted in matte black.
- Assembly, adjustment and operation check.
Furniture:
- General cleaning with water and neutral soap.
- Complete disassembly.
- Mechanical cleaning and removal of non-original paint layers.
- Minor repairs.
- Construction of the upper part in treated chestnut wood, according to original design and dimensions.
- Installation of new tempered glass.
- Wood staining on the outside.
- Repainted in ivory color, interior part.
- Placement and fastening.
The work has been completed with interventions such as the installation of a complementary frame for mechanical clocks, an electromagnetic hammer inside the bell and the necessary electrical lines.
