Welding and Metalworking - Broken Brass Clock Hand

I just broke the minute hand on my 200+ yo grandfather clock!! It is the distal 1/3 of the hand and is a simple half round piece of discolored brass about the thickness of a Bic pen refill. It is somwhat primitive but elegant at the same time. What do I do? Is there a glue I could try? Can this be welded? Can it be welded without destroying the simple elegance or integrety of the piece? Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

Dave McClary
Traverse City, MI

Without seeing it I would be tempted to silver soder it. If I saw it and did not think that would be the best choice I would ask a jeweler to fix it, those boys fix some pretty delicate stuff. I am sure you will find other wisdom on here. good luck

That's a tough one...
Have you searched your neighborhood for a clocksmith ..? or online for parts?
Someone might have something that would work...!!

Dave,

I have a great deal of experience myself with different types of low temperature solder but even at that I personally would give it to a clockmaker.

A clock hand is very delicate and requires a very tiny torch I do not own and an experienced touch.

To replace it you could do a search using a term like "reproduction clock parts" you will come up with 193,000 hits.
You will need to know the shape and diameter of the attachment hole.

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These links R from the top of this page when I opened it, to see the replys.
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I know of a clocksmith in dwntwn YVR that has a whole bunch of hands, parts etc...
There are kits out there as well that may work for parts...
Itll take some searching...

Hi Dave i work as a clocksmith or horologist in Victoria Aust
The way we normally attack such a problem is to clean the underside of the hand about 10mm along from the break an then just use lead solder along with a small piece of clock spring or other thin hardened steel as a brace
Once hand cools down just carefully file back to shape
If you dont solder any type of brace to the hand it will break again
If you use low temp cig solder with seperate flux make sure you wash thoroughly as the flux seems to leach out of joint (have seen severe corosion from this type of flux show up weeks after job was done)
Hope this helps you out
Cheers peter
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