Guide
Does an Atmos need oil?
In short: hardly at all. Compared with every other clock, the Atmos runs practically without oil – not an oversight, but a consequence of its design. Here we explain why, and why additional oil actually harms the clock.
A rumour that persists
Again and again one hears that an Atmos must be oiled in a few places too – with the right synthetic product, of course. That is not the case. Where other mechanical clocks are oiled in many places, the Atmos manages practically without oil on its gears, fine pivots and jewel bearings.
Why the Atmos manages almost without oil
In mechanics, oil is needed above all where parts move quickly, heat builds up and friction wears the material. With the Atmos the opposite is true: its rotating pendulum takes a whole minute to swing there and back – two half-oscillations per minute, 120 per hour. At this calm pace the delicate wheels mesh so gently that hardly any wear can be found even after decades.
Then there is the long running time. An Atmos often runs for many years at a stretch, exposed to every change in temperature and air. Over such a long period every oil thickens and gums up – classic oils quickly, modern synthetic ones more slowly, but they do too.
What oil does to an Atmos
Oil added afterwards to the jewel bearings slows the pendulum. The clock runs inaccurately, the swing fades much faster, and in the worst case it simply stops. We keep finding gummed-up oil when we open an Atmos that someone has already tried to “help”.
Not entirely dry
Still, the Atmos is not entirely without lubricant: well hidden in the mainspring barrel, a wafer-thin film of synthetic oil keeps the spring free from rust for many years. Otherwise an Atmos leaves the manufacture as dry as possible – wheels and pivots are almost clinically clean.
What this means for you
- Never oil your Atmos yourself – not even with special clock oil.
- Do not open the movement. The parts are delicate, and even fingerprints do harm.
- During a service we thoroughly clean plates, wheels and jewel bearings and remove old residues – exactly what keeps the clock running.
More short answers can be found in our frequently asked questions, and the steps for setting up in the instructions.
Has your Atmos been oiled before?
If you are not sure, send us a few photos of the front, back and movement by email or WhatsApp. Or simply call us – often we can tell on the phone what your clock needs.
- Workshop Würzburg, Alexander Heeg: +49 178 8170215
- Aschaffenburg, Rüdiger Heeg: +49 175 9371074
- Email: info@atmos-atelier.de
