I’m a bit of a “time-nut” in the electronic equipment sense. I have a few GPS disciplined clocks / frequency standards. And some atomic (Rubidium) references. I can measure time intervals down to a few 10’s of picoseconds.
I’ve always fancied a electromechanical Master Clock system. When a member of an electronics forum offered a Gents master clock and two slaves free for collection I was interested. Unfortunately collection was a 3 hour drive away. However, it was only a short distance from a family member who was coming to visit me about a week later. So I asked if they would pick up a couple clocks for me. They said yes. Seems I forgot to tell them one was five foot long! In my defence I hadn’t actually asked what the clocks were. Turns out to be a later mode C7 with integral slave and a couple mid-sized slaves.
First issue was while the pendulum had been removed to prevent damage, the case was locked and there was no key. Someone had slightly damaged the wood trying to force it. Thus a bit of locksmithing was in order. Lock appeared to be a high quality cabinet lock with claw keeper and pipe (tubular shaft) key. Having made a few measurements of the slot I visited the local Timpsons to buy a blank. They actually gave me a blank free of charge and said come back and pay for it if you can make it work. The bit on the blank was much too large So reduced that on the mill so it would go in and turn. Then blued it up, turned in the lock and then hand filed according to the witness marks. One more blue and file and it unlocked. Not pretty but it works.