Hermle Mantel Clock

Saw this today at SA for $80. Seems like in running condition it can bring $500 or so. Good cosmetic condition but could not turn the key in neither of the 3 holes. I know nothing about clocks and did not buy it as I was not sure how bad the problem might be. The chimes did work.
Any advice on should I buy it or not?

 

Probably not unless you want to keep it. It's all its money, as they say. The clock market is depressed generally, the market for modern clocks has always been poor, now it is terrible.

May be quite different where you are of course.

 

I just wonder if there is an easy fix. This model sells good on Ebay.
Could it be the key? Here they say the 350 series takes #8 and the clock comes with 10 but it seems to fit and not skipping. It’s English key and the sizes differ from the European.
http://www.clockworks.com/clock-movement/hermle-clock-movement-350.html

 

Working or not, it’s a looker!
Can’t give advice on investment, but it’s a handsome clock.(IMHO)

 

The '73' stamped into the movement would indicate a date of 1973. I've never been a fan of the opaque brown finish on modern cases compared to a mahogany or walnut case on the German or English antique clocks which can be gorgeous & are often similarly priced and seem to hold value better.

 

The key is not original to the clock, just a random key someone added. One size will turn a size smaller square without slipping.

The trouble with modern clocks is that they become economically unrepairable quite quickly, in decades rather than a century or four, because the arbours are not hardened as they used to be. Older clocks will enlarge the holes in the brass plates, drilling and bushing is a cheap and simple remedy to line everyting up correctly again. On modern clocks, the few I have reluctanty worked on, the pivot itself wears away, and a remedy for this is far more time consuming and expensive.
The thinner plates of modern clocks mean the same pressure on each pivot and pivot hole is spread over half the area, doubling the wear rate, and on inferior materials.
All parts are made to 'modern' standards, which means cheaply as possible. Ideally they will disintegrate into dust the day after the guarantee runs out. Practically, it means they simply do not last as long and never look high quality. The only exception you are likely to see in later 20th C clocks are those made by Elliott, a company that maintained old standards till they went under by being too expensive for a market full of cheaper inferior products like this Hermle example.

Leaving out earlier antiqeu British clocks from the Georgian period and earlier, German clocks made between 1900 and 1920, roughly, and made by Lenzkirch, Winterhalder and Hoffmeir, and Gustav Becker, in that order, are unbeatable for value, quality and appearance.

They can also be remarkably cheap round here (UK) so it was a terribly bad choice for me to stack them up for my retirement. :-(