The tricky bit

This French 19th century movement is ready to have its top plate put back on.  This has to be done very carefully as the tiny pivots have to all line up with the tiny holes in the plate and it requires a steady hand and not a little dexterity.  Also the gear wheels have to be in the correct mesh with each other or the clock won't strike correctly.  I always do this reassembly in a quiet room when I am feeling calm as the slightest undue pressure or false move will break a pivot.  Repairing a broken small pivot on a French clock is fiendishly difficult.  Fortunately I have only had to do it once!