These instructions apply to many spring-driven quarter-hour chiming clocks.
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SETUP AND OPERATION
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Setup — Pendulum Mantel Clock:
Place clock on table with back facing you. Open the back door, hang the pendulum on the hook, and close the door.
Carefully place the clock where it is to be used, on a stable, level surface. Lift one side of the clock gently
two inches, then put it down, to start the pendulum swinging. |
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Setup — Pendulum Shelf Clock:
Place the clock where it is to be used, on a stable, level surface. Open the front door and hang the pendulum
on the hook (on many clocks the hook is behind the dial), give the pendulum a swing, and the clock will start
ticking. |
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Setup — Pendulum Wall Clock:
Choose the proper size wood screw (typically a #8, 10 or 12) to fit the hanger at the top back of the clock, and
long enough to go securely through the wall into a stud. Secure the screw into the wall, angled upward at a 45
degree angle, and hang the clock. Open the front door and hang the pendulum on the hook (on many clocks the hook
is behind the dial), give the pendulum a swing, and the clock will start ticking. Move the bottom of the case
to the left or right until ticking is even (or if there is a beat scale beneath the pendulum, move the case so
the pendulum points to zero when at rest). Secure bottom of case to wall so clock is stable. |
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Setup — Balance Wheel Mantel Clock:
This type of clock usually starts by itself upon winding. If it does not, open the back door and start the balance
wheel swinging by either of these two methods: 1) Quickly rotate the clock in the plane of the balance wheel to
impart motion to it. 2) With a soft brush, rotate the balance wheel and release it. |
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Setting the Hands:
When setting the clock to time, move the minute hand clockwise, pausing at each quarter hour for the clock to
chime. On modern German chime clocks it is all right to move the minute hand counterclockwise to set the time.
This is often a quicker way to set the time, as you won't have to wait while the clock chimes each quarter. |
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Winding — Eight Day clock:
Wind the clock once per week, preferably on the same day each week. Turn the key with a smooth motion, stopping
when the spring is tight. Never let the key snap back in your hand, always release it gently after each half-turn.
Make sure the clock is fully wound, so keep turning the key until the spring is obviously tight. The
chime mainspring (usually the right hand winding square) will often take more force to wind than the other two
springs. |
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Winding Direction:
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Winding Function:
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Clocks with more than one chime melody:
Change the tune selector only when the clock is not chiming. |
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Timekeeping Accuracy:
This type of clock will be able to keep time within 3 - 7 minutes per week. You will need to do the final regulation
once the clock is in its permanent location to achieve this accuracy. To check the clock's accuracy, set the hands
to the correct time, and then let the clock run at least 3 or 4 days. The main factors causing variations in rate
are temperature changes, and the lessening tension of the mainspring as it runs down. Once the clock is regulated
to keep good time, you will need to set the hands whenever the time is off by more than a few minutes —
perhaps every week or two. Pendulum clock are usually more accurate than balance wheel clocks. |
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Regulating the clock — Regulating Square:
The clock can be made to go faster or slower by means of the small square on the dial. Turning it toward F
speeds up the clock, and turning it toward S slows it down. The regulating square is turned with
the small end of the winding key. Turn the square only a small amount each time. |
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Regulating the clock — Pendulum Nut:
The clock can be made to go faster or slower by means of the nut at the bottom of the pendulum. Turning the front
of the nut to the right speeds up the clock, and turning it to the left slows it down (in other words move the
nut up to speed up, or down to slow down). Turn the nut only a small amount each time. |
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Regulating the clock — Modern Balance Wheel:
The clock can be made to go faster or slower by means of the regulator, which is accessible by opening the back
door. In this type of clock, the regulator is a screw near the balance wheel. With a small screwdriver, move the
regulator in the direction needed (towards F for faster or towards S for slower). Move it only a small
amount each time. |
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Regulating the clock — Balance Wheel with Pointer:
The clock can be made to go faster or slower by means of the regulator, which is accessible by opening the back
door. In this type of clock, the regulator is a pointer behind the balance wheel. Push the pointer in the direction
needed (towards F for faster or towards S for slower). Move it only a small amount each time.
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Regulating the clock — Floating Balance :
The clock can be made to go faster or slower by means of the regulator, which is accessible by opening the back
door. In this type of clock, the regulator is a pointer fastened to the balance wheel itself. Gently hold the
balance wheel with two fingers, and move the regulator in the direction needed (towards F for faster or towards
S for slower). Move it only a small amount each time. |
ADJUSTMENTS
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Chime Synchronization:
The vast majority of chime clocks have self-synchronizing chimes. If the chime sequence is wrong, it will correct
it self within two hours. |
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If Clock Strikes the Wrong Hour:
On most clocks, the hour hand is a friction fit on its shaft, and may be moved around to point to the hour that
the clock struck. Grasp the hour hand at the center to avoid bending it. |
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Chime Sound Adjustment:
The hammers which strike the chime rods may be closer to or further from the rods to make the sound pleasant.
When adjusting a hammer, grasp the shank at the end away from the head in small pair of smooth pliers, and with
the other hand or another pair of pliers, bend the shank slightly up or down. In most cases, the hammer heads
should clear the chime rods by 1/16 to 1/8 inch when at rest. |
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If clock does not run:
1) Make sure clock is fully wound. 2) For pendulum clocks, make sure clock is ticking evenly.
Make sure clock is on a stable surface and does not rock. If necessary shim one or two corners with cardboard
(for a shelf or mantel clock), or move bottom of clock to left or right (for a wall clock). 3) Make sure minute
hand is not caught on hour hand. |
MOVING THE CLOCK
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Always remove the pendulum before transporting a pendulum clock, to prevent damage. If you are shipping the
clock, put wrapping around the chime rods to prevent vibration and possible breakage.
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MAINTENANCE
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Three Year Oiling and Inspection:
Your clock, being a precision mechanism, needs periodic maintenance to keep it running reliably and to give it
long life. We recommend the following: After using it for three years, bring the clock in for oiling and inspection.
We will check the condition of the movement, and check that the mainspring ratchets are secure. We will tell you
if the clock needs an overhaul, or will be okay for several more years. |
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Overhaul:
Windup clocks need overhauling about every 3 - 7 years. The environment in which the clock is used plays a big
role in how long it will run between overhauls. |
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Why your clock won't run forever:
As dust gets in the mechanism, the oil becomes an abrasive paste which causes wear. The longer the clock runs
in this condition, the more repair it will need. If your clock stops and you spray it with oil to make it go again,
it will continue to wear badly, because it is still dirty. Shortcuts like cleaning the movement whole, even using
an ultrasonic cleaner, cannot properly clean pivots, pivot holes, and mainsprings. These techniques merely postpone
the need for a proper overhaul. |
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How we overhaul your clock:
The movement is taken apart and cleaned, the pivots polished, worn pivot holes bushed, worn out pinion wires replaced,
the mainspring ratchets checked and repaired, any other necessary repairs carried out, and the mainsprings checked.
Then the parts are cleaned again, the pivot holes cleaned with pegwood, the pivots given final cleaning, and then
the movement is assembled and lubricated. |
