Your Clock Frequently Asked Questions Answered

Basically most clocks are comprised of gears, pinions, arbors, levers, springs and two brass plates. The gears and pinions are attached to arbors that are set between two brass plates. The ends of arbors have pivots (small tips) that hold them through holes in the plates. The springs power the turning of the gears through the gear train at a slow, but very even pace. Pendulums, balance wheels, and fly wheels help slow that pace. The levers along with pins on the wheels, start and stop the chime and strike trains.

Your clock may be on an outside wall, near a door, fireplace, corner, or on carpet, any place where a clock can be put in an undisturbed, stable position.   

Yes, to a certain extent your clock needs to be level, but stability is a must for the clock to operate properly. The clock is then adjusted for an even tick thus leveling the movement to the case.

Count the number of times the clock strikes the hour and be sure the hour hand is placed on that hour (hour hand is the shortest one). Then set the clock by moving the minute hand only (the minute hand is the longest one). The minute hand can be moved either forward or backward as many hours as is needed to set the correct time. It is not necessary to wait for the clock to chime. The chiming cycle of your clock is made to correct itself within two hours.

Most clocks are 8-day clocks which only need to be wound once a week. It is not harmful to wind the clock more often. If your clock is cable-driven, you will wind all three weights with a crank key. To prevent over winding your cables, allow the entire pulley to be visible under the face of the clock. If your clock is chain-driven, you will simply pull one end of the chain allowing the weight to ascend on its own. DO NOT LIFT THE WEIGHTS WHILE WINDING. If the clock is spring-driven, then you will wind each key hole until the spring is tight. You cannot wind a clock backwards.

All pendulum clocks must be regulated for proper timekeeping. This is accomplished by turning the nut at the bottom of your pendulum. By turning the nut to the right, you will shorten the pendulum and make the clock run faster. If you turn this nut to the left, you will lengthen the pendulum and your clock will run slower. One full turn of this nut equals approximately a change of two minutes of time within a 24-hour period. Set your clock with any accurate timepiece and check for a gain or loss in a 24-hour period. Repeat each day until clock is keeping the correct time. It usually takes one week to regulate the clock.

Lyre pendulums on grandfather clocks are weather-compensating, but you may find it necessary to regulate with a change of seasons or change in home temperature.

Press lightly near the top of the dial and rotate it with fingertip. You may find the proper moon's age by locating the date of the new moon from a calendar or Farmer's Almanac. On the date of new moon, move the dial until the moon is hidden under number "1." At other times, count the number of days past the new moon and move the disc that number of notches forward. This represents the age of the new moon.

Yes, if your clock has a silence lever on the dial. Remember, when you allow the chimes to work again, they may be out of synchronization. They will correct themselves within two hours. Also remember, if you silence your clock, the center weight on your grandfather clock will be the only weight to descend.

The best time to change the tune is during the first ten-minute interval immediately following it's chiming period.

Handle all brass with gloves or a clean soft cloth to avoid fingerprints which will corrode the brass.

It is preferable not to move your clock if it has not be leveled. If you must move it, remove the weights and pendulum and secure the cables or chains. Then carefully move the case. Remember to mark the weights (left, center and right) so they can be rehung correctly. The heaviest weight goes on the right as you face the clock. Then the clock must be stabilized and the beat adjusted for the new location.

It is best to stop your clock. Simply stop the pendulum.

Check to see if the hands are rubbing the clock face or each other. Take note of the position of the weights. If the clock stops when the weights are half-way descended, your clock is not stable. The best solution is to place some weight inthe bottom of the case to offset the weight at the top of stablize it on your wall. If the clock stops at the same time each day, the trouble is in your moon dial gearing and you will have to call us! Check to see if the pendulum was bumped. This could cause the tick to be uneven or it may cause the suspension to break. The verge crutch may be bent. The latter problems are easily addressed with a service call from us!

No, chime rods or tubular bells are tuned at the factory and cannot be changed. The only adjustment necessary is to the hammers. They should be directly in front of and 1/8 inch back from the chime rods in a resting position.

Certain sounds are normal to the operation of your clock. Since your clock is mechanical, it will make certain sounds in preparation of its normal chiming and striking cycles. Some chain driven clocks will make an occasional sound from the chains descending over the wheels.