AboutKenneth Saunders Expertise Any mechanical clock question - no battery clock questions and no appraisals.
36 years as a professional clock repair person- still a full time clock repair service owner.
Experience 36 years as a professional clock repair person- still a full time clock repair service owner.
Question QUESTION: I don't know the model #, but i can describe the clock as plexiglass and mirrored. It has a pendulum and 2 weights. The weights supply the winding of the mechanism. It contains 3 chime bars and the middle one is broken off at the screw end. It is 7" long and solid brass. Where in the world can I find a replacement and can you give me any other info on this clock? I will be attaching a pic. IMAGE: Howard Miller wall clock
ANSWER: Not an antique, but a 20-25 year old Howard Miller contemporary Gallery Clock with a German mechanism made by Hermle their mechanism # 261-030.
The back brass plate of the mechanism will have a manufacturing year stamped on it.
probably easier to buy the entire chime block than have to buy the individual rod, cut it to the right length, unscrew the old one and put in the new one - but that can be done. Both options are in the URL below.
QUESTION: Ken,
First off, thanks so much for the info. Thought clock was older.
Secondly, the one I've bought will not stay running after setting up. I think I've set it up correctly as per my 2 brothers who also own one of these. Is there something I can try(oiling, cleaning)before I look into servicing this clock and could you steer me to a web page explaining how to accomplish this? Also, if my ministrations don't work is the mechanism worth servicing or should I replace it with a new one? In other words, is this clock (and its movement) a better clock in your opinion? Where would you rate it on a scale of 1 to 10 for its value? I value your opinion as a person with clock knowledge and history.
Thanks again, Bob
Answer run through this:
-The pendulum assembly begins at the top with a 1" two legged suspension spring pinned to a brass post sticking out of the back of the rear movement plate.
Next a silver(probably) suspension leader about 5" long that hooks onto the bottom of the suspension spring and passes through the "foot" shaped forked brass piece (and must be in the center of the fork slot and not be rubbing front or back) that connects into the inside of the movement. Newer movements have a horizontal bar that fits in the brass suspension leader slot.
Lastly the top of the pendulum hooks onto the bottom of this suspension leader. NOW if all is correctly assembled, swinging the pendulum will get it ticking. The sound of the ticking must sound even or balanced on either side. Not over-swinging one side or the other.
If it is not sounding even, then push with your hand the top third of the pendulum over to the side that has the excessive overswing. You may feel some resistance but gently push a bit more then try the sound of the ticking after swinging the pendulum freely.
If the sound is not improved in the balance then do more pushing -if it is now sounding like excessive swing in the opposite direction then push the pendulum to the other side till it sounds a pretty even tick. Clock should run then. .(There is a little slip clutch that you are adjusting when you push the "L" shaped foot to either side.)
There are a hundred things that could be wrong- you have just taken a tour through the repair of what is wrong 98% of the time!
New movement would be $200 or less. Hermle movements are as good as any made. I don't do appraisals.
){kind=link}