Expert: Martin Meyer - 10/9/2008

Question
I have a french mantle clock with a Vincenti & Cie movement dated 1855 that I bought from a Dutch antique dealer.  It seems to keep good time but I'm leary on adjusting the hands to get the chimes to work properly with the time.  Is it okay to advance the hour hand manually?  Any other tips I need to know?  Would it be an 8 day wind? I'm a little intimidated by the clock. Thanks.

Answer
Hi Bruce,

A little intimidation is probably a good thing in the case of antique French clocks. For most clocks, simply moving the hour hand to correspond to the correct number of strikes, is the easiest method of correcting this problem. This is also the case with French clocks, BUT with the warning that these clocks often have very thin and delicate hands, which can be easily broken when pushed against. I would recommend that you first try moving the hour hand very carefully, pushing from as close to the center of the hand as possible. If the hand moves easily on its shaft, this method will work just fine. However, if the hand is excessively tight on its shaft, you might want to try another method.

French clocks can have either a rack-and-snail or a count wheel type strike mechanism. You can determine which by looking at the back of the movement; if it is a count wheel type, you will see a large wheel on the back plate with notches around its circumference, which gradually become farther and farther apart. If you have a count wheel clock, you can try moving the minute hand backwards from the "12" position to about :25 before the hour. (If you feel any sudden RESISTANCE when doing this, STOP immediately and use another method.) Once the minute hand is at :25 before the hour, move it back to the "12" and let the clock strike. Each time you do this, the clock will strike one more hour ahead. Repeat the procedure until the clock strikes the same number of times as the hour hand reads.

If you have a rack-and-snail clock, you must move the hour hand to synchronize the strike. If the hand is tight when you try to move it (as described above) use the following method:  Turn the minute hand forward until the clock strikes, and count the number of strikes. Now, remove the taper pin which holds the minute hand on, using a small pliers or tweezer. Do not turn the hands when you do this. Next, there will be a washer, which you will also remove. Then pull the minute hand straight off, so that it does not turn while you do it. You will now be able to grasp the hour hand at its center and pull it off. If it is very tight, you will have to work it slightly back and forth as you pull it off. Be careful not to bend the hand as you do this, holding it only at its center. Now you can replace the hour hand
pointing to the correct number, that is, the number of times the clock struck when you started. Make sure the hour hand is pressed onto its shaft far enough that it is not loose, but not so far that it hits the dial at any point. Now replace the minute hand, pointing to the "12" as it was when you started. The minute and hour hands must not touch each other, so observe them from the side to check that there is some clearance. Finally, check the clearance between the hands at their centers; the hour hand must be free to move up and down on its shaft a tiny amount between the minute hand and the dial. If it is completely tight against the minute hand, push it down a tiny amount to create this clearance. The amount of clearance need not be great; as long as there is any clearance at all, the hands will not jam when the clock runs.

Finally, French clocks are virtually always 8-Day clocks.  http://www.clockmasteronline.com