Expert: Michael Radi - 11/30/2008

Question
QUESTION: I just got a 1920 new haven mantel clock.  Could you please tell me where I could find instructions for it.  Or maybe you could tell me what to wind. 2 key holes one on the 4 and one on the 8,a small hole on the twelve. How much should I wind and how often.

ANSWER: You wind the two large posts all the way up.
Most of these clocks are 8 day so you wind it once a week. Some are 30 hour clocks and need to be wound every day.
The small post is a timing adjuster. The original clock key has two ends. You use the small end to turn that shaft to speed up or slowdown the time keeping of the clock. You should run the clock and see if it looses or gains time before turning that small shaft.
Michael
norkro.com

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you!  Im gaining 5 min. a day. can I also use the pendalum as an adjustment? Can I move the miniute hand backwards with my finger or is this bad? My clock is not chimming but you can hear it do somthing when it should chime. When winding the clock is one for the chime or might there be a silincer?

Answer
some New Haven clocks have an adjustable pendulum. Usually there is a set screw holding the bob to the rod. Just loosen the screw and move the bob down and small amount.
I like adjusting the bob rather than using the shaft on the face. The one on the face is more convenient but not a great design inside.
You can move the minute hand backwards but don't go through either the 12 or 6 o'clock part of the face. These are the points where the lifters are setting up the strike. In other words you can to from 10 after to 5 after or 40 after to 35 after.
I hope this explains everything to you clearly.
Michael