You are here:
- Home
- Home/Garden
- Clocks and Watches
- Clocks, Watches
- Chime Strike Issues
Clocks, Watches/Chime Strike Issues
Advertisement
Question
I just obtained a c. 1884 New Haven Clock Company mantel clock from a
distant family member. The chime strike hammer strikes the coil gong, but
it's not very loud. I tried adjusting the distance between the hammer and the
gong, and the "material" inside the hammer that strikes the gong came out.
It appears as if this material is charcoal. I stuck it back in. It still chimes, but
it's quite muted. What material is used today in repairs to chime strike
hammers? How can I get the chime to be louder? I may not even be using
the right terminology. I appreciate your insigths.
not sure what volume you expect from a 124 year old clock.
Leather was the original material and the "charcoal" I am sure is just an old bit of leather. You can replace the old with new shoe leather or belt leather cut to size or use it without the leather to make it louder - but you end up with a non-original "clang" sound. You can NOT make it louder.
- Ask a Question
Questioner's Rating
| Rating(1-10) | Knowledgeability = 9 | Clarity of Response = 7 | Politeness = 3 |
| Comment | I know email communication is not the best for judging the tone of an email, but I didn't appreciate the opening line of "not sure what volume you expect from a 124 year old clock." Perhaps the current volume is correct for this old of a clock; prehaps it's not. But I'm not an expert on clocks, so that's why I posed the question. Yes, it's an old clock. But it works quite well and I see no reason why a hammer strike cannot be fixed to strike the gong sufficiently to produce a chime that's louder. | ||
Related Articles
Clocks, Watches
Answers by Expert:
Kenneth Saunders
Expertise
any mechanical clock question -no watches- no battery clock questions and no appraisals-ie: "how much is my clock worth?" type questions please! Attach a photo if possible and note all markings on the rear of the mechanism- thanks 40 years as a professional clock repair person- still a full time clock repair service owner
Experience
40 years as a professional clock repair person- still a full time clock repair service owner.
Organizations
NAWCC
Education/Credentials
above----------
©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.