Expert: William J Perkins - 11/26/2008

Question
QUESTION: My Great Grandfather's Mantle piece clock isn't chiming correctly.  It has a Westminster chime and is correct except for 1, 2 and 3 O'clock.  At 1 o'clock it rings 9, 2 o'clock it rings 3 and 3 o'clock it rings 4.  Otherwise everything is correct.  We have just moved house (about an hour away).  I removed the pendulum and pushed the little levers that protect the hammers over for the move and have moved them back.  It is and English clock from the 1930s - he was given it as a retirement present.  Do you know what could be the problem and how to fix it?

ANSWER: I am really not clear in what you are telling me.  Since your clock is a chiming clock, it not only plays the westminister melody it also strikes the time.  Now are you telling me that at 1 o'clock the clock strike 9 times, or, that 9 of the notes for the melody are played.  My understanding of this is crucial to any response I would offer.  Regards WJP

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QUESTION: Sorry I should have been clearer.  The melody part chimes fine on the hour, quarter past, half past and quarter to.  It is just the number of the hour which follows the melody which is wrong.  And only at 1 o'clock, 2 o'clock and 3 o'clock.  Many thanks, Brett

Answer
I suspect your problem is in the time works, i.e., the gears and levers attached to the outside of the frontplate.  They reside immediately beneath the dial.  Something in those components has gone out of adjustment.  I suspect a bent pin which would be simple to correct.  In most instances I do not reccomend owners take this task upon themselves.  I prefer they take their clock to a qualified clock repair person for servicing.  On the other hand I am aware there are a lot of folks out there that are fully capable of pulling this job off themselves.  To do so the person doing the job has to remove the dial from in front of the movement so the actions of the time works can be observed thru a full chiming and strike sequence.  Carefull observation will disclose the cause for the failure, in most instances the corrective measure will be evidnt.  If a pin is bent, simply straighten it, if a left cam is loose simply push it toward the dial to tighten, if a tooth is bent on one of the ratchets, carefully straighten it, etc.  If in doubt have the work done.  Regard WJP.