Expert: William J Perkins - 11/15/2008

Question
I inherited this clock and it strikes the number of hours on the hour and once on the half hour.  It now strikes only once on the hour and strikes the previous hour number on the half hour.  The directions are worn on the back and I am not sure how to correct this.  Thanks for your time and consideration.  

Answer
The clocks hands are out of adjustment to the time works.  You can correct this easily..  Your #43 uses a pin and washer arrangement to fix the minute hand in position on its shaft and a friction fit sleeve to attach the hour hand to its shaft.  To make the adjustment needed.  Move the minute hand to a position where it causes striking.  Stop the clock.  Let us say the clock struck 2.  At this point you could care less what the correct time is, your concern is what time the clock gears believe it is.  In this instance the clocks works believes it is "2"  So you remove the hands.  To remove the minute hand, pull the pin holding the hand to its shaft, set it aside, now remove the washer, pull the hand straight out.  When free of the shaft, replace the hand on the shaft so that it points to "12", DURING THIS OPERATION DO NOT LET THE SHAFT TURN, replace the washer and secure it and the hand to its staff at the "12" position.  Now grasp the hour hand and turn it so that it points to "2".  push the hour hand towards the dial to assure proper friction fit.  At this point you will have corrected the works and the hands so that they are in proper configuration.  You can now start the clock and set it to correct time in the normal manner.  Regards WJP