Expert: Kenneth Saunders - 12/7/2008

Question
I have a "granddaughter" clock, a wall clock that is about 2 ft high, that chimes every 15 minutes. It has 3 winding ports. How can I change it to only chime on the hour? Chiming every 15 minutes is too much! Thank you for your help.

Answer
Most German modern mechanisms like yours rely upon the quarter chimes to trigger the hour strike - such if they do not operate neither does the hour strike.

A repair person or someone willing to get into the back side of the mechanism and alter a gear setup can do it for you in a few minutes - especially if access to the rear of the mechanism does not require the removal of the mechanism to get at it( ie. if there is a back panel access.)

the single drive gear for the chime drum on the back needs to have it's set screw loosened so the gear can be put back on upside down so that it no longer engages the chime drum--that way it will turn and on the hour will trigger the hour strike.