Expert: William J Perkins - 2/27/2008

Question
QUESTION: We have a Montgomery Ward CPM 9084 Grandfather clock. On the face it say's Piper Tempus Fugit. This clock was working fine when we pulled the weights up it quit chiming and striking. We can make it work by adding about a 1/2 lb of weight to the chime weight. We have not weighted it, it is three large socket's. if we remove one socket it quit's working. If I need to get the exact weight I can get a scale. The weights on this clock are; Hour Striker 5 lb, Clock 5 lb, Chime 6.5 lb (this is where we have added the weight). The clock keeps good time. Any help will be appreciated.
Bobby

ANSWER: Ward's used a variety of manufactures to produce the movements used in their clocks.  Please take a look at your clock movement's backplate.  Copy down and send me all the information stamped thereon.  With that information I can most likely identify the exact movement.  I suspect your clock is in need of servicing.  Generally speaking when the chime train starts acting funny it is telling you to "GIVE ME A BATH!!!!", of course it could be trying to tell you something else.  The backplate info would start us down the path to understanding.  Regards WJP

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QUESTION: Here is the info we got off of the clock movement.
Franz Hermle
No (0) Jewels
Made in west Germany
unajuste or una)juste)
85cm/70.77

ANSWER: I am sorry, the information you sent is incomplete.  Hermle ALWAYS stamps the model number on their movement's bacKplate.  The model number appears right below the name HERMLE.  If I were to guess those numbers would be 451-050.  This was a frequently used movement in Wards clocks.  Withstanding lack of a model number my original prognosis still stands.  "Generally speaking when the chime train starts acting funny it is telling you to "GIVE ME A BATH!!!!"
Regards WJP

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QUESTION: I thought I included it, but I must not have. It is 451-053

Answer
There is still a number or letter missing.  It would appear directly above the name HERMLE.  This would tell us when the movement was produced.  Given the information you have provided I can tell you the following:  The movement was made by Hermle & Sons at their Gosheim-Black Forest-Germany clock factory.  It is a weight driven eight day 4/4 Westminster chime movement.  It is fitted with a 85 cm pendulum, which beats at a rate of 70.77 beats per minute.  Eight hammers are mounted on the rear of the movement.  Demensions are; 120 x 120 mm with an internal distance between plates of 32 mm.
I will tell you right up front that it would not be cost effective for you to have this clock professionaly cleaned and adjusted.  While the immediate results would seem rewarding the long term would not.  It is far better to replace these movements.  The last price I have for a new "superior" quality movement was $120, to the trade.  That is less than you would have to pay to have your current movement partially restored.  Regards WJP