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Clocks, Watches/English mantle clock won't go

Expert: William J Perkins - 4/20/2008

Question

I have had a lovely antique English mantle clock (no manufacturer's name) for years. It has two winding stems. Recently it stopped working - I would start the pendulum, and it would tick for a few ticks, then stop. I pulled out the mechanism and adjusted it so that the pendulum swung more easily, but that only gave it more ticks before it stopped. I realized the problem was beyond me. However, I did find this little piece at the bottom of the case when I took out the mechanism. It is wood with two little pieces of metal coming from it - one broke off when I took the picture. I also noticed that the spring on the left did not unwind when I let the pendulum loose. Do you have any insight for me? Thanks, Dawn Freer

Answer
The part you depict is called a suspension or pendulum spring. Your clock cannot possible run without a proper one. Please send me a picture of the back of your clocks movement. With that I will be able to, by diagramming the picture tell you exactly how to go about resolving that problem. Actually I would prefer several pics from different view points. Then I could pick the best for our purposes. What ever you do protect the spring pieces you the picture of. Send the pics via my e-mail address <flashpowder@hotmail.com> Use English clock as subject. I will answer all your questions at the same time. Regards WJP

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