Expert: Kenneth Saunders - 4/8/2008

Question
QUESTION: I received a 1977 clock but it only chimes on the hour.  I have moved the slide but wonder if there is another stop mechanism that is preventing the other chime options beside the front mounted slide??

ANSWER: It might have a lever inside the back of the case directly locking or holding back the hammers on the quarters.

The Westminster chime is on the quarter hour and the strike (10 bongs for 10 o'clock) is on the hour after the 16 note Westminster chime sequence has finished.

No clock I know will do what you say it is doing- you may be using the wrong words here and confusing me. If you get the strike on the hour but never get a Westminster chime at any time - that's one possibility.

What stuff is incribed on the back brass plate of the mechanism itself? If I knew what mechanism you have it would be more helpful.



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: yes i do get a strike on the hour...10 for 10 o'clock, etc...but never the Westminster etc.  However I did notice that on the quaters, the "fan mechanism" that is associated with the "roller with the spines on it", does "whirrr" on the quaters but does not associate with any chime.  I also believe that on the hours, before the "hour bongs" that same noise is evident.  Perhaps the mechanism works but for some reason it is stuck in silent mode except for the hour bongs??
On the mechanism itself, there is a stamped Howard Miller with the Zeeland address.  Also a number: UW03038B.
Thanks for your help

ANSWER:
the shift lever by the number "3" is it marked "chime-Silent" or what?


 Also a number: UW03038B--indicates the model number of the mechanism made in Germany by the Urgos company for Howard Miller
from the number it should be a 9 tube triple chime cable movement?

if so  the carriage at the top of the mechanism moves to pull the strings that pull the hammer heads that hit the tubes- and the lever at the number 3 changes the tunes played and also has a SILENT position where the carriage rotates each quarter but does not pull the strings as the carriage is lined up so the pins on it are offset and not lifting any of the arms. advise what you have there....

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: That is the clock...made in Germany, 9 tube and it does have that lever infront, at the 3.  However as it may be moved up or down and has the markings: silent; 4/4 silent; westm; whitt; st mich, and appears to stop at each position, it has no effect on the operation of the chime. I see that the "spines" on the carrige seem to "miss" the hammers and the "hour bong" is a separate lever on the left...looking at the clock...of the carriage.  Is that lever supposed to move or engage the carriage and perhaps is just not functional?  Like I said, the carriage does seem to rotate but does not hit anything.
Thanks
Thanks

Answer
OK - it is stuck on 4/4 silent

the carriage should slide left and right like the carrage on an old typewriter. stuck for some reason - try moving it manually- the lever should link to the carriage and should move it when the lever is moved up and down. not sure what could be wrong with the lever action.