Expert: Martin Meyer - 7/15/2008

Question
I have a Westminster Chimes 1930s clock.  The clock has taken to chiming constantly over and over again on every 15 minutes.  as well as the bongs sounding at the end of the chime eventually.  The chime eventually ends after about 2 minutes.

Can you help please

Regards

Darren

Answer
Hi Darren,

Chiming mechanisms vary quite a bit among different manufacturers, so I can't provide very specific advice. Additionally, chime adjustments are very precise and can be difficult to get right, so you might want to consider taking the clock to a professional clock repairer.

First, you will need to remove the hands and remove the movement from the clock. Observe the front plate of the clock. Most chime mechanisms have a circular part (the locking plate) with four differently spaced notches on the right upper part of the front plate. When the clock is chiming, this part rotates. There will be a lever which rests on the locking plate as the clock chimes, and drops down into one of the notches when chiming is complete.

From this point, the mechanisms vary by manufacturer. What they have in common is that the lever's dropping into the locking plate notch causes another part, either on the front plate or inside the movement, to stop the chiming sequence. This part is often, but not always, a pin on one of the gears which is stopped in its rotation by a lever or other piece.

You can try observing the chime mechanism to see what is supposed to stop the chiming, and why it is not working correctly. Not knowing what movement you have, I can't get any more specific here, but the problem could be that the locking plate has moved on its shaft out of correct position, a pin on a gear could be broken or bent, or a lever could be sticking in place when it should be dropping down into position.  http://www.clockmasteronline.com