Expert: Kenneth Saunders - 7/15/2008

Question
QUESTION: Hi, I have a 20 year old Ansonia, Triple chime - Mantel Clock. My question is: I cannot get the Hands to strike on the exact quarter hour ,half hour, quarter hour, and hour. The hands strike 5 minutes before the quarter hour, half hour, 3 quarter hour, and 10 minutes after the hour. The clock keeps perfect time. This happened after I cleaned the clock. I am not a clockmaker, but I am mechanically inclined. I cleaned my other clocks with no problem. Can you help me?  Thank You  Dennis  Lane

ANSWER: what is the maufacturers info off the back brass plate of the mechanism?

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QUESTION: Hi, It reads... Ansonia clock co. No (0) jewels.. unadjusted,
  1051-031A  25cm  132.275

ANSWER: move the minute hand thuough 12 till it trips and does the 1/4 hour then move it back to 10 minutes before 12 and then ahead again till it does the 1/2  then again for 3/4 and then for the hour and tell me exactly WHEN it trips each time ie> at 5 before or 10 after?  same place each time?

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QUESTION: Hi, 1/4 hr. strikes 12:10.. 1/2 hr. strikes 12:25.. 3/4 hr. strikes 12;40.. hour. strikes 12;55.  Note: I took off the lift cam snail while cleaning the clock. I'm not sure if i put it back in the right strike position.. Could that be causing the problem?  Thank You  Dennis

Answer
your original spacing confused me - but it seems it is just doing the chimes at 5 minutes too soon on each quarter. The brass collet with the square shaft hole in it in the minute hand has moved relative to the tip. Use pliers to hold the collet (or the square end of a file in the hole), and move the black hand so it rotates a bit and try it till it points exactly at the 12-3-6-9 when put back on the square shaft.
 If too loose, crimp with the pliers on the edge of the square hole.
see photo attached.