Expert: Kenneth Saunders - 8/7/2008

Question
QUESTION: I bought this clock in a junk shop. It had no weights and no pendulum. I
found and bought the pear shaped weights and a replica of the original
pendulum,(a man on a horse,)on the internet. Problem (s) I'm not sure where
the pendulum should be held at the top end and, all the pics I've found of
this clock show the weights hanging on chains on the extreme left and right
of the clock. To get it to chime I have to hang the chime weight in the
middle position. Also, it's supposed to be an eight day clock but the chain
has reached the bottom in 24 hours. Also, the bell strikes the correct
number of times each hour but it is so rapid that it's almost impossible to
tell how many times it has struck unless you stop and really concentrate on
counting them. When it does strike the bell weight descends  a set number
of notches very quickly.  Can you make any sense of this? I can't find any
literature or instructions or an exploded diagram of the movement
anywhere.

ANSWER: pendulum either has a wire loop and hanger like the cuckoo or a set up like the Hermle with a suspension spring and a leader.
You have a 30 hour Zaandam and it uses the 380gm weights not the 1000


see here :

http://www.timesavers.com/catalogmain2.asp?ProductID=20923%2C12295%2C20803%2C158

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

QUESTION: I tried to order the 380 gm weights but Timesavers is out of stock and won't
have them for 4 or 5 months. As an experiment I hung 380 gms of pennies
on the chain but the clock wouldn't run. With the 2 1/2 lb. weight it runs
well and keeps pretty good time but as I mentioned, the weight has
descended all the way in 24 hrs. Are you sure it should be 380 gm weights?
Also, the weights in photos I've seen hang on the the two outside lengths of
chain, mine only runs properly if hung on (numbering from the left looking
at the clock,) the first and third chains. This means that both pulleys are
turning in the same direction. If hung on the two outside chains, (1 and 4)
wouldn't that mean the pulleys were turning in the opposite direction to one
another? Which is correct? I've just photographed the clock in the hope that
it might help you as I'm completely ignorant of proper terminology and am
probably confusing you. Thanks for your patience and assistance.

ANSWER: hanging the weight on the wrong end of the chain sends it crashing to the floor! I don't see your problem in deciding which end of the chain to hook the weights to.

Not sure of anything - does the strike work at proper speed with the 380gms??? What are the markings on the back brass plate of the mechanism??

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

QUESTION: Sorry if I confused you with the chain issue. I just wondered why all the illustrations
I've seen showed the weights hanging on the leftmost and rightmost ends of the
chains when mine seems to have to be hung on the extreme left and then the next
but one - not the extreme right.
The markings on the back brass plate  are:  10142 JSW  930727   H890
I haven't tried hanging a 380 gm weight on the strike chain as the clock wouldn't run
with the 380 gm weight on the clock chain. Is it necessary to have two weights on the
clock to make it run properly? I mean, if I don't want the chime can I just leave the
weight off?
Thanks again for your patience and help, I really appreciate it.

Answer
I just wondered why all the illustrations
I've seen showed the weights hanging on the leftmost and rightmost ends of the
chains when mine seems to have to be hung on the extreme left and then the next
but one - not the extreme right.

  Maybe because yours is a 30 hour movement? Look at photos of 30 hour cuckoos and you will see the weights hanging as your do!
  You can try the weight off but some clocks will lock up because of the strike jamming - try it and see - no harm done.

do not recognize the markings-