Expert: William J Perkins - 8/20/2008

Question
QUESTION: I have my grandmother's grandfather clock.  It is an Emperor, apparatently built around mid-70's. I believe it is a Newport Model 120-K.  It runs well and chimes/gongs as it should.  The problems is, it constantly gains time, about 5 minutes a day.  Is there a way to make a simple adjustment to straighten this.

ANSWER: Home time adjustments are made by raising and lowering the pendulum bob on the pendulum shaft.  Look at your clocks pendulum and you will see what is called the pendulum nut at the vary end of the pendulum.  This is the device that raises and lowers the bob.  When you cause the bob to raise it speeds the clock up, if you lower the bob it will decrease the clocks running speed.  In your instance you will need to lower the bob, do this by turning the nut counter clockwise.  Due to the huge time gain per day I would suggest giving the nut about 5 full turns.  Let the clock run for 24 hours and check amount gain or loss.  If the clock is now running two slow turn the screw clockwise a bit and allow it to run another 24 hours.  Keep doing this untill you are satisfied with the clocks timekeeping.  I suspect, however, that your clock is need of a good cleaning and adjustments.  If, by following the above instructions, you do not achieve the results you desire, cleaning is your next option,  Regards WJP

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

QUESTION: Sorry, been working.  I assume by counter clockwise you mean looking straight at the clock?

Answer
Looking up from the bottom.  Actually you need not concern yourself with the clockwise counterclockwise bit.  Simply turn the screw one way, if more threads appear below the nut, you are raising the bob, speeding the clock up.  Conversly if fewer threads show you are lowering the bob, slowing it down.  WJP