Expert: William J Perkins - 12/27/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hello William.
I recently inherited a Ansonia wall clock purchased new by my father in 1983. The receipt says it is a Cavalier #824. It keeps good time and the chimes work well but they chime two hours behind the clock time. For instance it chimes 12 times at the 2 o'clock hour. Can you please explain the method for correcting this? Also,I know very little about this clock, such as how long it is supposed to run on a winding, what if any, kind of service is recommended and how often service should be performed. I have been very nervous about over winding so I may not be winding it enough, as it seems to only run about two days. Also, should the three winding mechanisms be wound in any particular order, and do you know if general operating and maintenance instructions are available anywhere for this clock?
Thank you in advance for your help.
Sincerely, Chris

ANSWER: First a bit of history.  The Ansonia clock Company produced high grade clocks from 1850 through 1929 at which time the factory and all its stock and machinery were sold to the Russian Government.  At this same time the Duber Hampden Watch factory, et all, was also sold to the Russians.  Thus the beginning of the Russian clock making industry under a Communist regime.

 From time to time various enterprises purchased the licensing rights to produce clocks using the Ansonia name.  Most of these entities used 30 day Korean movements.  One firm that I know of used a fairly highgrade 8 day movement upon original Ansonia patents.  I really don't have anyway of knowing which yours would be.  The best advise I can give you is to fully wind the clock, by taking it up until you meet very firm resistance.  If the clock is in good condition, there is no way that you will overwind the clock.  Although I have many time been handed clocks for repair, and declared as overwound, I have yet to see one that was actually overwound.  Invariably the clocks were dirty and had been wound so tightly the springs  would be literally glued together by the muck present on the mainsprings.

Now as to care and cleaning.  There are kits available to the homeowner that meet that very need.  One such kit can be obtained from the following Internet site, <howtorepairclocks.com/clock-oil.html>.  You can search out other such kits by yourself.  I provide the foregoing only as a descriptive media..  Generally speaking, in most instances I recommend that owners have their clocks inspected by a certified clock maker every 2 years, then serviced if needed.

I hope the foregoing has been helpful.  Regards WJP

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

QUESTION: William
Thank you very much for your very informative reply.
  The clock currently chimes two hours behind the time of the clock. For example, it chimes only twice at the four o'clock hour, three times at five o'clock, etc. Can you tell me how to correct this problem?
  Thank you very much for your help.
Sincerely, Chris

Answer
Using your example the clock strikes 2 but the hour hand is at 4.  Simply push the hour hand back to 2, this action will bring the strike and time into synchronization.  This is possible because the hour hand is friction fit to its shaft and held in place by no other means.  Once you have done this you will have to reset the clock to the proper time.  Regards WJP