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Clocks, Watches/Seth Thomas Grandfather clock

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Expert: - 12/1/2009


Question

Seth Thomas picture on
I have been given a Seth Thomas Grandfather clock.  It chimes 2 - 3 minutes past the hour. Also, it chimes 3 hours beyond what it should.  If it is one o'clock, it chimes 4 times.  I found out too late that we should have removed the pendulum before transporting it.  We did however remove the chimes.  Any suggestions would be appreciated.  We are not sure of how old the clock is.  We may open the clock casing from the back and also both sides at the top slide out.  We were told that from the side opening we may change the chimes, but we don't know how.  This clock chimes every quarter hour. It also has the moon and stars above the time but we have no idea what to do there either.  Thank you for your time.

Answer
the hour strike fix is here:move the hour hand (short one) to agree and point at the number on the dial the same as the number of strikes the clock bongs. Reset the correct time with the minute hand as usual

the 2-3 minutes past the hour is solved here:the minute hand is two pieces - the hand and the center collet with the square hole in it. holding the hand and either with a square end of a file that fits the collet or a pair of pliers on the OD of the collet--rotate the relationship between the two so when put back on the minute hand shaft and the nut replaced, it makes you happy where it is pointing.

if you have only a total of 8 black steel rods hanging behind the pendulum then it is a Westminster chime only GF and no chime changing is possible.

the back of the mechanism will have markings to tell me how old it is.

you removed the 3 WEIGHTS not the chimes before transporting it.

The moon is just a picture representation of what the moon looks like tonight. Move the round disk with your finger tips clockwise through the opening in the dial. the moon is the same for all the US - the moon dial is not a star dial- it is a picture of what the moon looks like at night. ie full, new , first or last quarter etc. Look up at night sky - a calendar, almanac, newspaper or internet and find the phase of the moon for today and rotate the moon dial with your finger tip ccwise till the ammount of moon showing matches- one click= one day. ie if a full moon like this month on 8/5- today is 3 days later 8/8 -  put the picture of the moon in the center and then rotate clockwise 3 clicks- then it works by itself there after. If the moon dial refuses to click clockwise- come back in 4-5 hours and it will move easily


here is a web page that might help: http://www.howardmiller.com/uploaded/SupportMaterials/Manuals/FloorClockManual.p...

Kenneth Saunders

Expertise

any mechanical clock question -no watches- no battery clock questions and no appraisals-ie: "how much is my clock worth?" type questions please! Attach a photo if possible and note all markings on the rear of the mechanism- thanks 40 years as a professional clock repair person- still a full time clock repair service owner

Experience

40 years as a professional clock repair person- still a full time clock repair service owner.

Organizations
NAWCC

Education/Credentials
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