Expert: Kenneth Saunders - 2/16/2009

Question
QUESTION: Seth Thomas grandmother clock received as gift two years ago.  For a few months we "tolerated" the quarter hour chimes and finally quit winding just to keep it silent.  Clock sat for a year un-used except as furniture then two weeks ago I decided to start it again - moved pendulum - and incorrectly set hands by moving clockwise instead of counter-clockwise, not stopping for any chimes along the way.  It chimed a couple times then remained silent.  Only the middle weight moved at all - the outside weights still remain in the up position.  An occasional (maybe 3 times in past two weeks) chime happened randomly, then during the night last night the chimes began to be consistent on the quarter hour.  The hour chime is off about 4 hours.  Neither outside weight appears to have moved at all since the chiming began.  My real question is simply how do we silence all but the hourly chimes?  We really don't care to have it chime at all on the quarter hours.  We would try to "tolerate" the half hour chime if necessary but prefer only hourly.  This is not an antique clock but a replica.  I have no idea make or model, except on the face it says Seth Thomas.  Thank you.

ANSWER: some have levers showing through the dial at the #3 and #9 to change tunes and shut things off. Need to know what mechanism is in the clock to be helpful--all the stamped info off the back brass plate of the mechanism is needed (may need a flashlight and a mirror!)advise...

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

QUESTION: Thanks!  There are no levers showing thru' the dial at 3 and 9, but after I pulled the "head" forward, I did find parts on each side of the works that can be positioned against hammers, appearing as if they are restraints.     What happens if I position that part against the hammers on only one side?  And while I'm asking, I'm curious what the purpose is for the outside weights since they appear not to have moved even tho' the clock started chiming over 12 hours ago.  Using a flashlight I was able to see this info off the back of the works:  "Made in Germany for Seth Thomas Division; General Time Division; Thomaston, USA; A403 007; No (0) Jewels; 7510
Note: just passed the half hour mark and there were no chimes - this after I placed the restraint piece against the hammers on the left side (as I face it) of the clock.  I'll listen at the 3/4 hour and top of the hour for what happens next, if anything.

Answer
the levers are primarily for shipping - however if you lock down the hammers on the right as you face the front of the clock - you will get nothing ever out of the clock. Locking down the hammers on the left will shut off the hour strike but eventually jam up the clock.
The weight on the left facing the front of the clock powers the hour strike and the right the quarter chimes. They ARE moving if the clock is chiming and striking.

If you hold back away from the chime rods the 4 seperate hammers that play the chimes (with a piece of foam or wire or wadded paper towel) then you will get the desired result- no sound from the quarters (even though the gears will turn every 15 minutes) but you will get the hour strike if the other 4 hammers are free to move.

(made in October of 1975 BTW) This is a Hermle German movement their # 451-050 with an 85cm pendulum length(still being made BTW)

http://www.merritts.com/store4/public/product.aspx?ProductID=86902&SearchText=p-