Expert: Martin Meyer - 7/21/2009

Question
I have an Ansonia "Mozart" mantel clock that appears to be from the early 1900s.  I can't get the chime to stop - the dog barks every half-hour when it chimes.  I have two large screws on the face and the fast/slow little one.  I didn't see any rod in the back.  Can you tell me how to silence all the chiming?

Answer
Hi Jennifer,

This clock is not designed to have the strike turned off. Leaving the strike side mainspring unwound is also not an option, because that can occasionally cause problems which can stop the clock altogether.

If you look inside the back of the clock, you will see the coil gong and the hammer which strikes it. The hammer wire is soft brass and can be bent out of the way of the coil gong, so that it does not contact it when the clock strikes. This will stop the striking, but you will still hear a noticeable "clunk" as the clock strikes each hour. It is also possible to fasten wires onto a couple parts in the strike mechanism to stop the striking altogether, but I would recommend leaving this to a qualified clock repairer, or you might damage the clock. When this is done, you will hear no sounds at all at the hour and half-hour strike points. Of course, both these modifications cannot be turned on and off whenever you wish to hear the strike, but they can be undone without damaging the clock.  http://www.clockmasteronline.com