Expert: Michael Radi - 1/14/2010

Question
QUESTION: I have an old 8-belled clock.  I don't know how to tell its age but my father collected it  at least 50 years ago, and it was old-looking then.  It has Roman numerals which are somewhat worn. It says Made in USA in very small letters below the Vl. There are no model numbers on it anywhere I can see without taking it apart.

I read another question similar to mine:  how to  coordinate the strikes with the correct time.  It does strike evenly on the hour, but not the appropriate number of bells.  Is this something I can adjust myself?  I didn't see any follow up to your reply to the question. I live in Seattle

ANSWER: OK, you have a ship's bell clock. The really old ones advance the strike every time you trip that lever on the dial. You should bet one extra bell every time to trip the lever.
Here is how you set it:
Advance the minute hand until you are at 12 or 4 or 8 o'clock.
Trip that lever until you get 4 bells at 12, 4 or 8 on the dial. Then you can advance the minute hand (let it strike every 1/2 hour) until you get to the correct time.
Michael
www.norkro.com
clock parts and repair

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

QUESTION: Michael, thank you so very much.  I will do as you advise and that should do the trick!  And thank you for giving so generously of your time.
This site is a god-send-who would have thought I would find such advice as easily as I have.
Noel

Answer
I found all experts when I was having some computer trouble. It was fantastic to have and expert personally answer my questions. That's when I decided that this site would be a good way for me to pay forward some of the knowledge that was given to me by the amazing people who helped me learn clock repair. (Thanks David, Bernie and Frank)
Michael
www.norkro.com
clock parts and repair