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Clocks, Watches/Westminster Regulator Wall Clock

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Expert: - 12/10/2010


Question

Westminster Regulator
My husband just bought me this VERY HEAVY (maybe oak?) 3 foot long clock from a lady who appeared to be about,60 yrs old.  She said this was her fathers clock and she remembers growing up with it in his house.  I have done some minor research on line. This has the Westminster Chime-15,30,45, and on the hour chimes then gongs the hour: The numbers on the front are not Roman Numerals, but numbers and at the top of the face, below the 12 it has "Pearl". I have looked on the back of the works-which is brass- and it has:
86
Franz Hermle
no (0) Jewels
unadjusted
Made in West Germany
351-030A
45cm
101.887
Now, from what I have gleaned from online, this means that it was made in 1986.  The key is missing and not sure if the shaft is .4 to .5 cm.. this means I am looking at about 5 different key sizes.  However, I am wondering if any of the numbers on the back of the works states what size the key should be; maybe the 45cm?? I would like to know what the 45cm means, along with all the other numbers/letters and the 101.887. What does the unadjusted mean?
Whether it is old (as the lady said-maybe she looks 20+ yrs older than she really is??) or not, I love it.
Also, the three key holes on the front, wondering what hole winds what?  Again, what i have read, it looks like the right one should wind the chimes. Looks like I should be winding it every 8 days, too?
Thanks so much for any information.

Answer
everything you think is right is correct

the movement could have been replaced but the one you have was made in 1986

45cm is the pendulum length from the top hanging post in back of the movement to the nut below the pendulum disk

left is the hour strike and the center is the time

key is a 4mm square key - standard in ALL German clocks for last 50 years- available everywhere

101.877 is the number of ticks per minute it will be doing when keeping perfect time--

no jewels and unajusted is a disclamer for export charges

Pearl is the US company that made the wood case
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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

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

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