Expert: Kenneth Saunders - 2/25/2010

Question
QUESTION: I founda an old clock at a second hand store and was hopeing you could help me find anything out about it.Idont want to know how much its worth.I dont know much about them other than i have always loved them,and always wanted one.It doesnt work,but that could be human eror.The model #is 139, serial #is 12159. out side is in excelent condition,and i want so bad to get it working,its beautiful.I hope you can help.

ANSWER: all the numbers refer to the Ridgeway case only. I know lots about the movements that are the clock but little about all the cases furniture companies made over the years.

You "found it"--does that mean you bought it and for how much?

three weights?

what does "doesn't work" mean??
No tick? No chimes? No strike? what ? photos? markings on the back of the mechanism itself?

where are you located?

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

QUESTION: I bought the clock. I paid 150.00 for it.It does have three weights. We can get it to tick, tock,chime,and play pretty tunes. We just cant keep it going. Later this evening when we get home I will have my husband help me and we will get what numbers and photos for you. Im in Taylorsville Indiana.on the clock face it says tempus fugit if that helps. but it probably doesnt. lol  Thak you very much

ANSWER: most probably a simple balance issue with the swing of the pendulum-- read up here and my thing on balance or beat, below:
http://www.howardmiller.com/uploaded/SupportMaterials/Manuals/FloorClockManual.p

-The pendulum assembly begins at the top with a 1" two legged suspension spring pinned to a brass post sticking out of the back of the rear movement plate.
  Next a silver(probably) suspension leader about 5" long that hooks onto the bottom of the suspension spring and passes through the "foot" shaped forked brass piece (and must be in the center of the fork slot and not be rubbing front or back) that connects into the inside of the movement. Newer movements have a horizontal bar that fits in the brass suspension leader slot.
  Lastly the top of the pendulum hooks onto the bottom of this suspension leader. NOW if all is correctly assembled, swinging the pendulum will get it ticking. The sound of the ticking must sound even or balanced on either side. Not over-swinging one side or the other.
  If it is not sounding even, then push with your hand the top third of the pendulum over to the side that has the excessive overswing. You may feel some resistance but gently push a bit more then try the sound of the ticking after swinging the pendulum freely.
  If the sound is not improved in the balance then do more pushing -if it is now sounding like excessive swing in the opposite direction then push the pendulum to the other side till it sounds a pretty even tick. Clock should run then. .(There is a little slip clutch that you are adjusting when you push the "L" shaped foot to either side.)
  There are a hundred things that could be wrong- you have just taken a tour through the repair of what is wrong 98% of the time!


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

QUESTION: When I tried to adjust the swing of the pendulum to even out the tick-tock it would not move so I used a little too much force and broke the suspension spring. I noticed that there is set screw at the top of this mechanism that has marks on it that looks like someone has been tampering with it. It is at the top of a pyramid shape cross piece and it looks like it is not fastened in an even position to me. Is that screw supposed to be loose enough to allow it to move around this bar but tight enough to cause friction. Also can you sell/ship me a new suspension spring or if they are not too expensive a couple of them so that I have a spare. Inside the back of the clock I found instructions for what you are describing to me, also there is an empty package for a suspension spring with instructions on how to install it. On the package it says that it is common for this piece to break in shipping. Also I tried to go to the link that you sent me and it keeps telling me that it is unable to connect me to it. Is there another link that you might be able to send me with literature or diagrams on repair/adjustments. If I run the hands around manually to set the time I can hear mechanism click but it does not chime I can make it chime if I trip the lever that turns it on.Also occasionally if I manually turn the minute hand it binds up with the hour hand does this sound like it will have to be taken apart to get a better look inside I am an auto mechanic and I'm pretty good at fixing things but I'm reluctant to open this thing up without some kind of a repair manual. It looks very delicate inside and don't want to make things worse by messing with something I'm not familiar with any help from you is greatly appreciated  I can not take a clear picture of the set screw I was talking about because I can barely see it but I will send some photos of what I can. Again thank you for all of you'r help. Brian

Answer
try this:

http://store.howardmiller.com/wcsstore/HowardMillerPublicSite/Attachment/FloorCl


the hands are binding? like physically catching on each other or something internal?

the suspension spring hangs in a slot in a pencil size brass post that hangs off the top back of the mechanism- there is either a pin or a knerled-headed screw that pins the top of the suspension spring in the slot in the end of the suspension post.

try the howard miller manual above and then come back with questions- the heaviest weight goes on the right, BTW, in order to run the chimes properly.And do not mess with the pyramid shaped cross piece.

Suspension spring is probably for a Hermle movement (would be nice to read the back of the movement for this info)  if so any clock shop has them or here:

http://www.timesavers.com/catalogmain2.asp?ProductID=20802&submit1=Search