Expert: John Newman - 4/18/2010

Question
QUESTION: I have just inherited a Franz Hermle wind-up mantel clock.  The markings are "Mantle Clock, La Societe Nationale d'Horticulte de France, ©1982 SNHF Made in Germany, Franz Hermle Two jewels."  There are two holes for winding and I remember my mother saying that one has to be careful to wind it correctly or the chimes will be damaged, and that it was a bit complicated -- something to do with letting each hour chime before winding again?  Any help would be very welcome as it is a lovely clock with beautiful chimes.

ANSWER: Gillian, you probably have a Hermle 140 series (round plates) or a 340 series (rectangular plates).  The winding hole for the time is on the right and the one on the left is for the strike.  I am rather sure both wind clockwise.  There is nothing complicated about winding them and the chimes cannot be damaged from winding.  The only thing to remember is to hold the winding key firmly and don't get in a hurry.  You will hear a clicking sound when winding. Just let it set back a little before releasing your grip.  This is done really in one motion and you do not have to wait between each winding turn.  You continue winding until you feel a pronounced increase in resistance.  Then it is fully wound.  You cannot wind Most of these clocks are 8-day clocks and you should wind them once a week.  There were a few that were 14 day clocks, but there was a limited number made.  I hope this helps a little.

John Newman
THE VILLAGE CLOCKSMITH
Old Prattvillage
Prattville, Alabama


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

QUESTION: You're answer has jogged my memory a little.  I think the complication may be in adjusting the hands to the correct time. I think it chimes on every quarter hour, getting more of the musical phrase each time with the whole phrase on the hour. Do you have to move the hands forwards (clockwise) through the hours and wait each time for the clock to chime?

ANSWER: Gillian, now I'm not sure which movement you have. You told me that it has 2 winding holes.  This indicates a time and strike only clock.  As you now mention the chiming on every quarter, it should have 3 winding holes.  The left one is for the strike, the center for the time and the right one for the chime.  There are some rather complicated clock movements that did have the chime and strike with only 2 winding holes, but I have never seen or heard of Hermle making this type.  On a normal Westminster chiming clock the first quarter will chime 4 notes, the second 8 notes, the third 12 notes and the hour will chime 16 notes and then strike out the hour.  When you move the minute hand to set the time, you do not have to wait for the chimes.  They are auto synchronizing, meaning that if they are not correct after you set the time, they should correct themselves within one, possibly two hours.  

Because of the confusion I have right now, let's start over.  Does the clock have 2 or 3 winding holes?  Set the time using the minute hand and let it run for a couple of hours.  Note if it chimes and how many notes are played on each quarter and when it strikes.  And, if you can, look on the back plate of the movement and give me all the information you find.  Let me know what happens and we'll go from there.

John Newman      








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

QUESTION: OK - starting over.  I gave you the wrong information.  I wound it up as you suggested, and it is a two hole clock.  I must have been thinking of a different clock, because this one chimes on the half hour and the hour only and just a simple chime each time.  So now it is working perfectly, thank you very much for that.  Only I still am not sure how to adjust the time.  Am I correct in thinking you have to wind the hands forward (clockwise) so as not to damage the chimes?  I promise this is the last quest.  Cheers, Gillian

Answer
Gillian, don't worry about the number of questions.  Most of the Hermle clock movements are "safe back" types which means it is safe to turn the minute hand backwards when setting.  To check , carefully turn the minute hand backwards past the hour and you should hear a click, somewhere between the 5 minutes til to 15 minutes til.  When setting, the strike for the hour or half hour might not be correct for the first hour, but then it will correct within this time.  If a clock is not a safe back clock, the minute hand will come to an abrupt stop turning backwards past the hour or half hour.

John Newman