You are here:
- Home
- Home/Garden
- Clocks and Watches
- Clocks, Watches
- Recently aquired Hermle Clock
Clocks, Watches/Recently aquired Hermle Clock
Advertisement
Question
Hello there, we see you had some info on a Hermle clock and we are hoping you can help us. We have recently recieved a clock from my wifes mother and it is a (Solar brand mantle clock) with Hermle workings. It is a battery powered unit with the movement marked Hermle 530-020. It use to run but had stopped for several years. We have, as of yesterday put in a new battery and started the movement and it is keeping time just fine. However the chimes have a mind of their own and will sometimes sound once at the 1/2 (or maybe more) and at the hour it will chime from several times to dozens. There is no real pattern. Is there any way to re set this unit. I remember when it did run properly and it is quite a nice sounding set of chimes. Thank you for any help you can give
Hi, Rich. I am not familiar with the Solar clocks or the Hermle 530-020 movements. The current and past Hermle listings I have do not show a 530-020 movement. Being a battery powered clock and having an intermittent strike function, I doubt that it could be fixed if the strike is electronic. If it is a mechanical strike, it possibly could be fixed by an experienced clockmaker, but the labor charges might be more than a replacement movement. If you will send a digital photo of the back of the clock movement to my shop email address I might be able to help you find a suitable replacement.
John Newman
THE VILLAGE CLOCKSMITH
Old Prattvillage
Prattville, Alabama
klokdok@juno.com
Note: Because of the number of Allexpert questions and follow ups,
and the excessive backlog in my shop, I regret that I can only answer
the Allexperts related questions in a timely manner.
Related Articles
Answers by Expert:
John Newman
Expertise
As much as I would like to offer values of clocks, I am not a certified appraiser and will not venture into giving an unresearched guess. There is very little published information on what I consider to be the value of "modern production clocks". Considerations are what the clock originally sold for, the condition of the case and movement, and particularly the area in which you live, the demand and the economy. ALSO, WATCHES ARE NOT MY FIELD. However, I can advise the clock owner on proper maintenance of a clock to keep it running, small corrections and adjustments and how to move a clock without damaging it. I can also advise on obtaining parts for clocks. It helps if you can send any information on the clock movement which is usually found on the back plate of the movement. I have been a clockmaker for about 35 years and was plant engineer in the mid 90's and later operations and engineering consultant at Emperor Clock Company in Fairhope, Alabama. I now have my own clock shop.
Experience
One of my greatest accomplishments was traveling to China to assist a clock factory in building clocks to the standards which we required. With the proper specifications and quality control, some beautiful clock cases were built. The factory people from the wood carvers to the plant manager were very congenial, friendly and I left a lot of wonderful friends when I returned from my trips.
Organizations
Chamber of Commerce
Small Business Committee
Publications
Horological Times, a publication of the American Watch and Clockmakers Instute. Collaberated column author, with Photos and ideas for clock movement conversion article.
Education/Credentials
Associate of Science Mechanical Engineering Technology
Emperor Introductory Clock Repair (Eventually taught a portion of the class after becoming employee)
Awards and Honors
Small Business of the Quarter (Prattville, Alabama)
Leadership Class of 2009 (Autauga County, Alabama)
©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.