Expert: John Newman - 5/10/2010

Question
QUESTION: John, Is there a way to turn off the chimes yet keep the hour strike? I've tried letting the chimes run out & just winding the hourly (keyhole to lft facing clock?)but in that case neither works. Also, though the clock (time) runs close to eight whole days the chimes/hour seems to run out in about 2/3 days...is that normal?

ANSWER: Ed, your movement was made by Hermle for Seth Thomas and is their model 340-020.  It does not have a chime or strike silent function.  The way these clocks work is that the strike will not function until the chime has completed its run a the top of the hour.  Since the strike and chime functions share the same hammers, the chime hammers cannot be disabled without affecting the strike hammers.  The only way to disable the chime and have the hours strike would be to remove one of the intermediate chime drive wheels on the back movement plate.  To get it to work again, the wheel would have to be reinstalled and the chime train adjusted to bring it back into sync.  If the chime/strike functions are running out in 2/3 days, I would say that there is a failure in the chime train, which, as described above, affects the strike.  If the clock hasn't been serviced in the last 7 to 10 years, the lubricants have become gummy and/or there are worn parts.  It would probably be best to have an experienced clockmaker service it again to get everything working, and then, if you wanted, have the chime drive wheel removed at that time.  I hope this helps a little.

John Newman
THE VILLAGE CLOCKSMITH
Old Prattvillage
Prattville, Alabama


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

QUESTION: First of all, many thanks for your complete and timely answer. My follow up ques: Is there a way to set the time to the correct time/chimes/hour strike without having to go around (through the cycle, exmpl. the clock says 4 but should be on 3) by the minute hand stopping every quarter-hour to let the chime work?

Answer
Let me make sure I understand the problem.  I believe you are saying that the clock strikes 4 when it is on the 3.  If this is consistent for every hour, being off one hour each time, the hour hand has inadvertently been slipped, probably when setting the time with the minute hand.  To correct this, run the minute hand through the quarters, allowing each one to chime its quarter.  When it reaches the hour, let it strike, and carefully slip the hour hand to the proper hour that just struck.  Make sure the hour hand does not touch the dial or the minute hand when the pass each other.  That should do it.

John Newman
THE VILLAGE CLOCKSMITH
Old Prattvillage
Prattville, Alabama