Expert: Michael Radi - 6/30/2010

Question
QUESTION: I recently bought a Seth Thomas grandfather clock in a moving sale.

The clock is in immaculate condition. I have a few questions.
a) The clock chimes 15 mins. prior. (chimes 8 times at 7:45). How do I set it right?
b) How do I install a small light in the cabinet to illuminate the brass?
c) How do I know how old it is and other details: Make: Seth Thomas, Model 4522, Movt. A451-006, Cutting: 8710, Finish: 525

Thanks for your help.

ANSWER: Hi Amit. You can correct the chiming problem by removing the minute hand and putting it back on in a position that is 15 minutes ahead where it was when you took it off. The hand is held on by a small nut. You can hold the nut with a pair of pliers and rotate the hand clockwise about 10 minutes to loosen it. Then you should be able to unscrew it with your fingers.
Regarding the light: I would talk to the folks at Home Depot or Lowes. They have lights that are low heat and energy efficient. You will have to drill a hole in the back of the clock to run the cord through.
To determine the age you will have to look at the back of the movement. These movements usually have a two digit date. If it has 75 the movement was made in 1975. The clock would probably have been made within one to two years after that because the movements were made in Germany and shipped to the US for installation in the clock case.
Let me know if you need more help.
Michael
www.norkro.com
clock parts and repair

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

QUESTION: Michael:

Firstly, Thanks a ton for your guidance.

I plan to make the correction over the weekend and give myself sometime to do it carefully.

Further, I found the following answer (a little more detailed) at another site, and thought other readers will find it useful too.

It will be great if you could let me know what you feel about this.


•Step 1
Stop the pendulum as soon as the grandfather clock begins to chime at the wrong time. Write down the time. Grasp the minute hand with one hand.

•Step 2
Use pliers to take hold of the nut on top of the minute hand. Do not apply to much pressure or the nut will scratch. Turn the nut counterclockwise to remove it from the grandfather clock.

•Step 3
Pull the hand off the shaft of the grandfather clock. Pull only from the area by the shaft and not at the end of the hand.

•Step 4
Turn the hand over and find the hand bushing. The hand bushing is a small raised area around the hole that goes over the shaft. Use pliers to grasp the hand bushing firmly so that it will not slip.

•Step 5
Use your free hand to turn the minute hand of the grandfather clock to the correct chiming time. For example, if the clock had chimed at 12:10, instead of 12:15, the hand must be turned forward five minutes.

•Step 6
Turn the hand right-side up, and place it back on the shaft of the grandfather clock. Use the pliers to reattach and tighten the nut on top of the hand. The minute hand should now point to the correct chiming time. Remove the hand, and repeat steps 4 and 5 and turn it again, if it does not point to the correct location.

•Step 7
Start the pendulum of the grandfather clock. Reset the clock to the correct time by moving the minute hand counterclockwise to the correct time. Do not move the hour hand.


Tips & Warnings
The minute hand should be adjusted if the grandfather clock chimes one minute or more off from the correct chiming time..Make sure the grandfather clock weights can move freely. If the weights cannot move, the clock will not chime..Balance the clock so that the weights do not hit anything..Untangle the chains that hold the weights, if needed...

Thanks again.

Answer
Thanks for the detailed information. I have to tell you that you don't need to turn the collet in the hand because your clock is exactly 15 minutes off. All you need to do is remove the hand and put it back on in the correct position. The explanation above applies to clocks that are chiming off by anything other than 15 minutes.
The minute hand has a square hole and can fit on the clock in 4 different positions. So if the clock is off exactly 15 minutes you just need to put it back on pointing to the time that the clock is chiming.
Michael
www.norkro.com
clock parts and repair