Expert: John Newman - 9/11/2010

Question
I have an Emperor Kit Clock with a model name of 1900 Circa Clocks. It has the appearance of a Seth Thomas Mantle Column Clock around the turn of the 1900 century. I bought it at sell because the case was wooden and in great shape as was the look of the movement. The movement has a 4x4 strike made in Germany in 1981. Replacement value for the movement is $210. This was all told to me by the Emperor Clock Company. They have no manuals for the actual movement, just the case assembly. Here is my dilemma-(1) I am no clock expert, I just know enough to get me in trouble, but still do routine maintenance and slight adjustments to my collection. (2)The trouble is that the clock runs fine. It even strikes perfectly at the quarter hours and hour, but I have to elevate the right side 1" to get the beat in sink. (3)On my Seth Thomas Clocks, I can adjust the crutch by bending the brass rod slightly. But this movement has a crutch that is a punchpress piece of brass (I think it's brass)about 1/4" wide maybe less. (4)Also, with the clock in it's elevated mode, which makes for a real conversation piece, it gains about 4 minutes a day. There seems to be no key slot in the front to slow down or speed up. I have looked at the back of the movement and haven't found any place to move, whack or twist anything to adjust the speed. (5) Short of spending $210 for a new movement or half that price for cleaning and adjustment, I only paid $20.00 for the clock, is there anything that I can do short of going to clock school and developing 20 years of experience. Thanks in advance for your help. Chuck  

Answer
Chuck, as far as adjusting the beat, you are correct, the crutch should not be formed.  You have what I call a modern production clock movement, which is quite a bit different than the older clocks in you collection.  You did not give me the model of the clock movement (for example, a 341-020), but I am fairly sure this is the type that is adjusted for beat by slipping the crutch on the verge assembly.  From the back of the clock, remove the pendulum bob and gently move the crutch from one side to the other.  It should move equally to the left and right from a vertical center line.  I have a feeling yours moves much further one way than the other.  If it does, carefully move it to the short side and push it a little further than the "stopping point".  It should slip a little.  Repeat this until it is even on both sides.  It will probably take a few tries on either side to obtain an even beat.  Reinstall the bob and try it out.  Once you have it, it should run okay, unless  there are some other issues.  Now, this has no bearing on the rating (timing of the clock).  That would be controlled by the rating nut at the bottom of the bob.  Generally you unscrew it to drop the bob and the clock will run slower, and tighten it to raise the bob to increase the speed.  If this doesn't answer your questions, contact me at my shop email address with the model of the movement (found on the back plate of the movement) and I'll see what to look for from there.

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.