Expert: Michael Radi - 1/12/2011

Question
QUESTION: My father has a Tempest Fugit grandfather clock that was given to him by a neighbor. It has no chimes. Someone took them when she put it out in front of her house. He is trying to find a pendulum or chimes for it. We don't know which ones it takes. We can't find any numbers on this clock. Do you have to take this clock apart for this. This would seem strange. HELP!!!!!
Thankyou, Mrs. Taddeo ( I don't believe this is a expensive clock). Thankyou!

ANSWER: Tempest Fugit is a term that has been put on clocks by many different manufacturers and does not tell me what is inside the clock.
The chimes an pendulum have to match the movement inside the clock. Can you look at the back of the clock movement and tell me if anything is stamped on it?
Michael

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QUESTION: I will look again but I believe we could not find numbers anywhere. We feel we would have to take the clock apart. Do you mean behind the clock itself with the numbers-the round clock or the moving mechanism? It appears we would have to take something totally apart to find numbers since they are not visible when looking.
Thankyou,Mrs. Taddeo- I really appreciate this!

Answer
The markings I'm looking for are stamped on the back of the clock movement. The back of the clock movement is a brass plate, probably 6" to 8" wide and tall. Some grandfather clocks have a removable panel on the back. Some of them have a hood that is removable. Others have side panels that come off. There should be some easy way to get inside the top of the clock. All of the factories built these clocks so that clock repair people have easy access for servicing the clock movement.