You are here:

Clocks, Watches/alaron 31 day clock

Advertisement

Expert: - 10/26/2011


Question
first off thank you for all your help in redoing a chime set from a heimle curio clock I sent you a year or two. anyway I have a alaron 31 day clock that is missing its pendulam and dont know where I might be able to retrieve one I remember seeing it years ago if I remember it was a stick and the disk was able to slide up and down. I put a pendulem from one of the battery clocks from cherry tree toys I build, of course it is not heavy enough(?) to control the speed of the pendulam (i guess thats what it helps to do) and it will advance an hour in an eight hour period. the clock right now sets at a slight degree backwards(the top) and it runs but when I set it on a level table it will now continue to run fast or slow it runs for a couple minutes and stops. so my question boils down to this where can I get a pendulam  that is correct for this clock and what is causing it to speed up and why does it stop on level tableit was given to my wife quite a few years ago by her deceased husband and would love to get it going again. thank you for all your help and I do have pictures if need be

Answer
Jerry, you're welcome.  I hope it's doing okay.  I am on vacation right now.  However I am at a place where I can answer emails.  I probably have or can fit a pendulum for your clock.  If you can send a clear photo of the clock to my shop email address I will see what I can do when I return Monday or Tuesday.  I will need a front view of the clock with the door open.  Also I will need a measurement from the center of the hands to the inside bottom of the case.  That way I can determine the length of the pendulum that will fit inside.  Will you please verify that the part from which the pendulum hangs is a vertical wire with a short horizontal rod at the end.  If not, is it just a hook on the end of the wire?

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.  

Clocks, Watches

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

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.