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Clocks, Watches/Pearl Grandfather Clock Manual

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Expert: - 11/27/2011


Question
Hi John,

My parents passed away, and I now own their Pearl Grandfather clock.  It works great, but I'd like to get need a manual.

At minimum, can you tell me how to set the moon dial?  Other articles I saw mention just pushing back on it and turning by hand, but mine does not move when I do that.

The clock has the following numbers on a tag stapled to the cabinet:

455 6860
9051  7/85

The movement has the following numbers:

1161 850A
114om
50

Answer
Hi, Don.  I do not have any manuals for the Pearl Clocks.  There are very few around, as Pearl ceased manufacturing clocks quite a few years ago.  However, I probably have manuals similar that would work.  I do have the manual for the movement.  It was manufactured for Pearl by Hermle and the 1161 you have uses a 114cm designated pendulum and I believe the last number is actually "60", meaning that the pendulum swings at 3600 beats per hour.  The paperwork on the case indicates the clock was manufactured in 1985, and you can verify that by looking on the back of the dial for the information stamped in.  If the first line has the two number "85", that would indicate 1985.  

The moon dial is adjusted by turning it.  There would be two reasons it does not move.  If it is in the midst of an advance motion by the clock, a pin is engaged in a tooth of the moon dial and if you wait a couple of hours it should move easily.  The second reason is that a part such as the detent spring can be jammed and the dial would have to be removed to correct the problem.

If you will contact me at my shop email address below and possibly send me a digital photo of the complete front of the clock, I can discuss the details of the manuals that might work.  Also we might be able to further diagnose the moving moon dial problem.

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.  

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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)

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