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Question
Hi,
I really need help with my grandfather clock. Its driving me nuts! I bought a 1985 Ridgeway grandfather clock (with triple chime) at a yard sale recently. When I brought it back and put on the weights and pendulum, etc, it worked perfectly (time, chimes and gong) until I meddle with it when it was 10 minutes behind the correct time. I simply moved the minute hand 10 min forward and after that, it chimed the wrong number of chimes on the quarter, half, three-quarters and hourly mark. What I did next was that I kept moving the minute hand clockwise round and round the face to get the correct number of chime and gongs, without stopping for the chimes on the quarter, half, three-quarter or hourly mark to complete its chime and gongs. After some trial and error of moving the minute hand back and forth, I finally got it to chime and gong correctly, BUT it now chimes and gong ONLY every other hour. Simply put, it chimes on the quarter, half, three-quarter and hourly mark and gongs also on the hourly mark but stops altogether for the next hour and then resumes the correct chimes and gongs on the next. PLEASE HELP!!
Lenny, the movement in your clock has auto synchronizing chimes, which means they self-correct. So, after you set the clock 10 minutes ahead, the chimes would have corrected For testing, I will sometimes carefully move the minute hand back and forth manually at the hour to advance the chime mechanism until it catches up. But causing it to fail every other hour is a new one on me. Let me get it straight. You say it chimes correctly on the quarter, half, three-quarter and hour and then strikes out the hour. Then it does nothing for the next hour, bur resumes on the next hour and continues this pattern throughout the day. Is this correct? If so, I will do some research and send an inquiry to my Internet Clocksmiths Group. Let me know.
John Newman
The Village Clocksmith
Old Prattvillage
Prattville, Alabama
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Answers by Expert:
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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