Expert: William J Perkins - 6/3/2007

Question
QUESTION: Inherited a 1978 Ethan Allen grandfather clock. It has a Urgos 32008B movement, serial # 901454. The gong unit is broken and I can't seem to find another one. It has 12 rods, 1 row has 4 hourly and the other row has 8 for the 1/4 hour. All 12 rods are arranged back to front and point straight down. It also is a triple chime movement. The old gong unit has B122/50 stamped on it. Any suggestions as to where I can find a replacement?

ANSWER: Try Merritt's Antiques.  <merrits.com>  On their home scree search for item P-1009, that should be what you need.  You can obtain this unit through any of the clock materials houses, but you would have to find their part number.  Best of luck WJP

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for the quick reply, but the gong unit you suggested appears to look just like one I purchased from another vendor and it is laid out incorrectly. Here's a crude sketch of what I am looking for:
BACK
O O  I will follow up with Merrits and try to find out if
O O  there's follow this pattern but most of the triple
O O  chimes units with angled rods are laid out with 4 rods
O O  at the opposite end of ehat I need. I beleive bending
 O  hammers on the movement to match is just too far
 O  forward to work properly. Also, the angle of the rods
 o  makes for a very tight fit inside the clock. I pretty
 O  sure the rods need to point straight down.
FRONT

Again , thanks and if you have another sugeestion that would be great.


Answer
If the gong base is alike to the original, remove the rods and put them in the order of the original.  The rods screw in.  Excersize caution in doing this.  Use a proper sized screw driver and make sure the base is held firmly.  I am sure the part I defined from Merritt is a proper replacement for your Urgos.  It is likely an alteration was unintentionaly made during a prior servicing that would necessitate altering the position of the chime rods.  Regards WJP