Expert: William J Perkins - 6/26/2007

Question
I recently received a grandfather clock from a close friend.  It was made by Dayton Clock Company.  Which I believe are now out of business, anyway it has a Hermle Black Forest Clock, Amherst Virginia 1161-850A.  The clock works fine and keeps good time.  The problem is the chimes are not working.  I check the lever that you can change from silent to 3 different tones.  But the clock makes no sound in either position.  The instructions saw to let the clock run for two hours to reset.  But still no tone, it also does not make any chime at the ¼ hour marks.  I hear a click and I see a leaver the protrudes to the front of the Movement raise and lower but no chime. The silence bars are disengaged and I can manually push the lever down as per instructions and it does chime.  I cannot see the front of the movement due to the face but on the lever that goes up and down every ¼ hour /hour it has a small pin on the end but I cannot see where of if it is supposed to engage on another leaver.

Answer
The click you hear is of the chime train cocking, that is reassuring.  On your clock one of the weights is 9.9lbs, this weight is considerably heavier than the others which weigh is at 7.7lbs each.  It is essential for that heaviest weight to be hung on the chime train, the one on your right as you face the clock.  The reason for this is that the chime train has the hardest, from a dead stop condition, job to go into motion,  Check your weights!
If this does not solve your problem I suspect the clock needs cleaning and fresh lubricants.
If you wish I can send you an exploded view of your movement.  The model 1161 had several variants so I would need to know if the clock is chain or cable driven.  Also I would need your e-mail address to send a copy.
Regards WJP