Expert: Kenneth Saunders - 5/13/2007

Question
QUESTION: I want to fix my Siser-in-laws pendulum clock. It keeps perfect time but the chimes don't chime. The springs are wound tight so don't appear to be broken. Is there a site where I can go and find out what to look for. I have it mounted on a fixture and leveled and I took pics of mechanism. I just don't know where to start looking. Thanks. Greg
ANSWER: Gregory; what markings are on the back brass palate of the mechanism?

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QUESTION: There is a 70, then below that is 'W.Haid', below that is "no jewels", below that "made in West Germany", below that "unadjusted", below that '351-020', below that '31cm',a straight line, then '128.5'
ANSWER: Gregory: movement was made in 1970 by Hermle --351-020 is their part number still and 31/cm is the pendulum length. Run the hands around and you can see the levers that lift to trip the chimes --raise them by hand if necessary- then at the same time try to spin the gears on the right side about mid way up to see if it will go. Probably worn out -- the chimes are the first thing to go and normally about 10 years ago!  This one is on Ebay but the pendulum is too long by 3cm for your clock but this about the cost of new movement - replacement is easy.

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QUESTION: SO where would I go to buy a replacement?
ANSWER: http://www.blackforestimports.com/ItemDetail.asp?varImageName=8&subcat1=8&cat=MO

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QUESTION: The Black Forest Imports web page say that "they do not sell retail" so I guess I'm out of luck there. Are there any retail sources?
ANSWER: sorry about that - never thought they didn't sell to everyone--ok here you go:

http://item.express.ebay.com/__Collectible-Clocks_Hermle-Clock-Movement-351-Seri

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QUESTION: Let me see if I have this straight! The WMC consists of 4 notes, on the 1/4hr it plays once, on the 1/2hr it plays twice, on the 3/4hr it plays thrice, and on the HOUR the WMC plays 4 times before the STRIKE plays. If I manually lift the levers that are sorta to the right and close to the plate the chimes will play and the strike will follow some times ( I haven't tried to count what I listed above so perhaps the strike is occurring at the proper time. I do have digital pics of the mechanism that I could post to you.

Answer
Greg sorry for delay email did not go thru.- Yes 4 decending notes on the 1/4 after - 8 notes on 1/2  12 on 3/4  and 16 on hour plus proper hour strike follows. I don't need photos - I can see them in my sleep!

If it works properly when you trip it manually then the "V" shaped lever that rides on the back of the minute hand shaft 4 pronged cam needs to be bent open more so the upper end of the V lifts the horizontal levers higher so they release.