Expert: William J Perkins - 8/10/2007

Question
My wife bought a Waltham 31 day chime clock at an estate sale.  When she set it, it chimed perfectly at 6:00 but then it chimed 5 times at 7:00.  What did she do wrong? besides buying a used clock.

Answer
There is certainly nothing wrong in buying a used clock.  Today that's where the best is acquired.  Accept for the clocks I built myself every clock in my collection was purchased used, spaning manufacturing dates of from 1390 to 1974.
Going to your problem it sounds like it could be quite simple to correct.  I would need some more information if I am to help you.  Maintain a 12 hour log on your clock striking sequences in relation to the hour hand and send it to me.  Secondly examine the clock to determine how the hands are fixed to their shafts.  Most Waltham's I have seen have the minute hand fixed be a very visible nut and the hour hand by a less visible nut behind the minute hand.  Along with the requested log tell me how the hands are affixed.  With that in hand I am sure we will settle the problem.  Regards WJP