Expert: John Newman - 5/14/2007

Question
QUESTION: I have a very old(1935)wall clock with chimes.It is keeping perfect time,but recently the chimes are all mixed up.The hour chimes at half hour with one ring at quarter,two at the hour and three at quarter past.Can I set it myself ? Had removed the clock to polish the wooden frame.could that have caused it?Would appreciate if anything can be done.Thanks
ANSWER: Vandana, I need to clarify a couple of points of your question.  First, how many winding holes are on the dial, two or three?  Three would mean that you have a chiming and striking clock.  If it has chimes does it play the Westminster chime?  There are some variations to this.  Normally on a Westminster chime, it will chime 4 notes on the quarter, 8 on the half, 12 on the 3/4 and 16 on the hour and then strike out the hour. I might need the make and model of the clock movement which is usually found on the back movement plate.  Did you remove one or both of the hands and then replace them?  I might need a full front view digital of the clock.  Let me know.

John Newman
THE VILLAGE CLOCKSMITH
Historic Downtown Prattville
Alabama

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

QUESTION: Thanks for your reply,John.There are three winding holes on the dial.It is a Westend Watch Co. make clock.It chimes one note at quarter,two notes at half ,three notes at three quarters and then the no.of notes as the hour may be.Yes we did remove both the hands since the fine wire holding them came loose.We could not find any make or model except the name on the dial.If it could be of any help it needs winding ones in 7 days and is still keeping perfect time.We are not sure if it plays the Westminster chime.Hope these answers are useful.Thanks.
ANSWER: "It chimes one note at quarter,two notes at half ,three notes at three quarters and then the no.of notes as the hour may be."

Is this the way it was doing, or is doing now?  

John

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QUESTION: Dear John,
This is the way it has been doing.Coincidently we have found a local person who is interested in such clocks and feels confident that he will be able to set the clock.Thank you for answering all my questions.Will surly let you know if it starts working fine.

Answer
Vandana, it has been a while, but I remember seeing some clocks that have a chime arrangement that chimes the quarters but not the hour when it just counts out the hour.  This might be one of them.  Seeing a photo of it might jog my memory.  But let me know what your local person finds and how it works out.

John