Expert: Martin Meyer - 8/25/2007

Question
I have a bentine mantle clock which chimes every quarter hour using westminster chimes.  It will chime at 15, 30 and 45 past the hour as it should then for some reason when it gets to the hour mark it wont chime.  After that it doesnt chime until 45 past the hour, when it then chimes the full hour chime including the number of hours previous.  It was fine previously.  How can I get it to chime properly on the hour and thereafter as it should at 15, 30, 45 past the hour?

Answer
Hi Neil,
    This clock has a chime correction mechanism which keeps the chimes in synch when you turn the hands to set the time. You problem is in the chime correction mechanism.
    Every movement manufacturer has their own chime correction mechanism. In all of them, a series of levers and cams work together in a fairly complicated manner. I think this is a job for a professional clock repairer. A good clockman should be able to correct this problem without too much trouble, unless the problem is due to wear in the chime correction parts.
    Thanks for your question.   Martin