Expert: Kenneth Saunders - 10/16/2007

Question
Hi
Have inherited a german grandfather clock which has 3 weights and needs 8 days winding. Has choice of 3 chimes and is in working order. Notice that in the westminister chime it sometimes misses the quarter chime also frequency of servicing and type required. I live in India. Thanks

Answer
I do not reccommend any service for these- replacement movements are readily available from the same manufacturer in Germany and they all need replacement or overhaul after 20-25 years regardless of service history.
 These movement reset their chimes so that the hour chime of 16 notes on the Westminster chime will only play on the hour. If you think it missed a chime on a quarter, eventually the right hand weight will be higher at the end of the week than the other two if they began even at the top. Also the next quarters after the missed chime will be wrong until it resets itself- so if you think it missed a quarter chime, the the next quarter will be wrong--if it is correct, then just your hearing is wrong and not the chime on the clock!