Expert: Martin Meyer - 11/19/2007

Question
QUESTION: Hi, I have a Westminster Chime wall clock with pendulum.  The pendulum is for show only.  It says Savannah Row on the clock face and Regulator on the glass in front the pendulum.  When we change times in the Spring and Fall and I reset the clock the chimes don't ring the correct time.  How do I check this?  I fixed it in the Spring, but have lost the instruction manual and don't know what to do.  I remember it involved moving the hands, but I don't know where or how.  Thank you for any help!
Scott

ANSWER: Hi Scott,
    If the gong strikes the wrong number of times, you correct it as follows: turn it to strike on the hour. Count the number of times it strikes and move the HOUR HAND ONLY to point to the correct number. the minute hand will Not move. The hour hand (unlike the minute hand) is a friction fit and can be moved forward or backward without affecting the minute hand or the strike mechanism. Occasionally the hour hand is tight on its shaft, so move it gently so as not to break it. Once you have synchronized the strike in this way, you can set the time the normal way by turning the minute hand forward, stopping to let it strike at each strike point.      


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

QUESTION: Hi Martin,
Thank you for the help, but it won't work on my clock.  The hands are beneath a glass cover that won't come off.  The time is changed by turning a dial on the back of the clock.

Scott

Answer
Hi Scott,
    If the front glass is not removable, this sounds like a battery-powered clock. I didn't know that, and my answer applied to wind-up or weight-driven clocks. Sorry.
    Battery movements are made in so many makes and models that there is no single answer I can give you to solve your problem. Many of these movements have complicated or confusing setting methods.
    The first thing to look for is a "chime set" button which will make the clock chime each time it is pressed, and  will advance the number of chimes struck by one hour each time you press it. Other clocks may have a "minute" and "hour" button which does the same thing. On some clocks, you must press a "set" or "chime set" button first, then press an "hour" button repeatedly until the clock chimes the correct hour.  Turning the hand setting button or disk will usually not solve your problem, whether you turn it backwards or forwards.
    I apologize for my lack of a detailed and specific answer, but there are so many non-user friendly methods of setting on battery clocks, that this is the best I can provide.