Expert: Kenneth Saunders - 1/6/2007

Question
Hello I hope you can help, ive inherited a 1930,s  Bentima Grand daughter clock
(Bentima.co.Ltd)

It has as far as I can tell a Perivale movement and this is all I can find out :-
The Perivale Clock Manufacturing Co Limited, of Wandsworth Road, Perivale, Middlesex  their clocks were marketed by Andrew and Co. Limited 67 to 68 Hatton garden London.Their range included movements for eight-day or fourteen day striking and bracket clocks, ting tang striking on three rods, combined Whittington and Westminster chimes as well as modified versions of these for small long case clocks (familiarly referred to as grandmother clocks) or just simple 14 day timepieces and dial clocks. The Westminster quarter chime movement was first marketed in 1934. The "Britannia" trademark was in use for Perivale clocks in 1937 when they were being a marketed by the Bentima Co Ltd..
The method of regulation peculiar to these clocks appears to be somewhat complicated but it enables the pendulum length to be adjusted by means of a small lever through a slot in the dial above the figure 12. Other features include a lead pendulum and Bob encased in brass; pillars secured by nuts; barrels easily detachable by letting down the spring, and removing two screws on the strap plate without further disassembly of the movement; self-correcting chimes and provision for chime / silent.
The problem I have is the silent switch for the chimes/strikes it is either bent, broken or just jammed as the switch cannot be moved ,the clock chimes and works well after a little tlc and some oil, but we would like to be able to turn the chimes off at night.

This is the only information  I can find


http://www.clock-museum.co.uk/pictures/brs/bentima.jpg

it shows a movement very similar to what I have and in the blurred writing it says
the silent switch should not be moved during chiming, I guess this is what has happened to this clock. Any ideas on fixing said switch.

Ive been in the engineering trade for 28 years now and im more than happy
To dive in if I knew where to start.


                    Many thanks and Happy New Year   Colin


Answer
<<the silent switch should not be moved during chiming, I guess this is what has happened to this clock. Any ideas on fixing said switch.>>>
 Colin:
   Not the problem if the clock is chiming now. Rmove the hands and remove the clock movement from the back of the clock and the problem with the switch will be obvious most probably. Best, Ken in AZ