3 years ago
How do I get a Grandfather clock's chimes to match the time on the face of the clock?
I have a DUFA Grandfather Clock. It is a simple two chain German clock circa 1920. The chimes do not match the time on the face of the clock. When the hands say 1:00, it chimes 5 times. When the hands say 2:00, it chimes 6 times. The chimes are consistently 4 hours ahead of the hands. There is a string hanging down from clock works to the left of the pendulum. When I pull that string, the chimes will sound. I do not know the purpose of this string other than to sound the chimes.
1) How do I get the chimes to match the time on the face of the clock?
2) What is the real purpose of the pull string that makes the chimes sound?
1) How do I get the chimes to match the time on the face of the clock?
2) What is the real purpose of the pull string that makes the chimes sound?
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M$1 Answer
My apologies for a cut-n-paste jo, but I believe this will help:
"This usually happens when the clock is laid down on its back and then later put back upright and attempted to run again.
Understand these two points first before proceeding:
Some clocks do not like it when the minute hand is turned counter clockwise, so for the beginners, just go by the rule that all clocks should only go clockwise with the minute hand and you will be safe. In fact most clocks you can go backwards just fine, they are designed like this so it is okay, but to be safe for the sake of the few that can not go backward, go forward only.
Also, on just about all clocks, with the exception being newer Japanese clocks and 31 day clocks, the hour hand is only a friction fit and can be turned on the hour tube to any position on the dial, backward or forward. If the hour hand becomes loose during this, just push back on its tube and it will be tight again.
Now that you understand those two points, to move the minute hand forward only and the hour hand is usually only pressed on being a friction fit, we can continue setting the clock chime.
To correct a mantle or wall clock that is bonging the hour when the minute hand gets to 6 O'clock instead of 12 O'clock, just count the bongs, take off the minute hand and reinstall it on the clock pointing to 12 O'clock, then turn the hour hand to the hour you heard the clock bong and its done. To correct a clock that is bonging the wrong hour on the hour, just turn the hour hand to the correct hour the clock bonged, then reset the time correctly with the minute hand letting it bong as you go."
Also, here's the address for the DUFA Clockmakers in Germany:
DUFA Deutsche Uhrenfabrik GmbH & Co. KG.
Siederstr. 47-49
Germany
Tel: 772039901
"This usually happens when the clock is laid down on its back and then later put back upright and attempted to run again.
Understand these two points first before proceeding:
Some clocks do not like it when the minute hand is turned counter clockwise, so for the beginners, just go by the rule that all clocks should only go clockwise with the minute hand and you will be safe. In fact most clocks you can go backwards just fine, they are designed like this so it is okay, but to be safe for the sake of the few that can not go backward, go forward only.
Also, on just about all clocks, with the exception being newer Japanese clocks and 31 day clocks, the hour hand is only a friction fit and can be turned on the hour tube to any position on the dial, backward or forward. If the hour hand becomes loose during this, just push back on its tube and it will be tight again.
Now that you understand those two points, to move the minute hand forward only and the hour hand is usually only pressed on being a friction fit, we can continue setting the clock chime.
To correct a mantle or wall clock that is bonging the hour when the minute hand gets to 6 O'clock instead of 12 O'clock, just count the bongs, take off the minute hand and reinstall it on the clock pointing to 12 O'clock, then turn the hour hand to the hour you heard the clock bong and its done. To correct a clock that is bonging the wrong hour on the hour, just turn the hour hand to the correct hour the clock bonged, then reset the time correctly with the minute hand letting it bong as you go."
Also, here's the address for the DUFA Clockmakers in Germany:
DUFA Deutsche Uhrenfabrik GmbH & Co. KG.
Siederstr. 47-49
Germany
Tel: 772039901
images:
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M$
Good answer, and an example where cut and paste is totally appropriate.
Thanks for the encouragement... I was honestly expecting some flak :)
Mahalo!