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Antique clock...

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Sachs | 12:37 Sat 13th Sep 2008 | ChatterBank
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I have a chiming clock. It's losing a few minutes when it chimes, about 4 mins out. We have wound it up in both keyholes, what else can we do?
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Chuck it in the bin.
Get it repaired!!
If it is an antique I would recommend going to a reputable dealer who may be able to do a repair. Usually resetting times is done at the six o clock position. Try doing that first it may just work?

Good luck
If it is an antique, take darren's advice,
If it is not of any real vallue have a goe as he said, and if that doesen't work, assuming it is a clockwork mechanism, try a quick squirt with some thing like WD40
or even parraffin.
Question Author
Hi!
I've tried WD40 on the centre of the face hands as they were a bit stiff. Not sprayed any in to the back workings of it yet. It seems to keep time for a bit then gradually lose. You are probably right, I should take it to a specialist!
If it is a genuine antique, do NOT use any kind of lubricant on the mechanism : take the clock to an expert.
Question Author
Well I bought it from an antiques place, not particularly expensive ( 65.00 ) Seller thought it may be 1930s? Works beautifully but for this!
If it has a pendulum on it there will be a mechanism for adjusting the weight higher or lower on the rod. This is usually a screw-type kind of adjustment: moving the weight higher makes the mechanism run faster, and vice-versa. Only adjust it for about 1 turn, and leave the clock alone for a day in order to see what happens. It's pretty much trial and error.
Question Author
Hi stewey, thanks a lot for your info! Strangely enough after scouring the internet, I found the information exactly like you said so have printed it off. Apparently it's normal for these old timepieces to be adjusted weekly! Thanks for all your help stewey! xxx
You're welcome, Sachs. These type of clocks are quite sensitive to changes in temperature and humidity. As I suggested, just make a minor adjustment and wait for a day to see how 'times have changed' so to speak. then, if needed make further adjustments. Two thinks to keep in mind about these clocks: never lubricate them with common house-hold lubricants, and never move the hour or minute hand backwards.
Don't spray it with oil ...it probably needs
balancing ..try a 2p under the front of clock ..
a process of elimination ..old clocks are
very tempermental ..if all else fails use an
expert ..we have some really old clocks
and watches and always use an expert ...

Question Author
Hi the! We had put sticky felt under two feet from the start as the surface it's on wasn't quite even. Thanks anyway! xxx

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