Clocks that have count-wheel strike are simpler than clocks with rack striking but they have a disadvantage in that the number of blows struck can easily get out of sequence with the time shown. It requires your intervention to re-synchronise the blows struck with the time shown. For this reason it is imperative that the hands are never turned backwards and that when setting to time the striking must be allowed to finish before turning the hands to the next hour.

Movement backplate

To synchronise the number of blows struck with the time shown proceed as follows:

Turn the minute hand to the next hour and count the number of blows struck.

Open the rear door and look for the count-wheel A in the diagram. Lift and release the detent – part B with a matchstick or suitable tool. The clock will start to strike and the count-wheel will slowly turn. By lifting and releasing the detent the clock can be made to strike the correct number blows as shown on the dial. The clock can now be set to the correct time by turning the minute hand clockwise stopping at each hour until striking stops.

The pendulum should have been removed for the journey home and you must refit it. The pendulum consists of a rod with a hook or eye at the top and a bob. Hook the pendulum onto the “hanger”. This part hangs from the movement and often swings back and forth quite freely; but take care not to force it beyond its free travel. It is normal to fit the pendulum with the “best” side of the bob facing where it can be seen. The nut below, or in the centre of, the bob can be screwed up to make the clock go faster or down to make it go slower.

Place the clock on a firm level surface. Check that it cannot wobble and if necessary put a piece of card or folded paper under the appropriate rear foot. Listen to the clock tick – it should have a steady and even tick. If not, lift one end and if the tick is better put some packing under the raised end. If it is worse; lift the other end and when the tick sounds even put the packing under that end. If the clock has been raised so much that it looks odd the clock may need to be adjusted at the workshop.

Your clock is known as an eight-day clock but it should be wound every week i.e. every seven days. It is very beneficial to the clock to wind it fully and keep it running all the time if possible – clocks like to work!

To set clock to the right time turn the minute hand (the long one) CLOCKWISE ONLY – DO NOT MOVE THE LITTLE HAND. You must stop at the strike positions and wait for it to finish striking until you go on to the next position.

If your clock strikes a different number of blows to the time shown it is most likely because the hour (little) hand has been accidentally moved. Turn the minute (long) hand until it reaches the 12. O’clock position & strikes, then turn the hour hand to point to the hour just struck.

Hook the clock onto a strong screw & make sure it is straight and cannot wobble. Some clocks have stabilisers, which can be screwed in or out just enough to prevent wobbling. The pendulum may have been removed for the journey home and you must refit it. The pendulum consists of a rod with a hook at the top and a bob. Hook the pendulum onto the “hanger”. This part hangs from the movement and often swings back and forth quite freely but take care not to force it beyond it’s free travel. The nut below, or in the centre of the bob, can be screwed up to make the clock go faster or down to make it go slower.

If you screw the bob down make sure the bob follows it. Give the pendulum a little push to start it swinging. Listen to the clock tick – it should be steady and even. If not, move the clock, from the bottom, to the left or right until the tick is even. The clock should still appear to be reasonably straight. If the clock has been tilted so much that it looks odd the clock may need to be adjusted at the workshop – call for advice.

Your clock should be wound fully every seven days. It is very beneficial to the clock to wind it fully and keep it running all the time if possible – clocks like to work! Most clocks are wound in a clock-wise direction but some American clocks have anticlockwise winding on the strike side. When you are going to be away from home & will not be able to wind the clock for some time, rather than let the clock run right down, it is better to stop it.

To set clock to the right time turn the minute hand (the long one) CLOCKWISE ONLY. If the clock has strike or chime you must stop at the chime/strike positions and wait for it to finish chiming before you go on to the next position.

If your clock strikes a different No. of hours to the time shown you can normally correct this by using the correcting lever which is mounted on the movement, behind the O’ clock position of the dial. Operating this lever will cause the half-hour to strike then, if operated again will cause the hour to strike & be increased by one. Keep operating the lever until the correct hour is struck. Remember : To avoid this problem do not turn the hands anti-clockwise & remember to wind the clock fully every seven days.

The clock should be hung on a strong screw fitted to the wall with a wall plug. The pendulum and pulleys may have been taped to the rear or sides of the case and should be released. Look through the glass sides to make sure both lines are still on their drums. The pendulum will act like a plumb line and the case can be moved until the bottom of the pendulum lines up with the centre of the scale attached to the rear of the case. If the clock has stabilisers attached to the bottom of the case they may be screwed in or out until the clock cannot wobble. Do not screw in any more than is necessary or the pendulum may rub on the rear of the case – even just brushing it may cause the clock to stop.

The weights can now be attached and the pendulum set in motion. Listen to the tick; if it is even all is well; if not, move the case, from the bottom, a little to the left or right until tick is even. To set to the right time turn the minute hand (the long one) clockwise, stopping at each hour and half hour, until striking has finished. Do not wind the clock until the weights have almost reached the bottom of the case as they may be criss-crossed on the drums – this will ensure that the lines have unwound from the winding drums and that, therefore, they will now be wind on neatly. The weights should be wound up until the top of the pulleys is just below the bottom of the dial. The clock should be wound each week and preferably not allowed to stop. When going away from home for holiday’s etc. it is a good idea to stop the clock before you go.

NB. Most of these clocks have what appears to be a seconds hand & dial; but the hand will, in fact, make a revolution in 45 secs! This is normal and seems to be poetic license on the part of the manufacturers.

If the clock gains time (i.e. goes fast) turn the nut at the bottom of the pendulum so that the bob is lowered and if the clock loses time turn the nut to raise the bob. Getting the clock to time is a case of trial and error and it is usually better to let the clock run for a full week after each adjustment to see the effect. Make a note of any error so that the improvement is readily noticeable. It is usually possible to get an accuracy of approx. 2 minutes Per week.

Hook the clock on the wall making sure it is straight and cannot wobble. Some clocks have stabilisers, which can be screwed in or out just enough to prevent wobbling.

The pendulum will have been removed for the journey home and you must refit it. The pendulum consists of a rod with a hook at the top and a bob. Hook the pendulum onto the “hanger”. This part hangs from the movement and often swings back and forth quite freely but take care not to force it beyond it’s free travel. The nut below, or in the centre of the bob, can be screwed up to make the clock go faster or down to make it go slower. If you screw the bob down make sure the bob follows it. Give the pendulum a little push to start it swinging. Listen to the clock tick – it should be steady and even. If not, move the clock, from the bottom, to the left or right until the tick is even. The clock should still appear to be reasonably straight. If the clock has been tilted so much that it looks odd the clock may need to be adjusted at the workshop – call for advice.

Your clock should be wound fully every seven days. It is very beneficial to the clock to wind it fully and keep it running all the time if possible – clocks like to work! Most clocks are wound in a clock-wise direction but some American clocks have anti-clockwise winding on the strike side. When you will not be able to wind the clock for some time, rather than let the clock run right down, it is better to stop it.

To set clock to the right time turn the minute hand (the long one) CLOCKWISE ONLY. If the clock has strike or chime you must stop at the chime/strike positions and wait for it to finish chiming before you go on to the next position.

Hang the clock on a strong screw fitted to the wall using a wall plug. It should look straight, lay flat against the wall and not be able to wobble. The pendulum will have been removed for the journey home and this must now be fitted. Hook the pendulum onto the wire that hangs from the movement (it may well be swinging and the clock ticking) and is normally visible just behind the bottom of the dial.

At the top of this wire is a thin spring so take care not to twist, pull or raise it when attaching the pendulum. A gentle push to the left or right will start the clock ticking. If the tick is steady and even – all is well – if not, move the case, from the bottom, to the left or right until the tick is even. The case should still look straight.

To set the clock to the right time turn the minute (long) hand clockwise only, stopping at each hour until striking has finished.

To correct faulty striking turn the minute hand clockwise until it reaches the XII and the clock strikes. If the number struck is different to the time shown operate the correcting wire that hangs inside the case, just to the left of the pendulum, until the correct number of blows is struck. If there is no correcting wire, gently push round the hour (short) hand until it points to the correct hour then set the clock to the right time using the minute hand only.

If the clock goes too fast or slow the timekeeping can be regulated by turning the small nut at the bottom of the pendulum to raise or lower the bob. Raising the bob will make the clock go faster and lowering it will make the clock go slower.

 

Winding the clock. The clock should be wound fully every week. The left hand winder is wound clockwise and the right hand winder is wound anti-clockwise.