adding a chime box to an antique one rod repeater ?

Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 12:58 am     Post subject: adding a chime box to an antique one rod repeater ?

When stationed in Europe I bought this old wall clock in Luxemburg. the face plate sez "Nancy" probably France.
It is about 2 feet tall, Ivory roman numerals, heavely carved. and has a thermometer and barometer on the case.
It is a 8 day wind up, single rod and chimes every quarter hour and repeats the actual hour count.
\/\/\ The problem is that it is a beautiful clock with a horrible voice. I have changed the brass rod out twice.... It has no resonance and goes 'Thudddd'.
I would like to try to add a battery powered, "triggered chime box" to give it the voice it deserves. Is this possible with a mechanical clock?.
Any help or comments will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance..........Windmill

Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 1:49 pm     Post subject:

If the hammers go "thud", then they are probably too close to the corresponding chime rods. You can bend the hammers away from the chime rods. Typically, you want each hammer gapped about 1/8" from the rod as a starting point (when the hammers are at rest). Continue to bend-adjust hammers until optimal sound is reached. Also make certain hammers are centered over the corresponding rods to produce the best sound quality. Bend adjustments can be made by hand (or carefully with a pair of pliers). Note that bending of the hammers is required to produce the best sound quality, and is a normal practice with mechanical movements.

If you switch to a battery operated clock, you will have to remove the mechanical works. Either one type of movement or the other - you will not be able to use parts from both to work together.

Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2011 1:31 am     Post subject: adding a chime box to an antique one rod repeater ?

Chris, thanks for the info on adjusting the hammer.
I do not want to change out the mechanical movement at all. I see in my Klockit (fall 2011) catalogue, on page 53 that there is a 'trigger movement' that will make the battery powered chime box to play Westminister chime.
Do you think it will be possible to adapt this mechanism so that it can be triggered by my mechanical movement?
Thanks again Windmill

Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2011 2:10 am     Post subject:

Here's a thought, if there is room to hide the quartz movement in your case. You don't have to trigger the chimes from you mechanical movement.

Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2011 9:02 pm     Post subject:

KnockKnock makes a valid point... But remember that your quartz movement will not be as loud as your mechanical (nor have the quality of a mechanical chime). I still recommend trying to bend the hammers of your existing mechanical movement to achieve better sound.

In answer to your question, I do not believe that there is a way to incorporate a quartz trigger chime box to a mechanical movement. The trigger box is actually "triggered" by the quartz movement itself (via gears and electronic circuit board which sends an impluse to the trigger chime unit to make it chime). I am not certain how a mechanical movement could be augmented to do the same thing as the circuit board inside the quartz movement that triggers the chime box...

Note: Keep in mind, I am certainly not any sort of electronical guru... Luckily the trigger movement is inexpensive. You could always order one and take it apart if your own electronic experience exceeds that of a newbie-novice-know-nothing (such as me).