How do I wind this clock

Posted: Wed May 26, 2010 7:29 pm     Post subject: How do I wind this clock

I have an antique grandfather clock Ca 1900. I am hoping this forum can help me with a couple things. The movement is made by Jacques of Baden and is numbered 315891. There are three winding arbors. Is there a particular sequence and instructions for winding? Anything I need to be cautious about? Also, I advanced the minute hand without the clock being wound, and the chimes at the top of the hour don't seem to be the Westminster I remember. Thanks for the help.

Posted: Thu May 27, 2010 2:31 pm     Post subject:

There is no particular method to winding, and no specific order as well. Simply insert the crank over each winding arbor and rotate the crank to raise the corresponding weight. Go ahead and rasie all three weights before activating the chime.

Some movements have a triple chime selection feature. This allows you to change between three different melodies. You can check to see if your movement has this option. You should see a chime select lever which will typically extend through the clock face (usually around the 3 or 9 o'clock positions). The lever should correspond to melodies marked on the clock face. Make certain the lever is set to "Westminster". If your clock is not a triple chime (and only chimes Westminster), then there could be an issue with hammer/chime rod gap and/or alignment (which could result in in notes that are off or notes that do not sound at all). I will admit that I am not familiar with the movement, so I do not know if this would apply.

Posted: Thu May 27, 2010 4:59 pm     Post subject:

Thanks, Chris. Great feedback. Here is some more info about the clock. The clock has six chimes. On the face of the clock, there is a Westminster/ Trinity Chimes select lever at the three o'clock position; a silent/ chime select lever at the six o'clock position and a silent/ hour-str select lever at the nine o'clock position.

Posted: Thu May 27, 2010 9:12 pm     Post subject:

This is just speculation on my part, but I think that your various levers may provide the following options:

Posted: Thu May 27, 2010 9:13 pm     Post subject:

Westminster/Trinity Chime select lever: This will allow you to select between (what appears to be) two chime options for the movement.

Posted: Thu May 27, 2010 9:13 pm     Post subject:

Silent/Chime position: I believe this lever would allow you to turn on/off the chimes. The silent position would keep the movement from chiming at all. The other position would allow the movement to chime. The silent feature could also be strictly for night time silence (rather than total chime silencing).

Posted: Thu May 27, 2010 9:13 pm     Post subject:

Silent/Hr Strike: This is one that I am really taking a wild guess at - but it seems that this might turn on and off the hour strikes (which would follow the chime melody and count out the hours).

Posted: Thu May 27, 2010 9:13 pm     Post subject:

Of course, a bit of experimentation would tell you if any of my above speculations are correct.

Posted: Fri May 28, 2010 3:36 pm     Post subject:

Chris. You nailed it. Right on the money.