How to bend the crutch

Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 6:22 pm     Post subject: How to bend the crutch

I have a book that explains how to bend the crutch. I cannot quite follow it. It states how to do it and that the stem will bend and the suspension spring of the pendulum will give without injury. Does the crutch stem actually bend or is there something that the crutch stem is attached to that moves?

Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 6:51 pm     Post subject:

On American style clocks the crutch is a brass wire with a loop in the lower end that surrounds the suspension spring rod. In German, European, modern grandfather clocks, and most other clocks, the crutch is a piece of plate brass about i/4 inch wide or wider with a slot in it. If you move the crutch left or right on these clocks, there is a friction joint at the top that slips to adjust the beat. On the American style movements, the brass wire is slightly bent in the middle to adjust the beat. Does this Help?

Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 7:44 pm     Post subject:

wow thanks for your response. It is an Ansonia mantle clock. It does not have a friction joint. Is the brass wire you refer to the crutch. What I have is the crutch which at the bottom the pendulum arm is attached to. What I am unsure about is does the crutch arm actually bend (ie a straight piece of metal that is bent or is the term bend used to explain something that moves when your move the crutch itself). Sorry if that sounds vague but I do apprecieate your response.

Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2008 2:41 pm     Post subject:

The bending of the crutch your book is referring to is used to set the escapement in beat. The crutch is pushed to the side til the escapement bottoms out and then pushed a little harder. This will actually bend the crutch slightly.

Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2008 7:03 pm     Post subject:

What does bottom out mean? Thanks for your response

Posted: Sat Aug 23, 2008 8:33 pm     Post subject:

The crutch is attached to the verge (the part of the escapement that swings back and forth with the pendulum). It is free to swing a certain distance then it stops as it "bottoms out" on the escape wheel. At this point, if you push harder, you are actually bending the crutch. That's how you set many American movements in beat.

Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2008 8:03 pm     Post subject:

A photo of the movement would help.

Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2008 10:12 am     Post subject:

How can I upload a photo. I have tried before but it did not seem to work.

Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2008 10:21 am     Post subject:

Alternatively I can e-mail a couple a photos to you.

Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2008 4:40 pm     Post subject:

The wire that the pendulum bob hangs from can be bent slightly in either direction to bring the clock into beat. Start the pendulum in motion and listen to the sound. If there is an uneven tick tock sound try bending the wire slightly. Repeat the procedure. If the tick tock sound is worse, bend the wire in the opposite direction. Start the clock again and listen. By trial and error bending the pendulum wire very slightly each time you should be able to bring the clock into beat.