Jacques 9 chime order

Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 4:20 am     Post subject: Jacques 9 chime order

Trapster or anyone who can help- I could really use that photo of your 9 chime Jacques as we cannot get the chime order right and it is driving me crazy. I grew up with the clock which was probably manufactured in the early 1900's. I inherited it from my father who got it from his grandfather. When we moved it to Buffalo we thought we knew the chime order but it appears to be playing a tune all its own. Any help would be appreciated. it supposedly plays four tunes and strikes the quarter hours.

Thanks for any help you can give.

Kate

Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 9:01 pm     Post subject:

Does your clock have a lever on the dial which changes chime melodies? With 9 chime rods, it probably plays more than one tune on the 1/4 hour and chimes the hour count on the hour. The tune it plays is determined by the lever position. Do you have a picture? Could you post a picture of the chime rod set-up and the hammers? A picture would help tremendously.
W.O.W.

Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008 5:00 am     Post subject: Jacques clock

Unfortunately Jacques clocks seem to depart from the norm when it comes to positioning chime tubes in the their clocks. The usual sequence of tubes of graduated length across the back of the movement as found in some other maker's clocks is not necessarily followed.
It would help to know which chime melodies your clock plays. Several chimes begin the first quarter by playing a melody of 8 notes descending the musical scale. By observing the hammer sequence on the first quarter then the corresponding chime tube can be hung in the proper place on the chime rack. e.g. Whittington and St Michaels chimes begin the first quarter by playing 8 notes descending the scale.
Once the first quarter sequence has been determined, the following quarters will play properly for any chime melody selected.

Usually the longest tube in a nine tube clock is only used for the hour strike and not used during the melody. In some clocks that tube is off to one side of the movement apart from the rest of the tubes.

In 11 and 13 tube Jacques clocks it is a whole different ball game since the arrangement of tubes is very unusual and follows no recognized sequence.