Tubular Chimes

Posted: Sun Mar 16, 2008 1:34 am     Post subject: Tubular Chimes

Greetings!
I have a Bauerle grandfather clock (6 nickel tubes) which is supposed to play Westminster and Trinity chimes. Though the individual tubes chime beautifully; at the current placement, the Westminster chime does not play like it should. I had the clock serviced -- unfortunately, the technician claimed he did the best he could and apologized for not being a 'tuner'.
I searched the internet and found a Floor Clock Set-up Guide; though helpful, it did not solve my problem. Meanwhile, I have rearranged these 6 tubes around over the course of a year, each time noting the sequence of the hammers as they striked. Sadly, I have not come close to the Westminster chime. [BTW -- there is/are no missing tube/s that I am aware; simply not enough room to accommodate either 7 or 9 tubes.]
If anyone has experience or can help me with information on tube placement, I would really appreciate it.

Posted: Sun Mar 16, 2008 2:18 am     Post subject: tubular chimes

If you are familiar with the Westminster chime melody it is a lot easier to figure out which chime tube belongs where.
Starting with 1/4 past the hour (which is the easiest). The chime is four notes descending down the scale. By watching which hammer strikes when the first quarter is playing, it should tell you which chime tube should be where on the rack. Those same four notes are repeated in a different sequence for each quarter hour, except that the number of notes increases with each 1/4 hour. (e.g. 8 notes on the half hour, 12 notes on the 3/4 and finally 16 notes on the hour).
Trinity is, of course, a 6 note chime with the extra two notes being higher up the musical scale than Westminster chimes. I'm basing this on a clock with Trinity chimes that I have, The extra two notes are never used for the Westminster chime. The first 1/4 hour of the Trinity chime is 6 notes descending down the scale. Again it is the easiest part of the melody to figure out.
Generally the chime tubes are hung so that they are evenly graduated in length from left to right or right to left.
I have a mantel clock with Trinity and Westminster chimes. However, the manufacturer (HAC) has the chime rods placed slightly out of sequence, so it's useless as a model (except for the way the two melodies should sound when played).
Normally there should only be six tubes in the clock to cover both melodies.
Herschede floor clocks usually had one extra tube. It's only function was to sound the hour strike and it was considerably longer than any of the others and was hung slightly offside from the other row of chime tubes.

Just as an aside...Be thankful that your clock isn't a Charles Jacques tallcase monster clock with eleven chime tubes. It plays any of seven melodies, advancing to a new tune for each day of the week....and no, the chime tubes are not hung in sequence across the back of the clock. Apparently it can be a technician's nightmare to set up. (I still want one though).

Posted: Sun Mar 16, 2008 2:49 am     Post subject: Tubular Chimes

Clkwrx,
Thanks so very much for your fast response and detailed instructions -- much appreciated. As suggested, I shall begin with the 1/4 past the hour -- watching which hammer strikes and which chime tube should be on the rack.
Just as an FYI -- 4 hammers strike in unison on the hour strike.
I have also tried hanging the chime tubes in graduated lengths from left to right, as well as from right to left -- no go.

Yes, I would love to have a clock with eleven chime tubes -- though it will require a lifetime savings (yikes).

I shall report back -- thanks, again.

Posted: Sun Mar 16, 2008 10:34 pm     Post subject: Re: tubular chimes

As far as I am aware the only six note chime melodies in recent history are Trinity (found on Bauerle, HAC, Jacques and possibly other movements; Winchester (so far only seen on Urgos movements); and Canterbury (exclusive to Herschede and Revere clocks).
The first quarter chime on Trinity is the only one with the six notes descending down the scale. The Canterbury and Winchester chimes vary the descending first quarter melody slightly.
I did come across a site on Youtube that has film/sound clips of clocks with various chimes, including a couple playing the Trinity chime, which you might use for comparison. Unfortunately I haven't been able to find the site again.
As long as one or more of the tubes has not been replaced at some point, or on the remote chance that a chime tube or tubes is cracked, then the chime melody should sound correct. It is conceivable that if a tube was replaced at some point then it could be out of tune with the rest of the set. Chime tubes are normally sold in tuned/matched sets. Unfortunately replacement tubular chimes are only sold now in sets of eight for triple chime clocks.

Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 5:29 am     Post subject: Tubular Chimes

Once again -- thanks for your help on the matter. I am happy to report that your effort ended with success. I am very grateful for the help you provided.
Lesson learned: 1) Determine the hammer sequence, 2) Determine what the initial 4 notes are (the most difficult, IMHO) and 3) Rearrange the tubes into sequence. Voila!!

Though the clock work was Bauerle, it was not immediately apparent to me that the scales were Jacques'. I did visit You-Tube and spent hours trying to figure out what the initital scales should be, e.g., ascending or descending -- I believed this to be the hardest task . I also needed a second person to write down the hammer sequence, as I called them out. It took numerous trials but was eventually successful.

Again, I can't tell you how grateful I am for your advice. I hope this trail of messages will be useful to other newbies.