Westminster Chimes ONLY on even numberd hours

Posted: Wed May 11, 2011 1:51 pm     Post subject: Westminster Chimes ONLY on even numberd hours

Just purchased my 1st Grandfather clock at an auction. It has a Seth Thomas movement. It chimes and gongs @ 8:00, 10:00, 12:00, 2:00, etc. It chimes thereafter on the quarter hour. Come 9:00 o'clock there is silence for the whole hour. This cycle repeats @ 11:00, 1:00, etc.
Thanks in advance.

Posted: Wed May 11, 2011 6:17 pm     Post subject:

A majority of the time, simple movement maitenance proves to be the solution to many problems. The best place to start is with the least expensive option: Oiling/Cleaning of the movement.

Anytime someone purchases a used grandfather clock with a mechanical movement, the first thing they should do is look into having the movement serviced. Unless you know the last time the movement was properly cleaned/oiled, you must assume that it was not done. Cleaning removes dust and grime build up from components (dust and grime can hamper movement operation and can lead to wear on parts). Oiling is important to ensure that the movement is properly lubricated during operation (to limit the amount of wear on parts).

Seek out a qualified person who could give you an estimate on cleaning/oiling of the movement. If you should proceed with this service, the clock repairer should also be able to tell you if anything was worn or in need of replacement.

Final note: Keep checking back for other posts from our more experienced forum patrons. They may be able to pin point the problem at hand and/or offer more specific suggestions.

Posted: Thu May 12, 2011 3:01 pm     Post subject:

Thank You Chris. I will be taking it in for a cleaning, and will post an update afterwards.