Winterhalder chiming problem

Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2008 12:50 pm     Post subject: Winterhalder chiming problem

I've done quite a bit of reading and searching on this forum, but can't seem to find any information about my specific problem. I'm really hoping someone can help.

We have a German longcase clock with a chiming problem. All I know about the clock is it's from Leipzig (1910-1912) with a Westminster chime, and the movement is Winterhalder. Here's the problem...

It chimes normally at the top of the hour, but then at around 10-11 after the hour, it chimes all of the quarter-hour chimes at once (six 4-note sequences). Then, nothing at 15, 30, and 45. I can hear it click at the quarter hours, but no chime. Then, again, it chimes normally at the top of the hour.

Any suggestions would be very much appreciated. Thanks.

Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2008 9:20 pm     Post subject:

You said it chimes normally on the hour...Do you mean that the complete chime cycle (16 note chime tune) plays followed by the hour count chime?
Or..does it count the hour only, followed by the westminster chime tune at 11 minutes after the hour? Knowing that would help diagnose the problem.

Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2008 11:23 pm     Post subject:



Thanks very much for the response. On the hour, it plays the entire 16-note chime tune, followed by the correct hour count chime. Then, as I said before, at 10-11 after the hour, it plays all of the quarter-hour chime tunes at once (six 4-note sequences). Then, nothing at 15, 30, and 45.

Thanks again for any and all suggestions.

Posted: Fri Nov 28, 2008 3:32 am     Post subject:

In simple layman's terms, maybe this will help: There is a four-point star-shaped gear on the front center of the movement connected to the shaft that holds the hands. As the minute hand turns, this gear is shaped in such a way that it lifts a lever which engages the chime mechanism. It begins lifting the lever at about 4 or 5 minutes before the chime sequence is to begin. This gear has one point that is longer than the other three. That point should be pointing to the top when the minute hand is pointing up (12). It is made that way so it will engage the hour strike only when the minute hand is pointing to 12. There is another lever which is lifted by the first lever that connects with a pin on one of the gears and is supposed to stop the gear from turning until the minute hand reaches the particular 1/4 hour point. I suspect that that lever is out of adjustment or the pin is bent or missing. It is very difficult to diagnose such a problem without seeing it happen. You probably need to call a local repairman. What city are you near? There is probably someone on this forum that can point you to a local repairman.