Antique clocks have their own unique little personalities and you will slowly learn how often it likes to be wound and how picky it is about where it is placed. First of all setting up yours starts with where you decide to place it.
1-It's ok to move the hour hand (gently and if it is hard to move stop) to set time or correct bell ring but NEVER move the minute hand other than clockwise. Moving it counter-clockwise will damage your the mechanism. Another method of setting the correct bell chime is to move the minute hand to the 11 and then back to the 9 until the clock strikes properly. Generally to set time only use the minute hand, stopping slowly just before the hour and half hour, giving the bell a chance to set up.
2-Do not move with the pendulum attached and swinging freely. Remove it first.
3-Never put a marble clock on its side as they are cemented together and built to stand erect.
4-Wind yours every five to six days (so it does not become sluggish in 7th or 8th day) and wind both of the holes on it until they are tight.
5-Adjustments should never require great amounts of force.
6-Don’t be intimidated, as pendulum clocks were typically designed to be set up and maintained by their owners without the benefit of an expert.
Your most important tool will be a small, inexpensive pocket level. With this you will need to make sure that wherever you position yours, that the surface is very level, especially from left to right. If it is a multi-level tall clock, then put the level on top layer as well. The swing of the pendulum which hangs down and swings from right to left will be affected if the is not level. The front to back level should also be reasonably level because you do not want the pendulum resting on the bell or back wall or it will not run. Next is placing the pendulum on the rod. This can be done by opening the swinging metal door on the back (assuming you have a door and not just an opening) or you can remove the back panel on many. The pendulum rod (located in the back of the movement) is where you will place the it on the hook at the bottom of the rod, or if silk suspension on the thread hook, being careful not to move the rod upwards while doing so. Moving the rod upwards may displace it. Once done you can either gently lift the clock just a bit on its end and gently down again, or move the pendulum to start it swinging. You will then be listening for an even tick/tock.
A clock out of beat is a cause of poor time keeping. An even beat or tick is the sign of a well running old clock. A limping or uneven tick is the sign of a sick one. The tick tock should be even in a well running one. Should the tick/tock not be even and yours is not continuing to run, you will need to do the following: If you are a beginner and if your clock is not level, you can adjust the side up that your level indicates with coins, shims, washers, etc. so as to raise it to become even from side to side. For the experienced owner, if the surface is even, you can slightly and gently bend the crutch (the wire that the pendulum slots into) in the direction of the shim or the end you raised in order for the clock to beat evenly. This will allow you to put it "in beat" without having any potentially unsightly additions on your mantel place. French clocks are more precise and less forgiving than American and will require a bit more effort to set them up. If you cannot wind it before leaving town, gently stop the pendulum because if the strike runs down first it may jam the timekeeping (or running) train, and it will not start evenly when rewound.
After shipping, the chime hammer may need to be adjusted in order to appropriately strike the bell. The slight and gentle bending back and forth as well as up and down of the strike hammer rod allows you to adjust how the hammer falls on the bell. In order to achieve the tone and resonation you desire, firmly hold the hammer rod at the middle with a needle nose pliers and use your free hand to raise or lower the hammer head end of the rod, allowing a minor space between the hammer and the bell.
1. Bring the minute hand (longest hand) to the hour and count the number of strikes.
2. Move the hour hand (shortest hand) to the number struck ( forward or backward). (If it reads 12:00 and strikes 8:00, move the hour hand (shortest) forward to 8:00. (See also above)
3. Set the correct time
A weekly regular feather dusting will help reduce dust build up, but twice per year use a vacuum cleaner nozzle with a soft brush attachment to fully remove all dust from crevices and cracks. Please avoid moving your clock around when dusting the surrounding area. Dial glass can be cleaned by applying a very small amount of Windex directly to a clean cloth and the glass carefully rubbed and then wiped dry with a clean paper towel or soft cloth.
Here is a good link for information: http://www.nawccch75.com/clockinfo.html
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