Clock Setup...you will need the level included with your clock and some small cardboard pieces.
Words of caution
- Do NOT clean the face of the clock....dust the face of the clock with a feather duster or better yet do not dust it at all. These clock faces were painted with alkyd type paint but the numerals and decorations were done in INDIA INK. So do NOT wash the face or spritz it with windex, however tempting or the clock numerals will instantly dissolve. Just close your glass cover and admire from the other side!
- Straighten the strings around the barrel...Before you do anything --make sure the strings are straight and neat.
- Hang the Weights....you need to put them on the string loops BEFORE you wind or the strings will wind up into the clock head and you won't be able to get to them easily again.
- Do NOT move the large hand on your clock face. Move your minute hand ONLY clockwise.
- Follow these intructions. Clock set - up will go smoothly if you will follow the instructions.
Step One. Place your clock body against the wall.
Clocks were often bolted to the wall for stability.
If you wish to tie or bolt your clock to a wall, look for little holes that you can use once again.
Here you see a hole on the back of the head.
.
Here is one more little hole for securing a string to the wall. It is in the middle of the body back
Step Two. Level your clock. Level your clock before you place the clock works on the body!
To work properly, clocks must be perfectly
level in from
side to side AND from front to back.
Some advice from a clock customer about leveling the works as well...."First, I leveled the clock body, using felt gliders that adhere to the bottom of furniture. Second, I leveled the wood frame on which the works sits, using (of all things) popsicle sticks (they don’t compress over time)."
Check that the clock is level from both sides.
Then check from front to back.
Step 3. Take a look at your clock works.
Click to enlarge the photo for detailed closeup.
a. Look at the barrel of the clock works.
Make sure the string is wound evenly (strings in the middle photo not acceptable) and hangs straight and has not twisted around anything.
b. Examine the back of the clock. You will see a vertical assembly with two small crutches.
This is where you will hang the pendulum. If you see any blue tape, please remove it.
Your strings should NOT look this this....
Step 4. Place the face and its works on the clock body.
Slide it gently in place by holding the base of the works.
Step 5. Center the clock face.
The face of the clock must be centered exactly.
Look for pencil marks on the body for guides,
if there are none then center visually.
Step 6. Hanging the pendulum.
Take the pendulum in one hand and place in the lower body with the round pendulum part hanging down and facing front. Insert the pendulum upwards through a little boxed area in the body to the head.
Then gently insert the very top of the strap through the top crutch of the works.
On most clocks the pendulum works best if the strap is as far towards the clock back as possible,
but you may need to experiment with this later.
Insert into the bottom crutch too.
The pen is pointing to the bottom crutch. The strap must hand loosely and be towards the body back of the clock as much as possible. In other words, the pendulum can not swing freely if it is jammed into these supports. So place gently and look for a good vertical appearance and flexibility.
Click to enlarge the photo for detailed closeup.
Step 7. Putting on the bonnet.
Make sure that the glass face is latched
firmly before removing or replacing the bonnet.
The clock head is removed or replaced by
sliding on horizontally.
Step 8. Hanging the Weights.
a. To make it easier to hang the weights, check to see if your ropes with the little brass pulleys are exposed in the body opening.
If the brass pulleys are hanging below the opening, then go ahead to Step 9 and wind your clock JUST UNTIL you can see the pulleys and NO MORE!
If the pulleys are hanging up above the opening, then call us immediately
802 394-7753 Janet & Borge. This is really important. If you wind the ropes up without the weights attached, then the clock works will have to be returned to us or to a clockmaker to be sorted out!
b. Turn the little brass pulleys so that the hook hangs down.
Hang the weights on each pulley. The weights will be marked left and right as you face the clock.
It should look like this when the weights are hung.
Step 9. Pendulum
Before you close up, set the pendulum swinging
gently from side to side. A tiny push will do it. The pendulum must not
be scraping against the back of the clock. If so, go back and check your
steps.Make sure the pendulum is moving freely, that the ropes supporting
the weights are not twisted and that the body is level.
Make sure that the pendulum is pushed to the waaaay back of the crutches, i.e. towards the tip of the crutches facing the back of the clock body.
Step 10. Winding your clock.
Follow the winding chart we have included on your written instructions which accompanied the clock.
Open your face plate and place the clock
key on the left winder. Turn your key according to your diagram for your clock.
Of course if you do not want your clock to wind, do not use this winder!
b. Wind the pendulum mechanism. Keep the door open. Watch the weight - do NOT wind the weight higher than that you can see it in its entirety in the opening.
Turn your key in your right hand winder which is for the time. Follow your diagram for the appropriate direction.
You can rewind your clock at any time. If it is a 7 day works, just pick Sunday for example and rewind every Sunday.
Chimes.. Occasionally we are asked if the clock must chime and the answer to that is No, it is not necessary that the clock chime. Just do not wind the chime winder!
Step 11. Setting the time.
To set the time, please move the minute hand only in a clockwise direction. We repeat ONLY
in a clockwise direction.
We also strongly recommend that you do not move the hands until the hands are out of the 10 of and 10 after position. Just wait until the hands are in the 20 past or 20 of the hour position then make your adjustment.
Wait for the bells to chime at the hour. Please do this slowly. Never push the hand backwards. Please use care here.
Most clocks are seven days clocks.
Repeater Strings
Many clocks can have an extra chime string. This
was your middle of the night time check. The explanation is that candles
were expensive and difficult to light in the dark, so you would attach
the string to your bed and if you woke and wanted to know what time it
was, you would pull on the repeater string!
Please don't do it between ten of or ten after the hour or the timing will be impaired.
Otherwise just gently pull on this string...
If you have these printed instructions and would like to see the photos on this manual enlarged, please go online to....
http://www.country-gallery.com/clocksetup.html
If you would like to follow our step by step video instruction please go online to....
http://www.country-gallery.com/clocks-videosetup.html
If you have questions or problems or would like us to talk you through set up,
Please Call Us!
The Country Gallery Antiques
Janet Fram and Børge Hermansen, shop proprietors
telephone 802 394-7753 e.s.t. fax 802 394-0076
Email us!at antiques@country-gallery.com