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General Questions How does a Grandfather Clock work? What is a Grandfather Clock? How accurate is a Grandfather Clock? What is a Barometer? How does a Barometer work? How do I set a Barometer? What is a Skeleton Clock? Moon Phase Dials - How were they used? Grandfather Clock movements Caring for Clocks How do I make sure that the clock is level? How do I transport an antique clock? How do I set the beat? What to do if a French style clock turns in its case. How do I deal with time rate adjustment? How do I set hands to the correct time? What to do if your "Count Lever" gets caught on the "Snail" Getting the strike to correspond to the time How to move marble cases How does a Grandfather Clock work? A weight-driven mechanical movement powers most Longcase or Grandfather clocks. The clock is wound by the traditional method of raising each of the weights to the top of the trunk (one for the chime, one for the strike and one to keep the clock going). Longcases may have one two or three weights depending on functions installed on the clock. Typically the movement will run for 8 days from a single wind, the weights descending at the rate of approximately 6 inches a day. Although 30 hour duration, month going, three month going and year going are available. Most people however, find it easier to remember to wind their clock at the same time each week. » Back to the top What is a Grandfather Clock? The correct name for a Grandfather clock is a floor standing Longcase Clock. The terms Grandfather Clock, Grandmother and Granddaughter clocks have become popular over the years but there is no defined difference between them. The general perception seems to be that a clock over 6ft is a Grandfather - over 5ft and it's a Grandmother - under 5ft and it's a granddaughter. » Back to the top How accurate is a Grandfather Clock? Providing the clock is set up properly you can expect to maintain accuracy to within a few seconds a day. » Back to the top What is a Barometer? A Barometer is a device that measures atmospheric pressure. Most use liquid mercury others use sealed canisters to gauge how much pressure there is in the atmosphere, this helps with the prediction of the weather. The higher the mercury is, the more pressure there is in the air. » Back to the top How does a Barometer work? All matter has mass and takes up space, including air. Air constantly exerts pressure on our bodies, but our bodies do not crumble because animals evolved to withstand the atmospheric pressure. One type is a glass tube from which the air has been removed it is inserted into a dish of mercury. Air pressing down on the mercury in the dish forces some of the mercury up into the glass tube. The height to which the mercury rises in the glass tube is directly proportional to the atmospheric pressure. This is usually measured in inches of mercury, but other scales are often used. Another type uses a sealed metal container linked to a gear mechanism that shows the changes on the pressure on the container via a scale » Back to the top How do I set a Barometer? To set a barometer you need to adjust it to give the same reading as a weather chart for your area at the same time. This is best done in atmospheric conditions when the pressure is varying slowly. Anticyclones are ideal for this, often associated with established clear and sunny conditions. Don't adjust it when conditions are unsettled or windy. » Back to the top What is a Skeleton Clock? Skeleton clock is the term for a clock that is usually made from a metal or wood cage housing the movement, which is nearly always a mechanical movement, these are normally 'see-through' and the working of the movement is clearly displayed. These are available as Mantel or Wall clocks. Skeleton clocks can be very ornate with attractive metal or wooden frames. » Back to the top Moon Phase Dials - How were they used? Some say that Moon phases dials were originally used to plot the path of the moon so that people could tell whether it would be bright outside at night implying that before the days of street lighting Highwaymen made it quite dangerous to travel at night so overnight or late night journeys were always planned around the time of the full moon. Many were also made from towns or villages associated with the sea so that the plotting of the tides would be estimated correctly. » Back to the top Grandfather Clock movements Grandfather clocks are traditionally powered by a pendulum system. These have been used since around 1656 and were the first clock movements to have any real kind of accuracy. In large grandfather clocks, the pendulum usually swings once every 2 seconds. The length of the pendulum is the only variable that effects the time. Because gravity is constant, adjusting the length of the pendulum higher or lower will make the clock slower or faster, so a great deal of accuracy can be achieved if set correctly (providing that the clock has been correctly serviced and is not worn out or excessively dirty). » Back to the top Caring for Clocks How do I make sure that the clock is level? The clock needs to be level - the beat of the clock can be adjusted by levelling the mechanism with coins or other shims. Lift one side, then the other, and listen. If the case is way out of level for the clock to have an even beat, a small adjustment can correct this problem. This problem is caused by the clock being moved with the pendulum mounted and it is fixed by repositioning the crutch. The crutch is the part which has an open slot for the pendulum to ride within and which gives an impulse to the pendulum at each end of its swing to keep the pendulum going back and forth. The centre of motion of the crutch must be in the centre of the clock. Sometimes the crutch gets bent or rotated on its shaft causing the clock not to run. To determine which way to adjust the crutch, get the beat even by picking up one side, or the other, of the case. Push the crutch carefully so it rotates (or bends) a little around its shaft to the side that is raised. Repeat until it runs when level (or until it runs in the spot you have selected for the clock), (care needs to be taken to ensure that damage does not happen by excessive force). Anniversary clocks capable of running a year require precise levelling. The rotation of the pendulum causes a small, two-prong fork to move back and forth. The beat is correct when the free rotation (the run) of the pendulum beyond the sound of the Tick and Tock is the same for both directions. » Back to the top How do I transport a clock? Movement of a clock for transportation or inspections can cause minor adjustment problems unless dealt with properly or professionally. A clock should NOT be moved with the pendulum on and free to swing. It is best to remove the pendulum prior to transport. » Back to the top How do I set the beat? It is important to set the works level so that you have the correct beat. The beat of a pendulum clock is the time between the Tick - Tock - Tick - Tock. It should be even. Clocks will not run correctly and may stop often if not set with an even beat. » Back to the top What to do if a French style clock turns in its case. If care is not taken when they are wound many round French style clocks can turn in their case. If this happens the works can be loosened and rotated in the case until the beat is even and the 12-3-6-9 are positioned correctly. A very small degree of rotation will make the difference between running and not running. » Back to the top How do I deal with time rate adjustment? Lower the pendulum bob to go slower, raise it to go faster. Many clocks have time adjust shafts which lower and raise the bob from the front. With time adjust shafts, turn in the direction indicated about one turn each try. Do not force. All of these clocks can be adjusted to keep reasonably accurate time. » Back to the top How do I set hands to the correct time? The minute hand is fixed firmly on a rectangular shaft and geared to turn the hour hand, which is a friction fit. The hour hand on some clocks can be turned to be the correct hour. Do not push the minute hand counter-clockwise, except for certain conditions as explained below. If a clock is ahead of time, stop it until it can be adjusted by moving the hands forward. » Back to the top What to do if your "Count Lever" gets caught on the "Snail" One of the popular types of count mechanism for French clocks is called " Rack and Snail". It has the advantage of keeping the hour hand and the strike count synchronized. For the hands of the clock to move from 12:00 to 1:00 the twelve chime must run. If not, the "Count Lever" gets caught on the "Snail". If this happens and the clock stops between 12:00 and 1:00, ease the minute hand counter clock-wise to the 12 and wind the chime spring. The clock will chime twelve and the "Rack" will lift the "Count Lever" clear of the "Snail" and the hands can be moved forward. » Back to the top Getting the strike to correspond to the time Many French clocks have a count wheel in the back called a "locking plate" which with the "knife edge- lifting lever" control the strike. To get the strike to correspond to the time do the following: 1. Advance the minute hand until the clock strikes; 2. Raise the lever about 1/8" and release, this will cause the strike to go through another cycle; 3. Repeat until it is correct to the hands. An alternative is to advance the minute hand until the clock strikes and, while it is striking one cycle, advance the minute hand quickly until the hour hand agrees with the strike count, then advance both the time and strike to the correct time. Also the hour strike of some wall clocks can be advanced by lifting a wire that hangs down to the left of centre. Set the strike of a Westminster Chime by locating the trip wires in the back inside of the works or with some moving the minute hand while the clock is chiming and stopping at the correct interval. All clocks are not the same. Some chiming clocks can advance the chime by moving the minute hand counter-clockwise from the 12 to the 9 and back to the 12. » Back to the top How to move marble cases It is best not to lay marble cases down on their back or sides. Marble cases are cemented together with reinforcing wires similar to a building and are designed to be erect. The large cases must be handled very carefully. » Back to the top

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