Trouble shooting before the troubles begin!
- Avoid placing your clock over or near forced air vents.
Forced air vents blow dust and fine particles into the internal mechanisms of your clock. This will increase the need for more frequent servicing and cleaning.
- Hang your clock properly. Make sure it's level.
All pendulum run wall and mantel clocks must be level and (if a wall clock) flush against the wall.
Cuckoo clocks should hang about 6 to 6 1/2 feet (2 meters) above the floor to ensure that the chains can move as intended.
- Avoid the kitchen.
Grease produced by food preparation can build up on the gears inside of your clock. Unless you intend to have your clock serviced and cleaned on a more frequent basis, placing it in your kitchen is not recommended.
- Daylight Savings Time could give you a hard time.
In the spring, it is easy to leap forward. Simply move the minute hand forward one hour (the hour hand will move accordingly). If your clock chimes the quarters and/or strikes the hours, wait until all chiming stops before you resume moving the hand.
In the autumn, it is a little more difficult to fall back. If your clock is modern (made after 1940), it most likely has a self-correcting movement, so you simply have to move the minute hand backward one hour. If your clock is older (or one of a few newer models that do not self-correct), you should stop the clock for one hour and then re-start it. If you forget to re-start it, simply move the minute hand around until the correct time is reached, stopping while it chimes.
Not sure which movement you have? Call Marty at (908) 689-2128 and he'll advise you over the phone for free!
Cleaning and Oiling of any clock is the number one way of avoiding trouble and ensuring a long life for your clock, so not only can you enjoy it, but your children and grandchildren can, too!
Check out the "Repairs and Service" Section for details.
If your clock is chain driven, the chains are brass-coated. The brass shine will fade over time.
You can prolong the shine by simply wearing gloves when winding your clock.
Is your clock running too fast or slow? There are numerous ways to speed up or slow down your
clock depending on the model. Grandfather, wall, and some mantel clocks are regulated at the
pendulum. Turning the nut at the bottom of the pendulum to the right makes the clock run faster,
while turning it to the left will slow it down. Most antique mantel clocks adjust the pendulum from the front of the clock. Look for an "F" and "S" on the dial. Insert the small end of the key in the hole and turn towards the "F" for faster and "S" for slower.
Not sure how to do it, or missing the small end of the key? Call Marty and get help over the phone!
(908) 689-2128
Most modern German mantel clocks use a balance wheel and should be adjusted from the rear of
the clock, turning a small screw to make the adjustment.
All clocks are adjusted at service time for accurate time-keeping.
A slow clock is the first indication of a clock that is in need of service.
Slow and sluggish chimes also indicate need for service. Call Marty to make an appointment.
In the autumn, it is a little more difficult to fall back. If your clock is modern (made after 1940), it most likely has a self-correcting movement, so you simply have to move the minute hand backward one hour. If your clock is older (or one of a few newer models that do not self-correct), you should stop the clock for one hour and then re-start it. If you forget to re-start it, simply move the minute hand around until the correct time is reached, stopping while it chimes.
Not sure which movement you have? Call Marty at (908) 689-2128 and he'll advise you over the phone for free!
- Cleaning and Oiling
Cleaning and Oiling of any clock is the number one way of avoiding trouble and ensuring a long life for your clock, so not only can you enjoy it, but your children and grandchildren can, too!
Check out the "Repairs and Service" Section for details.
- Keep your chains shining like new
If your clock is chain driven, the chains are brass-coated. The brass shine will fade over time.
You can prolong the shine by simply wearing gloves when winding your clock.
- Regulating your clock
Is your clock running too fast or slow? There are numerous ways to speed up or slow down your
clock depending on the model. Grandfather, wall, and some mantel clocks are regulated at the
pendulum. Turning the nut at the bottom of the pendulum to the right makes the clock run faster,
while turning it to the left will slow it down. Most antique mantel clocks adjust the pendulum from the front of the clock. Look for an "F" and "S" on the dial. Insert the small end of the key in the hole and turn towards the "F" for faster and "S" for slower.
Not sure how to do it, or missing the small end of the key? Call Marty and get help over the phone!
(908) 689-2128
Most modern German mantel clocks use a balance wheel and should be adjusted from the rear of
the clock, turning a small screw to make the adjustment.
All clocks are adjusted at service time for accurate time-keeping.
A slow clock is the first indication of a clock that is in need of service.
- Sluggish chimes
Slow and sluggish chimes also indicate need for service. Call Marty to make an appointment.