how to adjust seth thomas mantle clock

1) Unpack the clock Take clock and key carefully out of carton. . The beat is about a half a second too slow. The result is a shallow swing of the pendulum. If the plates are thinner and there is no window on top (instead of showing off the nice escapement, they are hiding a cheap alarm clock type escapement, it might be German. I'm thinking about looking for a grandfather clock supplier soon because I'd like to make my home look a bit more rustic. It can be made to run backwards or forwards by how the stem is twirled. If you are interested in selling your clock, you need to consider the following: We have previously described the different methods you can use to determine your clocks date. Usually that requires that the movement be taken apart, the wear located, and new bushings installed to correct it. First of all, you should know that the Seth Thomas company used different types of wood in different time periods. The Seth Thomas Clock Company was organized as a corporation on May 3, 1853 in Plymouth Hollow, Connecticut (later to become Thomaston) to succeed the earlier clock-making operation of the founder. I have a couple that I think you should check out: 1) Check that the clock is "in beat." On the rim of the wheel you will see a bunch of circles. Learn about the materials used, the styles, and how to assign a value to these beautiful clocks. There are several ways clocks can count the hours, but a common strike system is called the rack and snail. If your clock is running slow, raise the bob. On clocks that have a front adjuster, the adjustment range is a relatively short amount. Oh, my. Somehow I missed this. In addition to what's already been mentioned, here are a few other things that can make a balance wheel clock run too fast; This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. Move pendulum to the left or right until the escape wheel escapes from one pallet to the other. Possible reasons for poor swing include the following: Worn pivot holes that allow gears to move out of alignment and increase friction in the train; Congealed oil in the train or on the mainsprings (this shouldent be a problem in a freshly cleaned clock); The movement being out of beat (unequal times between the tick - tock and the tock - tick. thanks again.. jim, That's great that you were able to get it to keep better time! Hi I have a Smith Enfield Clock Westminster chime it looses seven miniuets a day, I tried adding length to the pendulum with a small device which then started to make it slow by seven mins; again. thanks alot i will continue too fine tune. It is odd that the clock should be gaining so much time after just having been serviced. I will have another look at the problem. Hi, I have just bought a 200+ yr old French clock that runs fast. If the key doesnt turn at all, you are winding in the wrong direction. It all seems to work fine except it is gaining approx 5-6 minutes per day. per 24 hrs. I have been having trouble with my anniversary clock and I think it might be smart to take it in to get it repaired professionally to make sure I don't accidentally make it worse. Sorry, I think I mise this. Someone also applied an excessive amount of oil to the clocks works. Get seth thomas clock repair manual PDF file for free from our online library. There are a multitude of sites dedicated to Seth Thomas and I encourage you to visit them; however, for the purposes of this post it is our first important piece of information. The clock tells time by "counting" the swings of the pendulum, so short fast swings make the clock run faster. My dad has been trying to figure out how to fix the time on our Grandfather Clock that has been with our family for generations. To sum up, you can think of the clocks overall condition as the average of its score in these 4 categories: function, wood condition, clock face condition, and glass condition. The bushing has a square hole in the center that fits onto a square at the end of the clock's minute arbor (the shaft that sticks out from the center of the clock dial). All rights reserved. The company also changed hands while retaining the Seth Thomas name, making clocks well into the 21st century. My Seth Thomas Mantel Clock flywheel mechanism will not spin beyond say 5-10 seconds. domical porcelain dial with black Arabic hour numbers, black spade hands and dial signed - Seth Thomas; quality brass, 8 day, spring driven movement, has half hour rack & strike mechanism with a coiled gong, signed with the Seth Thomas logo. Also we armature radio operators do the same thing to twitch the freq on our crystal transmitters. . Your clock runs fast so you want to turn the top of the key towards the R to slow it down. Specifically, this clock had a walnut case, burl walnut accents, and a pagoda top, which are reminiscent of the older clocks. Simply put, the earliest clocks tend to be more valuable, compared to the ones made later on. According to Cottone Auctions, the most valuable Seth Thomas clock sold for $20,160, at a 2021 auction. This kind of damage can occur if a clock that is fully wound down is moved drastically with the pendulum still on it. Re your paragraph on clocks with balance wheels - do you move the lever towards plus if the clock is running slow or vice-versa? Hey Mike, I have a father chime clock my wonderful lady got for me. Next, you have the clock face condition. Seth Thomas Collectible Desk, Mantel & Shelf Clocks 1920-1949, To correct it you will need to stop the clock and remove the nut that holds the minute hand to the minute arbor. Does it still keep time properly? 7 Valuable Nintendo Games You Just Might Still Have. Just an old man that is working on my second clock. I am having the same problem, and no luck in moving the lever to the left. Use these tips to get an estimate of what an antique Seth Thomas mantel clock is worth. (NOTE: The clock is level, as I have a small level and it shows that the clock is perfectly level). i'VE BEEN LOOKING SIDE OF THE BALANCE WHEEL AND ALL AROUND THE WHEEL AND i SEE NOTHING WHERE i CAN ADJUST THE MOVEMENT tHANKS FOR ANY HELP. I looked up the model number on the paperwork on the back of the clock, it is S1624;, therefore; It is an Ingraham. . Free shipping for many products! I had it oiled a while back, and It runs fine, but the problem is that even with the F-S adjustment at full F it still loses about a minute or two a day. This was an office calendar, whose creation date was noted as circa 1900. Instead, search for sold items on eBay or take a look at records from other auctions. $65.00 + $20.00 shipping . Then adjust the bob up, or down, to change the pendulums effective length. I assume that the clock has a pendulum. However, if its is losing 30 minutes a day, you might be out of the range of adjustment. If during transport the suspension spring got pushed up, that would make the clock run fast. Hello, Love your website. If you bushing doesn't have straight side on the back (many are round) you will need to find something to fit into the hole to hold the bushing steady. I found an anniversary clock in a thrift store that needed a new suspension spring. Lastly, there is the glass condition. You'll also see stamped metal labels on some clocks, as well as engraved pendulums featuring the Seth Thomas name. You will need to pay attention to a few factors for this: The first thing you need to do to check if you have a genuine Seth Thomas clock is to look for a label. It's also a functional part of your home, keeping time and offering vintage charm for your shelf or fireplace mantel. Rate adjustment arbor If you have a double-ended key the smaller end is used for the rate adjustment arbor. It needs some TLC and will be back to looking its best. It has very small wheel positioned below the 12. How do I adjust the time keeping? My clock is running fast/slow. Around 10 minutes in 5 hours with the bobs turned all the way in. My clock is running fast/slow. Any thoughts or suggestions would be gratefully received. Hamilton West Mister Chime 8 day Wall Clock and its running to slow. The time spent pushing against the locking face acts as a drag on the pendulum which decreases its swing. (think of a circle centered at the pendulum suspension post). Lay the clock face down on a pad to protect. The case is wood and the columns are metal and green. These clocks have a balance wheel like a mechanical watch does. A friend's brother in Calgary AB is a clock fanatic and got my mum & dad's wedding present (1950) working again. Check the position of the minute hand of the clock when the . The very earliest purely electric clocks from the late twenties/early thirties all had to be manually started. It usually indicates a problem in the movement causing the power from the spring to be too weak by the time it gets to the balance. In general, moving the fork on the spring up will give more push to the pendulum and will cause a longer rotation which will make it slower. So, if you still happen to have one, you can expect it to be rather valuable. If you are near Sedro-Woolley, please feel free to call and we can schedule a house call. The clock is very precious to me and I don't want to damage it. Thomas had quite a few creative ways to brand his clocks, so you will need to check different spots for different elements. Many thanks for your suggestions. Once oil starts to evaporate or congeal or parts start to wear, less power is available to push the pendulum. In this blog I answer commonly asked questions about how to care for your clock. Your clock likely needs cleaning, and there may be some serious wear that needs to be addressed. Pendulum or windup. The worn pivot holes result in increased friction that reduces the power available to push the pendulum back and forth. verge and escape wheel combos Home Escape Wheels and Verges Escape Wheels and Verges Escape wheels such as Kieninger escape wheels and Seth Thomas escape wheels are available here at Perrin's. We also have an array of different verge combinations to suit your clock repair needs. Most modern clock hands are mounted on a brass bushing. Reply. Enjoy reading your comments. If a clock is dirty or worn, it often happens that a lot of power is lost in the gear train and not enough makes it to pallets that push the pendulum. Best regards, English carriage clocks are high quality, but very big. You may need to use needle-nose pliers if it is very tight. Alternatively, take a closer look at the clock face as well. Columbia, PA 17512 You probably will have to do a little filing to get the hook to properly fit the pendulum leader. If it sounds like the bird has laryngitis there might be a hole in the bellows that needs repair. This would be the counter-clockwise direction. If the clock is running slow, turn the nut at the bottom of the pendulum to your right, tightening the nut. Seth Thomas mantel clocks, which are often misspelled "mantle clocks," are functional and beautiful decorative items for your home. $45.00 + $15.00 shipping . Depending on the movement, there may be a screw or lever on the movement that you can move to adjust time keeping, but usually there is not. You can check to see that the clock is fully wound and that the hands are not touching each other, the dial, or the glass: but usually the problem lies withing the movement. It was crooked, angling to the right a smidge. I'm thankful for this instructive article, I'll tell him that it will be much better if he consults a trusted woodcrafts clocks collection online store as they can provide details about their services. MY seth THOMAS MANTEL CLOCK HAS A BALANCE WHEEL AND IS RUNNING FAST IT PICKS UP ABOUT 30 MINUTES OVER NIGHT. Hello Steve, the R stands for retard and the A stands for Advance (or their French equivalents). The earliest models used exclusively wood movements, which were completely replaced by brass ones as early as 1842. Clock run faster of what an antique Seth Thomas mantel clock flywheel mechanism will not spin beyond say 5-10...., but a common strike system is called the rack and snail a mechanical watch does the 12 were. Clock take clock and its running to slow it down mechanical watch.. Used, the styles, and how to assign a value to these beautiful clocks simply put, adjustment! For $ 20,160, at a 2021 auction make the clock is running,. 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Effective length a day, you should know that the clock tells time by `` ''. Near Sedro-Woolley, please feel free to call and we can schedule a house call clock... And beautiful decorative items for your shelf or fireplace mantel fast it PICKS up about 30 a! To be manually started English carriage clocks are high quality, but very big too.... Looking its best correct it having the same problem, and new bushings installed to correct.. The way in West Mister chime 8 day Wall clock and key carefully out the! Stem is twirled have to do a little filing to get it be! Of the key doesnt turn at all, you might be out of the range adjustment. Ways clocks can count the hours, but a common strike system is called rack... You want to turn the top of the pendulum, so short fast swings make the clock fast! Have to do a little filing to get it to be manually....