Clocks with Detached Pendulums and with Suspension Spring Guards that Can Be Locked

These spring protection pieces, or guards, all located at the back of the movement, have different designs. Some just cover the pin block attached to the lower end of the suspension spring; others actually clamp the pin block so it can't be moved. The guard itself may be held in place friction-tight, or by a thumb screw. Whatever the design, this protection device must be raised up and away from the pin block and kept away.

With the pin block on the suspension spring thus exposed, the pendulum should then be very carefully hooked on. Attaching the pendulum to the suspension spring (and detaching it when necessary) is a most important operation, and great care must be taken not to bend the spring even the least bit! Don't try to do it with one hand. It's best to hold the little pin block in position with the finger of one hand while "hooking" the pendulum on it with the other. (When removing the pendulum from the pin block, remember that the pendulum "hook" has to be raised slightly before the pin can be eased out.)

Clocks with Attached Pendulums and with Pendulum Locking Devices

Schatz Clock

The pendulum of this clock is locked and unlocked by a lever which is located in front, or in back, of the clock at the bottom of the base. When the lever is moved to an extreme right position, the pendulum is raised and locked; when it is moved to the extreme left position, the pendulum is lowered and is "free"

A second and more secure pendulum lock is provided for use when the clock is shipped. This lock is at the back of the movement, located in the lower piece of the tubular suspension spring guard. 'Mis lower guard can be adjusted-either locked (lowered) or unlocked (raised) -by means of a thumb screw. Except when the clock is being shipped, this adjustable guard should be raised as high as it will go, and held there by tightening the thumb screw.

To lock the pendulum for shipping, loosen the thumb screw and lower the piece in such a way that the two prongs provided not only go through the two holes in the pendulum locking bracket, but also through two holes in 'the disc at the top of the pendulum. (It may be necessary to rotate the pendulum slightly to find a pair of matching holes through which the prongs will go.) When the two prongs of the piece have thus been fully seated, the thumb screw should be tightened to hold it in place.

Other Clocks

There are many different types of pendulum locking mechanisms, most of which provide some means of raising the pendulum against a bracket, at thy rear of the movement, thereby supporting the pendulum at top and bottom during shipping. If the method of operating the mechanism on your clock is not clear, read the instructions in the paragraphs above which explain other types of locking devices. If they don't help you to determine how yours works, take the clock to your local clock repairman who will be glad to explain the operation to you.

To Place the Clock

The clock should be placed in a position free from vibration. Television sets, pianos, unsteady book cases or tables are all unsatisfactory places. A mantel, a steady piece of furniture, or even a wall bracket, is to be preferred. It will not help its timekeeping qualities if the clock is placed directly over a radiator. or in a window where it will be subjected to direct sunlight or to drafts.

To Level the Clock

The surface on which the clock rests does not have to be completely level. But the clock itself must be level. You don't need a leveling tool if the clock is provided with a pendulum guide cup on the base. The clock is level when the tip of the pendulum is directly over, or inside, the guide cup.

If the base of the clock is provided with leveling screws. any leveling correction can be made by raising or lowering one or more of these screws. If leveling screws are not provided. the correction can be made by inserting one or more pieces of stiff cardboard in two places (about 4 inches apart to prevent wobbling). under the base.

To Start the Clock-Very Important!

Carefully rotate the pendulum, in either direction. so that it is about one complete turn from dead center. then release it. This will start the pendulum rotating more than is usually required. Depending upon the clock. the normal rotation may be as little as 1/4 turn or, for some miniature or midget clocks, as much as a turn and a half. After the pendulum has continued to rotate for a half-hour or so. it will have "settled down" to its normal cycle. Once you know how far the pendulum normally rotates in one direction, always give it just a little more than this amount whenever you have to start it in the future. But never rotate the pendulum more than one and one half turns from dead center. If you do, a permanent twist may be left in the suspension spring which will prevent the clock from running.

To Set the Hands

Set the time by moving the minute hand in either direction. The hour hand will automatically follow. If the hour hand does not point exactly to the hour when the minute hand is on 12, shift its position, in either direction (it's on only friction tight) until it does point to the hour. Don't be alarmed if the escapement "flutters" when the hands are being moved.

To Regulate the Clock

On 3-ball and 4-ball pendulums, a round, knurled "regulating disc" (about the size of a nickel) is at the top. When turned, it will make the balls go toward, or away from, the center of the pendulum. The direction in which the regulating disc should be turned to make the clock go faster or slower depends upon the design of the pendulum. Look for the letters F (fast) and S (slow) on top of, or near, the regulating disc.

At the end of the week (or sooner, if the clock is gaining or losing time rapidly), compare the time with the accurate source and note the number of minutes that the clock has run fast or slow. To correct its rate of gain or loss, stop the pendulum at the point where it reverses its cycle, and adjust the regulating disc on the pendulum as described above. (A half turn will make a significant change in the timekeeping, so if the clock is only 5 or 10 minutes fast or slow, start with a 1/4 or 1/8 turn.) Then, release the pendulum at, or just a little beyond, the place where you stopped it. (By making the regulating adjustment while holding the pendulum at one end of its cycle, you avoid over-swinging it when you start it again. An over-swing prevents accurate regulation.) Reset the hands to the correct time and let the clock run without further correction for another week.

Be sure to make a note of the amount the clock ran fast or slow, and the amount of turn you gave to the pendulum regulating disc. After two or three weeks, you will reach a point when a '/a turn of the outside edge of the regulating disc will change the timing from fast to slow (or from slow to fast). You have then reached the maximum possible regulation. Do not make any further regulating adjustments unless the clock is moved to another position.

Don't expect the clock to keep accurate time for 400 days! Every two weeks, or whenever necessary, remove the dome and nudge the minute hand to the correct time. With this attention, the clock will keep as good time as an 8-day mantel clock.

To Wind the Clock

All 400-Day Clocks that are wound from the back of the movement wind to the left-counterclockwise. The mainspring is a heavy one and a little pressure is needed to turn the key. Keep turning the key until the spring is obviously wound tight. (Hint: The clock will keep more accurate time throughout the year if it is wound fully once every two months.)

To Keep the Key Handy

One of the best places to keep the key, so that it will be available when the winding takes place, is right under the clock!

For information about joining the NAWCC 400-DAY Clock chapter
Send SNAIL MAIL to:

Chapter # 168
28 Red Sable Place
The Woodlands, Texas 77380-2643

You can contact John Hubby VIA Email at pastimes@juno.com
Or John Connolly, current President of Chapter 168 at Jobeco@express.ca

Either one will send you all the necessary information for membership. Great Chapter, great bunch of people. Lots of good information.