Dim Chime on Ansonia Mantle Clock - Video

[Agent_C]

Hi,

I recently acquired an antique Ansonia mantle clock; which I'm
generally happy with, but there is one problem that I hope someone
here can help me resolve; the chime is getting increasingly dim.

Sometimes it's so quiet that the mechanism sounds more prominent than
the chime itself.

I've created this short YouTube video

to illustrate how the
hammer moves at the hour mark; which appears not to actually hit the
wires. Is this normal?

Based on what can be seen, is there anything someone reasonably handy
such as myself could adjust which might resolve this?

Thanks for your help.

A_C

[Ian Partridge]

Post by Agent_C
Hi,
I recently acquired an antique Ansonia mantle clock; which I'm
generally happy with, but there is one problem that I hope someone
here can help me resolve; the chime is getting increasingly dim.

Easily corrected by applying your forefinger, middle finger, and thumb to
bend the hammer rod slightly down.

If you are right-handed, apply fingers above the rod with your thumb below.
Give slight upward pressure with your thumb while exerting opposite pressure
with your fingers allowing your forefinger to impart the merest bend
downwards of the hammer rod. All done by touch not by eye! There should
always be be a small gap left between gong and hammer when at rest.

One point about your movement. The 'warning' wheel is incorrectly set which
is allowing the hammer to lift up slightly at the end of the strike
sequence. The warning pin needs to have a 'run up' to speed before the task
of lifting the hammer rod. But this is not crucial so long as your clock is
striking OK.

The leather block on the hammer head may be old and perished and could do
with replacing. A useful tip: Strike a match and apply it for one second to
the hammer leather to singe it. This will give a sweeter louder and more
melodious tone to the gong strikes.

Ian

Post by Agent_C
Sometimes it's so quiet that the mechanism sounds more prominent than
the chime itself.
I've created this short YouTube video
http://youtu.be/SuHoxYV4ozg to illustrate how the
hammer moves at the hour mark; which appears not to actually hit the
wires. Is this normal?
Based on what can be seen, is there anything someone reasonably handy
such as myself could adjust which might resolve this?
Thanks for your help.
A_C

[Agent_C]

On Wed, 9 Jan 2013 01:42:27 -0000, "Ian Partridge"

Post by Ian Partridge
Easily corrected by applying your forefinger, middle finger, and thumb to
bend the hammer rod slightly down.
If you are right-handed, apply fingers above the rod with your thumb below.
Give slight upward pressure with your thumb while exerting opposite pressure
with your fingers allowing your forefinger to impart the merest bend
downwards of the hammer rod. All done by touch not by eye! There should
always be be a small gap left between gong and hammer when at rest.
One point about your movement. The 'warning' wheel is incorrectly set which
is allowing the hammer to lift up slightly at the end of the strike
sequence. The warning pin needs to have a 'run up' to speed before the task
of lifting the hammer rod. But this is not crucial so long as your clock is
striking OK.
The leather block on the hammer head may be old and perished and could do
with replacing. A useful tip: Strike a match and apply it for one second to
the hammer leather to singe it. This will give a sweeter louder and more
melodious tone to the gong strikes.
Ian

Many thanks; that's precisely what I was look for.

A_C