Question about chime rod notes

[Jeffrey S]

I have a question that someone may or may not know the answer. I have a 70's era Howard Miller Grandmother clock. Westminster is the only chime on it. I love the final chord when it strikes the hour. As a musician, I figured out the notes were E, A, C#, E. It is the most pleasant sound.
When I look at newer grandfather clocks, most have what is (to me) a very annoying chord strike when counting the hour. Should I purchase either a new or refurbished grandfather, is there a way to "tune" the hour strike to the chord notes that I like? OR, can the chime blocks be purchased with different notes?
I know it sounds picky, but I thought I'd ask.

thanks in advance,
Jeff S.
Florida

[Mark Kinsler]

Post by Jeffrey S
I have a question that someone may or may not know the answer. I have a 70's era Howard Miller Grandmother clock. Westminster is the only chime on it. I love the final chord when it strikes the hour. As a musician, I figured out the notes were E, A, C#, E. It is the most pleasant sound.
When I look at newer grandfather clocks, most have what is (to me) a very annoying chord strike when counting the hour. Should I purchase either a new or refurbished grandfather, is there a way to "tune" the hour strike to the chord notes that I like? OR, can the chime blocks be purchased with different notes?
I know it sounds picky, but I thought I'd ask.
thanks in advance,
Jeff S.
Florida

You can buy chime rods at Timesavers.com, among other places. I believe you can indeed tune them, but note that a steel rod held at one end is somewhat counter-intuitive. At least that's been my experience: a xylophone block held at nodes near (but not at) its ends can be lowered in pitch by bellying-out the middle a bit, and raised in pitch by just shortening it. Doesn't seem to work that way with clock chime rods. The tubular bells are even worse.

M Kinsler