Grandfather clock

Question

i am house sitting and part of my job was to wind a grandfather clock. I was told to that I only had a few opportunities of when to wind and one was to wind only after a quarter past the hour which i forgot to do and i wound on the seventh day at 10 minutes past the hour (11:10pm)and so shortly after that the clock stopped at 11:20. how can i restart the clock?

Answer

It is a good idea to establish a habitual winding routine, but it is not essential. The clock don't know the difference it is simply the development of a habit by the owner. Of personal choice I wind all my eight day clocks begriming at about 8:00 am each Wednesday until done. This habit assures that all the clock receive attention on a regular routine basis, not hit nor miss, with a possibility of forgetting to do it at all. To start the grandfather, just give the pendulum a gentle nudge. If all is well, it should start right up.

Question

my clock shows 2:00 and stricks 3:00. How do i corect it.

Answer

Will, since I do not have any information on the identification of the clock, I will cautiously explain what is generally done. On most good mechanical clocks, but not all, the hour hand can be slipped on what we call the hour tube without changing anything on the clock. So when the clock shows 2:00 and strikes 3:00, carefully slip the hour hand around to the 3. As the hour hand is a press fit, make sure it is pushed on enough to keep it from slipping easily. Also check to see that it doesn't come in contact with the dial or the minute hand as they pass. Then reset the time using the minute hand. Most of the time the hour hand was inadvertently slipped while setting the clock using the minute hand. The exceptions to the slipping hour hand are those that are keyed into the hour tube. This method is used on Herschede, Asian and some very early American and British clocks, among others. Let me know how it goes.

Question

QUESTION: On the hour it will only strike once.

ANSWER: Does the clock do anything at the half hour? WJP

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QUESTION: Yes.I should have explained further. It strikes i/4, 1/2,3/4 and hour , but instead of two (hour dongs) for 2 o'clock , three dongs for 3 o'clock etc, it only strikes the once.The strikes from the right sided strikers are OK. Thanks for the reply.

Answer

I believe we have a communication problem. From what I can gather the quarter hour chimes are function but the hour strike delivers but one blow, regardless of the correct hour. This sounds to me like the rack regulating the number of blows is not being tripped. This could be caused by a displaced or defective lever spring. You need to remove the dial to view the mechanisms between the dial and the clocks frontplate. Since the chime train is functioning properly you would have before you a working example of how the release and count levers work. By observing the one it will show you what is not working on the strike side. Ergo showing you what needs to be corrected. I hope I understand your problem and have given you a proper answer. If I have missed the point please provide a clear description of the problem. If i understand the problem I can surely be more definitive with my instructions.

Question

i recently purchased this grandfather clock. on the inside of the door it has a label of king arthur clock comp. from fairhope arkansas. i am attempting to see roughly how old this clock might be and i need to see what is needed to put it back together.. i am also missing a piece on the weights., on the back of the clock it has kieninger- made in germany. could you give me any information concerning this clock..thanks

Answer

Linda, the clock was manufactured by the King Arthur Clock Company in Fairhope, Alabama, not Arkansas. George Fowler had owned Emperor Clock Company in Fairhope and sold it. A few years later the was instrumental in starting the King Arthur Company. I would say the clock could be dated around the mid-1980's. I would need to know exactly what your question is about putting it back together. Are parts out of place or missing? Also, what part of the weight is missing. If you want to reply to my shop email address below, we can possibly determine what parts you need.

Question

QUESTION: I have a grandfather clock that strikes the wrong hour. I have already done the part of putting the hour hand on the hour that the clock strikes but to no avail. It still wants to strike 12 times on every hour. Any ideas on what I can do to fix this problem?

ANSWER: Hi Cheryl, This repair will require you to get to the front of the clock movement. You will either need to remove the clock face or pull the movement out of the case. Let me know if you think you are up to this job. If so, I would like a photo of the clock face including the frame around it. Usually there are four screws on that frame that will need to be removed.

www.norkro.com clock parts and repair

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QUESTION: ,

I do not have a way to take a pic of the clock face as I do not have a camera or a cell phone - sorry. I do know that there are 4 screws holding the clock face/dial. Am I correct in saying that I will have to remove the clock hands in order to do this? Or should I just have a clock repairman come to my residence to do this for me. I would like to be able to repair the clock myself due to the monetary factor but I don't want to totally ruin the clock.

Thanks - Cheryl

Answer

This all depends on your skill level at repairing things. This is not a difficult repair and I will be able to explain it to you. If you can fix the plumbing under your sink or do other odd jobs around the house you should be OK with this. Yes, you will remove the hands. The minute hand should be held on via a small nut. After you remove the frame around the face and the hands let me know what things look like. The face is probably held onto the movement by some tapered pins or some latching clips.

Question

We were advised by our clock repairman (horologist?) that our grandfather clock needs the works replaced. He said that the internal works only last about 20 years on these clocks. I purchased the clock in the 70's but I really have no idea how much we paid for it. It is a Ridgeway and I recall that it was not the most or least expensive one in the furniture shop. The repairman said the cabinet is especially nice (it's in perfect condition) and it would be worth replacing the works, which would cost about $600. The clock was serviced every couple of years, for general maintenance, until it stopped running about two years ago.

My question: Is this sound information? After having the clock serviced twice, only to have it quit running shortly afterward, should I get another opinion? The shop that has serviced our clock seems reputable and has been in the area for years. If I do seek a second opinion, how should I select someone? Thank you for your time and consideration. Suzanne Eddings, Troy, MI

Answer

From the information you provided, this sounds correct. I would ask who the movement manufacturer is. If the answer is Hermle, then everything should be on the up & up. In the '70's, Hermle changed the quality of the brass & steel in their movements and as a result, bearing wear took place much quicker and was more widespread in the movement. They have since corrected this and the quality of the metals in the new movements is great. A new movement will provide you with a more reliable option and reduce maintenance costs in the long run as opposed to overhauling the existing one. Have the movement properly cleaned & overhauled @ every 15 years. It should be only be oiled in between cleanings if there are symptoms of trouble such as a slow chime or strike speed. Some repairmen advocate oiling a clock every 1-3 years but this is not necessary or desirable. The oils avaiable today are much more resistant to drying, gumming and such than they were 100 yrs. ago.

Question

I am not looking for an appraisal; however, I am wondering what exactly it is that I have. I received this clock with the knowledge that it was given as a gift back in the seventies along with the tiny bit of info printed on the back. I was hoping that you could elaborate a bit for me...bearing in mind, that I know absolutely nothing about clocks. I have included photos to help me explain. Thank you so much.

Answer

KG, the photos just about cover it all. You have a Trend grandfather clock, manufactured by the Sligh Clock Company. From the photos it looks like a triple chime, 8-day chain driven clock. Trend was bought out by Sligh in, I believe, 1968. They used the Trend Subsidiary name and then evolved into a Trend line of clocks. Sligh ceased manufacturing clocks in 2005 and now manufacturers modular office equipment and home entertainment centers. That's really about all I can tell you. I know you didn't ask for an appraisal, and I do not give them. But I will give you my general statement for what I consider modern production clocks (manufactured since WWII). The value of these clocks depends on the selling (not advertised) price, the condition of the case and movement, the demand for this type of clock, and the economy in the area in which you live. You can look in local community shoppers and check On-line auctions such as eBay to see what similar clocks are selling for. I hope you enjoy it.

Question

QUESTION: Hi, my question, well I have a few since I just bought three different grandfather clocks at an auction, but my first question is I bought a Howard Miller clock and reading from your site I know for one all three need a cleaning but the question I need an answer for is one of the numbers fell off the face of my Howard Miller and I need to put it back on. Any suggestions on what to use....

ANSWER: Donna, I have used different adhesives for reapplying numerals to dials. Let me point out that whichever method you use, care must be taken not to apply too much adhesive to the contact area and when actually applying the numeral it must be put down at exactly the correct spot or you will see smudged glue around the numeral. One adhesive I use is the spray-on contact adhesive. I clean any previous adhesive off the back of the numeral using a solvent such as alcohol, lacquer thinner or any substance that will dilute the adhesive. Then I lay the numeral on its face on a clean piece of paper and spray a light coat of spray adhesive straight down on it. If you spray at an angle or too much, the adhesive will get on the sides of the numeral. Then I put a small piece of double sided tape on something like the eraser end of a pencil and, carefully picking up the numeral, stick it to the face of the numeral. Now I can use the pencil to apply the numeral to the dial. If there are any adhesive marks on the dial, use them to align the numeral. Another method is to use an adhesive in a tube. Using a toothpick, I put a couple of VERY SMALL dabs of adhesive on the numeral, followed by the pencil and double-sided tape method. Or the adhesive can be applied to a piece of paper, smoothed out and using the pencil/tape, put the numeral on the adhesive, lift it and stick it on the dial. I have tried a few different adhesives, and one recent one that works well is Loctite's Extreme Repair, which I got in a small tube at a home improvement center. I hope this helps a little.

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QUESTION: Thank you John, my other clock does not chime but the time is perfect. It is a Older Pearl. So I figure that needs a cleaning. Once in a while it will start to chime but stops sounds sluggish. My Howard Miller one, which is a beautiful clock is the one that needs the number put back on. the time on that works and so does the chimes. It just does not chime on the hour to tell me what time it is, so from reading your site I figure that also needs a cleaning. I appreciate your help this is all new to me. but I got all three clocks for $320.00 and the cabinets are beautiful and they all keep good time. I just do not want to go into a major expense with the chimes right at this moment but will consider it down the road.

ANSWER: You're welcome, Donna. If you have any more questions get back with me.

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QUESTION: Hi John well I must stay away from these sales....LOL I just came home with a I guess you would call it a grandmother clock. It looks like a minature grandfather clock. You can wind it in three places it has Franz Hermle on the clock in the back. I cannot get it to do anything and when I went to wind it you can tell it is round to tight in all three key holes when I put the key in it would not wind anymore so I figured that is the problem...is there anyway for me to fix this or will I have to take it somewhere the clock cost me 140.00 which I have no idea if that was a buy or not but I loved the case looks just line a 36 inch minature grandfather clock so I do not want to invest a lot to get it fixed. If I cannot fix it myself I will take it somewhere but I was wondering if I could work on it with your help...any help would be appreciated, I certainly am no clock tech but am willing to learn....Thanks again...Donna

Answer

Donna, not knowing the history or prior symptoms, I can't really start to diagnose the problem. Is it a pendulum clock or is the regulator on the back of the movement a balance wheel? What is the model number found on the back of the clock movement? Let me know.

Question

I have a grandfather clock with Westminster Chimes. We recently had it lubricated in my home, and it seems since then that the sound of the houly chime is flat and not the usual sound.Is there a way of adjusting this?

Answer

Hi Sarah, The adjustment for getting the best sound from the chimes is in the hammers that strike the rods. Either they were bent when the clock was lubricated or the movement is not in exactly the same position on the seatboard as it was before. Usually the clock movement is held to the seatboard by two screws coming up from the bottom. See if the movement will shift from side to side or forward/backwards when you push it. If you think the movement has moved from its original position you should move it back to where it gives you the best chime sound. The hammers should all be about 1/8" from the rods when they are in a rested position. If the first option does not correct your problem move to the following step: The second thing to try is to bend the hammer wires so that the hammer heads are 1/8" from the rods. Then listen to the chime and make small adjustments to the hammer wires so that each give the best sound.

www.norkro.com clock parts and repair

Question

Hello, We have a modern Howard Miller Grandfather Clock. It seems to be working fine, however the center weight falls slower than the left and right weights. We moved about a year ago and noticed this after the move. Is this normal? If not, is there something we can do to repair the problem? Thank you very much! Rose

Answer

The only weight that drops the same amount per running time is the center one which drive the time train. The other two weights fall only the amount to do their intermittent job, the rest of the time they are locked into position. When the clock chimes the 1st quarter it is activated only to the extent of delivering the blows required to announce the 1st quarter hour. At each successive quarter hour the weight drops by what ever number of blows are require for that quarter. In Westminister 4 blows are require for the first quarter, 8 blows for the 2nd q, 12 blows for the 3rd and 16 blows for the 4th Q. The same is true for the strike train it announces hour 1 thru 12. During the entire day the weights, fall very close to each other. Ergo it is not at all unusual for the weights to hang at different heights during a day. The main thing you need to concern yourself is with how well the clock runs.

Question

QUESTION: I bought a grandfather clock at auction in Feb. It was running but not keeping correct time(slow). I adjusted the nut at the bottom of the pendlum by turning it to the right. Now it still runs, but stops at 1:45-1:50. But not ever 12 hr, sometimes it will run longer but still stops around the same time- give to take 5 min. I would appreciate any help you could give with this problem.

ANSWER: Joan, it could be that when you adjusted the regulation nut the clock was knocked out of beat. That is explained below. As I do not have the movement number, I do not know if it has the auto-beat function or not. The clock needs to be in beat or it will stop at some point. The time it is stopping indicates that maybe there is a bind in a mechanism at that point. But if he clock is in beat, it might overcome that small bind. Check out the following and let me know how it goes.

If a clock movement is in operating condition but not working, I would check the stability of the clock in that it doesn't rock or wobble on the floor. It should be relatively level. The level is not critical, as setting the beat (below) will correct for this.

Next, verify that the weights are hung correctly. On most clocks the weights vary in weight. The general rule is that if two weights are equal, the third weight, if it is heavier, goes on the right side (as you face the clock). If the third weight is lighter, it goes on the left. Is the pendulum hanging configuration correct? This means that the suspension spring, hanger, verge and pendulum are all connected properly with nothing broken, especially the suspension spring. When the pendulum swings, it should be "in beat", meaning that when the pendulum swings you hear an even tick....tock....tick....tock. If it is uneven, like tick..tock......tick..tock, the clock will probably stop. Most later model movements have an "auto-beat" mechanism. The beat can be set by holding the pendulum over to one side next to the case and releasing it. It will automatically correct itself. If it does not have this feature, the escapement crutch will have to be slipped manually. If required, I can give you instructions for that. I will need the model of the movement. This can usually be determined by all the information found on the back plate of the movement. Also check to see if the hands are catching on each other or the dial. Look at the chime and strike hammers to see if they are all in alignment at the rest position. Sometimes jammed hammers or the drive mechanisms will stall the clock.

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QUESTION: The clock is level, both ways. it is in time-tick...tock...tick...tock. It will run during the day but will stop at night, at 1:45, or close to that time. Any other thoughts would be helpful. Thank you for your time.

Answer

Since I still don't know the type of movement, make, model number of the movement, I cannot tell if there are any specific quirks for this movement. I assume it is a wind up clock either using chains or cables for the weights. It could be that the hour hand is not pushed on far enough and the minute hand bushing is rubbing just enough at the 1:45 position to bind and stop it. Or the hand shaft could be bent or a gear could have a burr on it or a bad tooth. These are some of the things I look for when diagnosing this problem. You might have to ask an experienced clockmaker to look at it.

Question

Sir: I have a Viking clock we purchased in Foley Ala. The chimes have stopped working. Perhaps they were wound too tight The only weight that moves is the center one. Does this clock need to be taken somewhere for repair or what are my options?.It has a #790/800 clock movement.

Answer

Joseph, I have no cross reference to the clock company numbers for the movements and the actual movement manufacturers numbers. But in this case it's probably not important. First, it's unlikely that the weights have been wound too tight. I have seen this happen a few times, but it was when the chains were pulled so tight that the chain hook jammed in the wood movement mounting board. If the clock has not been serviced in the last 7 to 10 years it could be that the lubricants have become gummy and/or some parts are worn. Under these conditions, the chime function, powered by the right weight, is the first to fail and since the strike,powered by the left weight, is dependent on the chime working, it will not work either. That's why the left and right weights are not coming down. One more common cause of the chime not working is on most movements the heaviest or one of the heavier weights has to be on the chime (right) side. If it is not the chime will not have enough power to work reliably. If this isn't the cause, it will probably be best to have an experienced clockmaker look at it.

Question

Hi Ken My Dad built a Grandfather Clock from a kit back in the 70s then he pass away,I have the clock now and it has been running ok, the other day i was pulling on the chains to wind the clock and I belive I pull them to tight,It won't run now. Ken I could sure use some help,there is no one around hear that works on clocks.

Answer

you can't normally pull them too tight. probably if you listen to the tick it sounds very un-even.

Probably through it out of balance by bumping the pendulum while winding -- run through this set up thinking:

-The pendulum assembly begins at the top with a 1" two legged suspension spring pinned to a brass post sticking out of the back of the rear movement plate.

  Next a silver(probably) suspension leader about 5" long that hooks onto the bottom of the suspension spring and passes through the "foot" shaped forked brass piece (and must be in the center of the fork slot and not be rubbing front or back) that connects into the inside of the movement. Newer movements have a horizontal bar that fits in the brass suspension leader slot.
  Lastly the top of the pendulum hooks onto the bottom of this suspension leader. NOW if all is correctly assembled, swinging the pendulum will get it ticking. The sound of the ticking must sound even or balanced on either side. Not over-swinging one side or the other. 
  If it is not sounding even, then push with your hand the top third of the pendulum over to the side that has the excessive overswing. You may feel some resistance but gently push a bit more then try the sound of the ticking after swinging the pendulum freely. 
  If the sound is not improved in the balance then do more pushing -if it is now sounding like excessive swing in the opposite direction then push the pendulum to the other side till it sounds a pretty even tick. Clock should run then. .(There is a little slip clutch that you are adjusting when you push the "L" shaped foot to either side.)
  There are a hundred things that could be wrong- you have just taken a tour through the repair of what is wrong 98% of the time!

Question

QUESTION: In 1987 I received a Black Forest Clock with Hermle movement through American Express for Christmas. I understand they only had 2,500 available. It has a music box and the pendalum reads "Christmas 1987". I'd like to sell it. I think we paid $2,500 for it. I just had it cleaned and adjusted. What do you think it is worth?

Thank you, Gail

ANSWER: how much did the cleaning cost? Was the cleaning done in the home? What prompted you to have it cleaned?

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QUESTION: The cleaning cost me $90. It was done in my home by Clock Peddler. The gentleman who came has been working on clocks for 31 years. I had it cleaned because I wanted it working perfectly to sell it. The music box should be replaced, but it is so minor that I didn't bother replacing it. He tried cleaning it, but said it would be better to let whoever buys it put their own box in it. He estimated that should cost about $25. I just had it cleaned yesterday, March 25, 2010.

ANSWER: You had it OILED in your home. Cleaning is a shop operation costing hundreds.So if the clock works are 23 years old, statistically they are about needing overhaul or replacement. It can not be in good condition, due to it's present age. It may be working perfectly NOW but may malfunction shortly.

I have never seen a tall case clock with a "music box" - perhaps you mean the Westminster chimes on the quarter hours??? 

I would guess that it might be worth $600-800 seeing as how it is on it's last legs and the new owner will have to spend that or more to get it fixed in the near future.

What did your "clock peddler" say it might be worth?

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QUESTION: American Express sold 2,500 of these at Christmas time in 1987. The music box is a Steinway that is in the back of the clock. It plays Christmas carols. He said my clock is was in excellent condition and I should sell it for atleast $1,000 - $1,500. How do clocks last for hundreds of years with their original workings?

Answer

clocks last for hundreds of years when their owners continue to get them repaired. They have luck and other things on their side as well. Ford built over 2 million Pintos--when was the last time you saw one?

The clocks you see with their original workings 200 years old were not mass produced like yours. And they cost a whole lot more relatively than yours when they were made (as a % of normal peoples yearly income.)

These days with modern German movements still in production, replacement is a more cost effective solution to rebuild or overhaul.

I think the replacement of your Steinway music box is going to be next to impossible and if your Peddler can get you one- grab it now!

Also he has a BIG advantage over me in his evaluation of your clock: he has seen it first hand.If it turns out he can fix the music box(I have my doubts), I would for sure go with his evaluation which I do not think is valid UNLESS the music box is working!

Question

I have a grandfather clock that says urgos and on the chimes it says B122/59. It has the date 21-7-1972. On the clock it says made in germany 3rg05. Im not sure what all this means but Im trying to find out what these kind of clocks are worth. It needs to be fixed up a little and I was wandering if it was worth it. Thanks!

Answer

Clocks from this time period are not worth a whole of money. As a rule the movements need a major overhaul which runs between $3-500.00, or you can replace the movements with new for about the same price. Unless the case is something out of the ordinary the clock is barely worth the repair.

Question

Hello. I have a grandfather clock which is approximately 25 years old. The chimes sound like they are muffled at times and out of sync. Is this an easy problem to correct and is this something the average person can do? Thanks for your time. Gary

Answer

I gather the problem is intermittent. This would indicate the clock is trying to tell you he needs a bath. The problem you describe sounds vert much of the gathering of sludge. I would suggest you have this done by a qualified clock repair person.

Question

Trend Clocks by Sligh--numbers on original box 0937-1-AB, L-114 bought in Grand Junction, CO, 3/15/84..I took pendelum off to move when carpet needed repaired...I did not take the 3 weights off..moved by pushing it over about 3 feet by 2 guys...same when pushed back, pushed into same indentations in carpet when reset...pendelum was reattached...bubble in level placed in cabinet floor is in middle...clock will not continue running...I do not hear any tick-tock..any suggestions as to what else I can do...a repair man is about $100 or so and would appreciate you help...I estimate the $100 as that's what we paid when we had clock moved by Quality Time, Las Vegas, NV, from Mom's house to mine..thanks for your time and help

Answer

Hi Penny,

I apologize for the delay in getting back to you, my computer has been down.

Your clock is most likely "out of beat". This is the adjustment of the pendulum to make it swing exactly equal distances from dead center to the left, as from dead center to the right. If a clock is out of beat, the pendulum will swing for a few minutes, then stop.

Listen to your clock's tick. If a clock is in beat it goes "tick-tick-tick" like a metronome. If it goes "tick-TOCK-tick-TOCK", or makes no tick at all, then it is out of beat. Some clocks have automatic beat setting; try starting your clock with as wide a swing as possible. If it has auto beat setting it will correct its beat as it settles down to a normal swing.

If your clock does not have auto beat setting, the beat will have to be set manually. This is a delicate adjustment which takes some experience to do properly. You may want to have a professional clock repairer do a service call to set the beat. If you want to try doing it yourself, this is the procedure:

Remove the side or back panels to access the back of the movement. You will see that the pendulum top is connected to a strip of metal about 6 inches long. This is the pendulum leader. There will be another flat brass strip (the crutch) which comes out of the back top of the movement, bends to go straight down, then ends in a connection to the pendulum leader. This connection will be either a round post on the crutch going through a hole in the leader, or a forked end on the crutch going around the leader.

Now move the crutch to either side. You will feel a point of slight resistance near the end of the swing. Push the crutch past the point of resistance, just a tiny amount, probably less than you can see. If the uneven ticking sounds worse, or if there is no tick, do the same thing in the opposite direction of swing. Do this in small adjustments on whichever side makes the tick more even, until you achieve the steady "tick-tick" sound.

Adjusting the beat is a very delicate process, and it will most likely take a few tries for you to "get the feel" of the adjustment. But, if you do it patiently and in very tiny adjustments, you will probably be able to correct the beat.

Other things you should check for are that the chains or cables are not jammed, and the cables (if your clock is cable drive) have not slipped off the pulleys and jammed in the pulley axles. Also, check that the pendulum leader assembly is connected correctly, and the suspension spring is not broken. I have attached a picture of a pendulum leader assembly to assist with this.. It will not look exactly like your clock's, but the basic parts are all the same.

Question

I have a Ridgway grandfather clock it is 18 years old. I have had it serviced every year. This year I keep thinking I do not need to oil it every year as before. What do you think, should I keep having it serviced or is it a waste of money??

Answer

Millie, who suggested that it be serviced every year? With the quality of modern German movements and synthetic oils, I recommend servicing every 7 to 10 years. Granted, if it is serviced every year, it will last a little longer, but how much longer as opposed to the expense of frequent service calls? That would be like having your car serviced every 500 miles instead of every 3000 miles. One of these clocks will run probably 15-20 years with no service without wearing out. A customer of mine had a clock her clockmaker serviced every 2 years at his recommendation. At the average service call costing $150 in this area, that was $75/year. In 10 years, that would be $750, more than the cost of a replacement movement. I say don't do it that often.

Question

Hi John I have this clock I bought about 20 years ago,it has HAU and 215 on either side of back plate that hold the tubes and crossed arrows on the face.Are you able to tell me how old it is please. I have not been able to find out much on the net.

Cheers Nigel

Answer

Nigel, I'm sorry but I don't have much information on the Hamburg American Clock Company other than what I can find By Googling "Hamburg American Company History". I did find one bit of interesting information on the company, which I have copied with full credits, from Barrie's virtual Clock Museum. An interesting note in that the German markings are "H A U", as explained below.

HAC (Hamburg American Company) Also known as HAU in Germany from the german (sic) company name Hamberg Amerikanische Uhrenfabrik.

When Erhard Junghans, founder of the Junghans factory, died in 1876, his widow's son in law, Paul Landenburger, who had acted as business manager for Junghans, left to start his own factory Named Landenburger and Lang.

In 1883 the name was changed to the "Hamburg Amerikanische Uhrenfabrik",

HAC became a very well known German clock company. Kochmann has numerous references.

The company used many different trademarks but the best known is the "crossed arrows" symbol.

They eventually merged with Junghans in 1930

These brief notes extracted in part from information in Kochmann's book on European trademarks and in part from Black Forest Clocks by E J Tyler

There might be additional numbers on the plates somewhere that might have a serial number or other identification marks or the style of the movement that might help determine the date. I am really more into giving advice on maintaining and diagnosing clock problems. I do try to help identifying clocks and the manufacturing dates, but I know that the H A C company did change hands and was connected with an American design.