Tempest fugit ,granddaughter clock

Question

recently given said clock, keeps time great, but the chimes are slow and out of cink, it will chime on the hour once maybe twice then again a few min`s later.the clock say`s on the front 31 day. hope you can help.

Answer

Chris, what you have is an Asian clock, the majority of them were wall clocks, but they did make some floor clocks. The mechanisms were of the same typical design, but geared for different pendulum lengths. The phrase "Tempus Fugit" is Latin for "Time Flies", and is usually found usually found in the arch of a dial in place of a moving moon dial, which is not found on most Asian clocks of this type. The way you describe the chime, I think you are referring to the strike. As far as being slow, this happens to clocks when the lubricants become old and gummy and/or the result of worn parts. It sounds like the strike mechanism is not dropping down to the proper hour and then being held up after the first strike. Then it intermittently releases to finish the strike. Whatever is the cause, the dial will have to be removed and the strike action observed to determine what is happening. It will probably have to be serviced by an experienced clockmaker. Sorry I could not offer a quick fix.