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Intermittent Chiming Mantle Clock

by Joan Jenkins
(South Park, Pa.)

I have a Hamilton key wound mantle clock from my dad. He got it in about the late 1980's thru his employer as a service award from United States Steel Corp.

However, I am afraid to wind it very much and I am not sure what the other 2 holes are on the front? Is there a instruction manual for it that I can get?

I cleaned out their home and never found one. I kept this clock because my father loved it and it's meaning of 40 years of service to the company. I remember as a little girl he took it to Ephrata or Lancaster, Pa. to be repaired when it was very new. Can you help me or send an instruction manual, please?

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Intermittent Chiming Mantle Clock

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Question
by: Anonymous

I have recently purchased such a clock with the 3 holes. It seems to me that the bottom hole for winding the clock needs to be rewound every 8 days but the other 2 winders do not need very much adjusting at all. Is this normal?
Measuring for a Clock Key
by: Bill

Measure the diameter of the square shaft of the winder on your clock. This measurement should be in mm.

Example:

4.0mm is American size #8

4.4mm is American size #10

4.8mm is American size #12


You can then order the key at Timesavers.


Hamilton mantle clock key replacement
by: Richard Phillippe

I have a circa 1990 Hamilton mantle clock, but I have lost the key. How do I measure to order a new key? Thanks.
Thanks for the chime help.
by: joan jenkins

Dear bill;

Thank you for the detailed,yet easy to understand instructions. I love hearing the chiming,it makes me think of my dad (a wonderful man and always a gentleman).

I remember when I was a young girl at home and he received the clock for 40 yrs.of service to U.S. Steel, my saying to my parents, "boy that is loud, do you really want that?" My mom said, "you'll get used to it." Now that it's chiming in my home and they are both gone,it's music to my ears.

Thanks for the music!!!!
Hamilton Mantel Clock
by: Bill

Hi Joan,

The three holes are all for winding the clock and should be wound fully once a week.

The center hole is for the clocks time function and only drives the gears that actually move the hands.

The Right hole winds the gear train that operates the Westminster chimes (the every :15 minute chimes.

The left hole winds the gear train that operates the hourly chime (the one that chimes the number of hours).

I don't know of any instruction manual. Most of these clocks had the instructions printed on a label, usually on the inside of the rear door.

If you fully wind all three winding holes, and set it to the correct time by moving the minute hand forward carefully to the correct time, it should run fine. The chimes should self-correct to the right sequence automatically. (this sometimes takes an hour or so to complete)

It should play 4 notes at :15 after the hour, 8 notes at :30, 12 notes at :45, and 16 notes + the correct number of hour chimes on the hour.

There are some variations on this if your clock is other than Westminster chimes. Some have several different chime "styles" that is controlled by a switch. Also, some clocks have a "chime - silent" switch.

If you need more information, feel free to post a comment here.

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