Antique English pendulum wall clock

by BYRON GODFREY
(CHANDLER, AZ., USA)

Our English Clock

We have an old English pendulum wall clock by T. Turton of Northampton, England UK (no chimes or strikes).

About 5 years ago it was reconditioned by an elderly, since retired, local Phoenix, Az. USA craftsman, and has been reliable ever since.

Recently, we moved. We removed the pendulum and carefully transported the clock personally. Once I had it set up and persevered adjusting the clock in the new house, I could not get the clock to run for more than 10 minutes.

I decided to take the clock down, oil and replace it, which proved successful, the clock running nonstop with an even tick. However, the clock is losing about a minute an hour, even though I have raised the pendulum weight progressively and ridiculously higher than originally.

It seems that the clock will go no faster, a situation which I can't understand, though I'm no clock expert. I'm using the correct oil recommended by a local repair shop and it seems very light. Your comments would be appreciated.

Comments for Antique English pendulum wall clock

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RESPONSE TO BILL'S COMMENT
by: Byron

Hi Bill,
Going too fast has not been the issue. The issue was not going fast enough after adjusting the pendulum. Only now that it is adjusted to it's maximum height has it finally kept perfect time. Now, I would not have been surprised to have had need to adjust it in a new environment after moving house. But having oiled it, I would have expected that might have made the clock run slightly faster,there being less friction. But to
adjust it to the end of it's range, still baffles me.

Is the escape wheel skipping?
by: Bill

Hi Byron,

I can not see what could possibly make the clock run that much faster with the same pendulum just because you oiled the clock. The rate is decided by the pendulums length.

I would first watch the escape wheel very closely to make sure it is not skipping a tooth or more which would make the clock fast.

Adding more weight will make the clock slow down if the extra weight is near the bottom of the pendulum. It is not the weight that will change the rate, but by adding it to the very bottom of the pendulum, it effectively lowers the center of gravity on it and makes it 'longer' and will slow it down.

Be careful not to add too much, or the impulse from the escape wheel may not be strong enough to keep it swinging.

Thanks, Bill

Update
by: Byron

Having raised the pendulum to maximum height, it is now, by chance, keeping excellent time, though I would be unable to increase the pendulum height if the need arose.

However, I'd be interested to know why it had to go to these extreme lengths, having assumed that the problem is one of friction. If it needed to go faster maybe increasing or decreasing the weight of the pendulum might solve the problem. As I said, the oil is thin, light and certainly not gummy.

Comments would be appreciated.

Byron

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