At a recent Expo of our grandfather clocks in Johannesburg I had many a conversation that started like this: “Our clock was going well for 30 odd years and then it stopped! There is nothing wrong with our grandfather clock-it just stopped…Please help! Can you fix it?”
The expectations we place on our clocks and watches are unbearable isn’t it? It runs day and night, unlike a vehicle for instance that rests quite often. Yet we expect it to run without a service for decades.
Indeed I would agree that “nothing is wrong with the clock”. Maybe we should look at the question of clock repairs and maintenance. How often should a clock be serviced?
In our experience a Hermle or Kieninger grandfather clock will run perfectly for anything up to 50 years without a service if it isn’t stationed on the coast or in a very dry and dusty climate. Yet the grandfather clock’s chimes will start showing stress after 12 years. The clock will keep time but the melody will start lagging, missing notes and even quarters. Our suggestion is that a grandfather clock movement needs a service every ten years or even more regularly. If one waits until the clock movement actually shows stress, one will find that the movement requires more work.
Usually the clock will only require cleaning, new bushes and a small amount of oil on the bushes. As the clock ages wheels and even pinions may require work. If the clock is allowed to run with dirt on the teeth of wheels and grime building up around and in the bushes, the aging process will be accelerated.
