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GRANDFATHER CLOCK TECH IN GCC ?!?!

xr-nut

xr-nut

GROUP W BENCH
Joined
May 19, 2020
Member Number
75
Messages
806
Loc
BFK. Bum Fuck Kansas
With all the hubub about tech in chitchat and since there is not a clock subforum, can I put this here? :confused: :laughing:


I want to build a big ass clock. grandfather clock style or "tall case" style.

I ''watched'' this movement on ebay, did a little reading and searching google about them, seems like a nice place to start. seller sent a discount offer, took 50 bux off. but its missing all the hangy bits. Ive asked the seller about them, possibly could find them elsewhere. how big of a deal is it to set one of these up?

www.ebay.com

Howard Miller MS001 354-418 Grandfather Clock Movement 610/672 w/face/hands+ | eBay

Pulled from a working Howard Miller Grandfather Clock model 610-672.
www.ebay.com

pic of what the case looked like in the 80s when that clock was new. Im planning to build my own case.

c004c-Vintage-Working-Beautiful-Howard-Miller-Tall-Case-Grandfather-Cl-–-TimeKeepersOlive.png
 
Have fun.... I have a really nice Howard Miller grandfather clock. It was sitting idle for over 5 years but it is now ticking. It needs to be serviced (cleaned and oiled); chimes are intermittent. I am paying someone to do the service. Also plenty of Youtube stuff on how to... :homer::homer::homer:
IMHO: If you build a case; allow access to sides and back of movement for service.
 
Same one my parents have. Was my mothers parents. If you go the 'make your own weights' I can try to get over there and get a weight of them as you'll want them pretty dang close (or just find some eBay $100 deals). I'll probably have to find some white cotton gloves or something. You're on your own for the pendulum.
 
My mom has one of those and it started doing same thing, only middle weight drops and no chimes.

Figured out the middle drives clock and outers drive chimes. There is a ton of lint in the clockworks.

I put a towell in the bottom of the cabinet and hosed down the clockworks with wd40. It worked for 2 years then same thing again. Put another towell in and hosed it down and it works again. I think maybe a silicone based spray would be better but wd was all i had.
 
Fishnbeer said:
My mom has one of those and it started doing same thing, only middle weight drops and no chimes.

Figured out the middle drives clock and outers drive chimes. There is a ton of lint in the clockworks.

I put a towell in the bottom of the cabinet and hosed down the clockworks with wd40. It worked for 2 years then same thing again. Put another towell in and hosed it down and it works again. I think maybe a silicone based spray would be better but wd was all i had.
Click to expand...
There are a whole bunch of youtube stuff on granddfather clock maintenance and repair. It is worth a peek. I have so much other stuff that working on the clock can wait for a repair pro. Cotton gloves are a must! (Amazon).
You can down-load the owners manual. It will give you the info you need for the weights. A home grown pendulum does sound interesting. :smokin::smokin::smokin:
 
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I'm 80% sure I have that same clock or a similar model. I'll look when I get home, and if you need any specs let me know.

Mine does have the most annoying chimes in the world, and I grew up with two chiming clocks in the house and like them.

Either full melody (3 options) on the quarters or nothing. So mine is silent and just runs the center weight for clock motion.
 
Other Builds Guess it couldn't go here.

Just saying, if we had a great collection of "Other Builds" other than rock crawler it would help to have them collectively. In one tech section for "Other" stuff that isn't the rock crawler that folks would come here to see. And that most of us aren't building nowadays.
 
I inherited a Tempus Fuget from my parents, who got it non-working from their parents. I spent about a grand and a year with a empty case to get it running again. It was locked up from wear and lack of maintenance.

I also have two wall baby grandfather clocks that the same 85 year old former Vietnam era fighter pilot that repaired the big clock took to tune.

I considered ripping the guts out of the grandfather clock and installing electronic movement, but I like the nostalgia and mechanics of the old clocks.

Personally, if I didn't have an sentimental attachment to these clocks, I wouldn't spend the money on them. As a project, building the case would be great if I had those skills and tools, but I would consider a electronic movement for less maintenance and cost. It's also getting very hard to find someone who repairs these old clocks. I think the old dude I found is the last of them in San Diego area.
 
My grandfather built the one I have. I just had it cleaned up and lubed a few years ago. Hardest part about getting it going again was getting it perfectly level and adjusting the pendulum to keep good time.
 
Dad built one similar to that ~40 years ago. When he retired, he started doing clock repairs. I found it boring, at the time, but now fascinating.


We had it tuned by a local guy. Apparently there were ~6 folks in TN who used to repair clocks... now < 1/2 of that. And he can't find anyone who is willing to take it over...
 
I had grandparents that how one of those fucking things
every half hour it was going off
god forbid you were watching something on TV that was interesting at 11:00,
 
I have experience replacing the clock mechanism in my Craftsman saw blade clock in the garage after the AA batteries leaked and corroded the original.

Happy to share my expertise. :flipoff2:
 
Lee said:
I have experience replacing the clock mechanism in my Craftsman saw blade clock in the garage after the AA batteries leaked and corroded the original.

Happy to share my expertise. :flipoff2:
Click to expand...
might be pretty relevant. I learned that the movement I posted needs another $500 in parts to make work. maybe. :laughing:

so digging deeper, there is an option for those clocks to put battery powered movements in them. Im digging into that for now. that will allow me to build the "tall case" version pictured below. with a secret compartment for a seed dispenser. :smokin:

example:

1031_1.jpg
 
Pocahontas said:
IMG_8737.jpeg


I have this one if you need dimensions, if you were closer I would say you can have it.
Click to expand...
My folks have one like this, it plugs into the wall, someone must have redone the movement in the 80s? :confused: Still chimes and shit but no manual fuckin with the weights
 
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