WHAT ATTRACTED YOUR ATTENTION TODAY?

[plaques]

More windy stories, Mrs P helping out in the outpatients department with a doctor doing endoscopies. One rather large gentleman was undergoing examination the doctor waggling the endoscomy tube into place and getting down to look in the eyepiece broke the seal sort of speak. The outrush of wind flapped his quiff about like in a gale. The patient started chuckling, Mrs P could hardly contain herself and kept a straight face the doctor carried on as if nothing had happened. All in a days work.

[PanBiker]

Well the results are just in. Received an email from Trip Advisors survey of the Travellers Best of the Best locations to visit across the whole of Europe. Number one, of which I have no doubt is the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

[Big Kev]

My new clock, we've been after a granddaughter clock for a while...

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I need to fit a low shelf on the wall for it, the wooden floors here have too much 'bounce' in them.

Might have to do a bit of research on the previous owner

[Big Kev]

https://youtube.com/shorts/g0thc0dDX4M
It has a full Westminster chime.

[Wendyf]

Benjamin Fielding Westwell married Winifred Cornthwaite in Blackburn... that should start you off on your research!

[Big Kev]

Oh wow, thanks for that Wendy.

[Stanley]

Nice looking clock and won't need any batteries.
How well I feel after all the dire stories about after effects from the vaccinations.

[Big Kev]

It took me a while to get the clock level so it would keep running, it's still good this morning but had lost nearly 30 minutes in 12 hours. I've shortened the pendulum so it's now a waiting game.

[plaques]

It took me a while to get the clock level so it would keep running, it's still good this morning but had lost nearly 30 minutes in 12 hours. I've shorted the pendulum so it's now a waiting game.

I've just spent weeks trying to get a Vienna wall clock running. The movement is very old and more than a bit worn. Getting it spot on in the 'level' plane was bad enough but the mountings had got tired and the mechanism was leaning forward. After many trials I've finally got it to run.
We have a full size long case clock about 7ft+ tall, its normal to screw the back of the top of the clock to the wall to stop it tilting or being accidentally knocked over. Sounds drastic but it was a normal precaution.
30 minutes in 12 hours looks as if the pendulum is not hooked up properly or that it is the wrong pendulum so unless its a very short pendulum where a small change in length can make a big difference it sounds a bit odd.

[Big Kev]

It's a very short pendulum, around 4 inches. Today's project is to fit a low shelf to stand it on and a bracket to hold the top to the wall. The slightest movement upsets it so once it's off the floor all should be well (hopefully).

I love the idea if a big longcase but it wouldn't really fit in here, the house is old enough but not big enough.

[PanBiker]

We have a 1930's deco mantle clock in a wooden case that has a Westminster chime. Chimes part on each quarter and the whole job lot on the hour.

[Big Kev]

Does it strike 4 notes on the quarter, 8 on the half, 12 on the three quarter and then the full 16 and the 'bongs' on the hour?

[PanBiker]

Yes that's it Kev, a good description of the chimes.

[Tripps]

There comes a time in life when you don't need to be reminded about the passing of time.
I've reached it. . .

[Big Kev]

Yes that's it Kev, a good description of the chimes.

It took me a while to synchronise that too it was chiming the hour on the quarter and the three quarter on the hour. At least I won't need to do that again once it's on its permanent perch.

[Big Kev]

I've been 'tweaking' the pendulum length and hopefully it should be near enough there, I'll find out in the morning. It's sat on a heavy duty shelf, levelled and fixed to the wall. It's been running and chiming for over an hour so hopefully all is good.
It'll look a lot better once I've decorated the room (once the French doors have been fitted) and moved some pictures around.

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[Stanley]

Clocks can try your patience Kev. You're doing all the right things.
Ken, Vienna clocks can be very ticklish as the beat of the pendulum is so small. Best left well alone once they are running. Mine chimes anything it feels like doing on the hour, usually 12! I just ignore it. As long as it's keeping good time which it does, I can put up with it being eccentric!

[Big Kev]

I'm getting close, it's gone from losing 30 minutes, in 12 hours, to gaining 4...

[Marilyn]

When my first hubby and I had two old family clocks ( which went with him when he left as they were his family treasures), he insisted the workings be sprayed with fly spray at certain times ( he believed the oil in flyspray was what clocks needed) and the windings be counted and done at regular intervals.
Unfortunately, he never had time for such specific care, so it was my job.
I handed them over in excellent shape. Both mantle clocks would be well over 120 years old now.

[Big Kev]

Been trying to validate the fly spray theory but no luck so far. All the 'experts' say to use synthetic clock oil and are horrified at things like 3-in-1 or WD40.
I'm going to leave it alone for a few months and then look at a few drops of clock oil in all the right places, presuming the mechanism comes out easily enough.

[plaques]

I have some proper clock oil I bought some years ago. Just a tiny bottle but lasts for ever. When you feel brave enough to open it up you're welcome to use some of mine. Anything that dries out and leaves a sticky residue is bad news for clocks.

[Big Kev]

I have some proper clock oil I bought some years ago. Just a tiny bottle but lasts for ever. When you feel brave enough to open it up you're welcome to use some of mine. Anything that dries out and leaves a sticky residue is bad news for clocks.

That's very kind, thank you.

[PanBiker]

Anything that dries out and leaves a sticky residue is bad news for clocks.

Same reason to use Isopropyl Achohol as opposed to Methylated Sprit as a cleaning agent in electronics. The additive dye in Meths leaves a nasty sticky residue behind when the Ethanol base has evaporated.

[Big Kev]

There's lots of information on t'internet about how to clean and lubricate clock mechanisms. I'm working on the 'just give it a drop of oil every couple of years' principle. It's not an expensive clock but it's quite old and has a little bit of history so it's worth keeping going, I just can't justify the cost of having it professionally serviced
I did notice a faint WD40 smell so it looks like it's going to need a clean and oiling. Isopropyl Achohol and a soft brush seems to be the best cleaning option, a job for the warmer weather I reckon as doing it on the dining table could be frowned upon

[Stanley]

Clock oil is interesting stuff. I don't know what the modern oils are but the classic clock oil for centuries was made by exposing Neat's Foot Oil to daylight for a long time, some said 12 months. Then decant the clear oil on top into another bottle and repeat the process. The best oils spent 3 years in the process. I have some also Kev if you want to borrow it. (Or you could get your own mineral clock oil for a fiver.... LINK)