[Bell Historians] Church clock maintenance contracts

[Bickerton, Roderic (SELEX GALILEO, UK)]

I am no expert but the clock its self needs little. the oil used is very
specialised, Pots having there own formulation. Sparing use is
important. Quite often the slower moving parts are not lubricated it
being believed the muck attracted by the lubricant can be worse than no
lubrication. Certainly after oiling all visible oil should be wiped
away, (without wiping grit and filth into the bearings!) and once a year
is plenty.


more of a maintenance issue is the head gear, behind the hands, which is
often rather exposed, and often very inaccessible.
If its running slow and the bob is clean and dose not have any lose
"objects" sitting on it, adjustment depends on design, but speeding it
up involves raising the centre of mass of the pendulum very slightly.
Uncompensated pendulum clocks run differently summer and winter and it
was common practice to add a few coins to the bob during (cold weather I
think?)

I do not work Wednesday Thursday or Friday.
Please forward to rodbic at o0OL0Il03bBX8qO7nCVjp5wR1q12yuyTLyxjptFFPe4l1030L_J9RPXMgc0X52AppDpRf1XXJEYgVitPZcM.yahoo.invalid as well as my work email if you
want me to see it on these days. Do not send anything classified to
rodbic at o0OL0Il03bBX8qO7nCVjp5wR1q12yuyTLyxjptFFPe4l1030L_J9RPXMgc0X52AppDpRf1XXJEYgVitPZcM.yahoo.invalid  

 

________________________________

From: bellhistorians at yahoogroups.com
[mailto:bellhistorians at yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Dickon Love
Sent: 19 February 2010 17:44
To: bellhistorians at yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Bell Historians] Church clock maintenance contracts


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Although not really 'bell history', I wonder whether the collective
might be able to share some experiences on maintenance contracts in
connection with church clocks.

I have taken responsibility of St Magnus church clock following the
death of an old boy who used to look after it. It hasn't been touched
professionally for years and was stopped throughout the tower works of
2008 and early 2009. It currently seems to be losing 20 mins time a
year. A wellknown clock firm has offered its services for an annual
service. I am wondering whether annual is too frequent a service to pay
for, particularly as this simple clock only turns the hands: there are
no chimes on it any more. I guess the service would just clean and oil
parts and be a general check up.

What do other people do?

Many thanks.

DrL




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