Synchronizing a Seth Thomas Mantel Clock

How to synchronize the striking on a Seth Thomas tambour mantel clock from the 1920's. This clock strikes the hour and half-hour on a cathedral gong. It has "active" half-hour striking, in which the gears turn during half-hour striking.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• seth
• thomas
• tambour
• mantel
• clock
• striking
• strike
• synchronization

[JDMorris81]

I really like the strike sound on this clock. What type of gong does it have? Do you have a picture?

[Clockhistory]

@JDMorris81 It has a heavy coiled wire gong often called a "Cathedral gong".

[JDMorris81]

@Clockhistory Thanks, I was just wondering the type of cathedral gong. My clock has one too but this one is a lower pitch that I like better

[Clockhistory]

@JDMorris81 Unfortunately, I didn't get a picture of the gong.

[tnmtemerity]

This is neat. I have a (I think it is called Beehive) Seth Thomas Clock that has the two dials at the top one to turn on or off striking and the other to move the pedulum to adjust the speed. it has a Westminster chime but it chines a minute late - if the hands say 12:16 it chimes the quarter hour and it is that way with every chime - is there an easy way to adjust that?

[Clockhistory]

If the minute hand has a brass bushing in the center, the bushing can be rotated in the hand to correct the chime release time. Otherwise, it is not easy to adjust.

[MrTylerNicole1]

I really like this video. I will try to do your suggestion when I get my Westminster Chime Clock when I am 19. I will try to synchronize the striking.

[GuideDogGrownUp]

This is amazing! Here I was having to go around until I got it right! 

[cumoncents]

There is another way to synchronize, a clock repair shop showed me how. You do it without touching the hands at all. What you do is in the back, open the door and watch the clock chime, the lever that moves when it chimes is the key.You just lift it up with some kind of probe to go through the cycle till it is where you want it. NOTE: You do not want to use your hand inside the clock to do this

[feckwits]

Finally got my clock in sync. Thank you.

[HLD452]

There is also another way to synchronize it. Move the hour hand back 2 hrs if the strike is few hours away from it or any hour forward. If possible to move the hour hand.

[bsulli85]

Thanks for this vid, I have the same clock, its identical....mine has a plate on the back that says "Beld Christmas 1918". Perhaps from the store it was purchased from? Now i know my minute hand was replaced at some point, because it is spade like the hour hand in a slightly different metal. I used your video last time I set it, thanks for posting.