How long do they run?

Most antique drop dial clocks have an eight-day movement. You'll wind them once a week. Spring-driven models just need winding from the front. Weight-driven versions use cords inside the trunk.

My uncle left me one of these and it chimes every hour but I read somewhere that proper office clocks shouldn't make any noise at all. Is that true?

Strict office clocks were usually timepieces. They only showed the time. A loud bell striking the hour disturbed clerks trying to work on ledgers. However, plenty of drop dials were built for domestic settings or taverns. These often have a striking train. A clock striking a gong is normal if it was built for a busy public room.

Why is the face convex?

Convex dials scatter glare from windows and gas lamps. Flat glass reflects light directly back. This makes the hands hard to read from certain angles. The curve also gives the hands space to move.

I was trying to adjust the pendulum on the one in my hallway and noticed the wooden rod feels like it might snap if I turn the nut too hard. Why use wood?

Wood is stable. Metal expands and contracts as room temperature changes. That alters the length of the pendulum and ruins the timekeeping. Straight-grained timber like mahogany resists those temperature swings. It keeps the clock running steadily through summer and winter. Support the bob with your hand and turn the nut gently.

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Antique Drop Dial Clocks

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The antique drop dial clock is a wall-hung timepiece featuring a large circular face above a short wooden trunk designed to house the swing of a pendulum.