How often should I wind a longcase clock?

Most floor-standing examples run on an eight-day cycle. You'll wind them once a week, picking a specific day to build a routine. Thirty-hour movements need daily winding. Pulling the ropes or chains takes only a few seconds.

I have noticed that the pendulum swings but the hands refuse to advance, so what might be stopping the mechanism from turning properly?

The motion work behind the dial might be loose. The minute wheel relies on a friction spring to carry the hands around. If this slips, the movement runs without advancing the time. A clockmaker can tighten this clutch. It takes standard workshop tools to resolve.

Why does my clock strike the wrong hour?

The striking train can fall out of sequence with the time train. This often happens if the hands are moved backwards past the hour. Many antique English clocks have a trip wire behind the dial. Lift this wire to make it strike until the count catches up with the hands.

When moving a bracket clock from the hallway into the sitting room, do I need to do anything special to prepare the movement?

Remove the pendulum before you lift the case. Transporting the piece with a heavy bob swinging freely can bend the suspension spring or damage the crutch. Keep the case upright. Once settled in the new room, ensure the clock sits level before reattaching the pendulum. Adjust the feet slightly to get an even tick.

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Antique English Clocks

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Antique English clocks are precision timekeeping instruments housed in wooden or metal cases, built to display the hours and often track lunar phases or dates in domestic interiors.