CHIME CLOCK MAINTENANCE

 The Old Cloxhibhition

French 3 train Wall clocks (Carillon) Maintenance handbook

Compiled by the Old Cloxhibhition

Almost all musical chime clocks come with 3 keyholes, referred to as 3 train clocks, listed below are the maintenance procedures for such French made clocks, however these rules can also apply to all other 3 train clocks in general.

Maintenance Guide for Vedette, Romanet, Odo, and Girod Clocks

This guide provides structured care and maintenance instructions for four major French clockmakers: Vedette, Romanet, Odo, and Girod. It is designed for collectors and horology enthusiasts who wish to preserve the mechanical integrity and musical heritage of their clocks.

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1. General Care Principles

• Placement: Keep clocks on stable, vibration-free surfaces away from direct sunlight, humidity, and heat sources.
• Dust Protection: Regularly dust cases with a soft cloth; avoid sprays or chemical cleaners.
• Handling: Always handle pendulums and weights with care; avoid touching with bare hands to prevent corrosion.

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2. Winding & Power

• Frequency: Wind weekly at the same time for consistency.
• Technique: Use gentle, even pressure with the correct key size.
• Dual Chime Models: Switch between Westminster and alternative chimes only when the clock is not actively striking.

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3. Movement Maintenance

• Oiling: Apply clock oil to pivots every 2–3 years, sparingly.
• Cleaning: Professional dismantling, ultrasonic cleaning, and re-oiling every 5–7 years.
• Inspection: Have a horologist inspect bushings, pivots, and springs every 10 years.

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4. Chime & Strike Systems

• Hammer Alignment: Ensure hammers strike rods cleanly without resting against them.
• Rod Integrity: Check rods are secure in their block; loose rods dull the tone.
• Sequence Correction: If chimes fall out of order, allow the clock to run through a full cycle or reset gently.

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5. Case & Dial Care

• Wood Preservation: Use mild wax polish once or twice a year.
• Dial Cleaning: Lightly dust; avoid liquids that damage numerals or silvering.
• Glass Care: Clean with a damp cloth, avoiding drips into the bezel.

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6. Troubleshooting Common Issues

Problem	Likely Cause	Remedy
Clock stops	Out of beat, dirt in pivots	Adjust beat, clean/oil
Chimes silent	Lever in “silent” mode, stuck hammer	Reset lever, free hammer
Runs fast/slow	Pendulum length	Adjust nut up/down
Hands clash	Bent hands	Remove and reset carefully

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7. Brand-Specific Notes

Vedette

• Known for dual chime models (Westminster and Ave Maria).
• Pay attention to chime selector levers; avoid forcing them.
• Maintain resonance by checking gong block screws.

Romanet (FFR Mobier)

• Often feature ornate cases; preserve veneer with gentle waxing.
• Movements may have unique strike sequences; ensure proper synchronization after servicing.

Odo

• Famous for clear Westminster tones.
• Inspect hammer springs regularly; weak springs cause muted notes.
• Cases often feature Art Deco styling; avoid abrasive cleaning.

Girod

• Known for robust wall clocks.
• Pay attention to pendulum suspension springs; replace if worn.
• Chime rods are thicker; ensure hammer alignment for full resonance.

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8. Maintenance Checklist

Task	Frequency
Wind clock	Weekly
Dust case & dial	Weekly
Oil pivots	Every 2–3 years
Full cleaning	Every 5–7 years
Horologist inspection	Every 10 years

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9. Preservation Tips for Collectors

• Document history: Keep records of servicing and provenance.
• Avoid modifications: Preserve originality of rods, gongs, and dials.
• Cultural heritage: Respect devotional symbolism in chimes (e.g., Ave Maria).

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Summary: Regular light care combined with professional servicing ensures Vedette, Romanet, Odo, and Girod clocks remain accurate, melodious, and historically authentic for generations.

 

PREPARED  BY THE OLD CLOXHIBHITION Specialists in servicing, repairing and restoring all kinds of  old antique clocks.

Webpage:  https://facebook.com/yestertiems/99

Email : cloxhibhition@gmail.com

 

SPRINGING YOUR CLOCK TO LIFE AND KEEPING IT SAFE.

 Date: 24th November 2024

The Main springs are the life of your Spring Driven clocks, keep them in excellent condition and your clock will enjoy long life, but that too only if your other parts, gears, pivots wheels etc. are in good working order and not cracked bent or worn out in any way.

I recommend you have your Movement completely disassembled especially if you have purchased this clock from a third party, then to not only give it a regular service but have it thoroughly examined, double check the main spring(s) and if you see fatigue change them, while we are here ensure everything is checked including the nuts that hold the plates together and the pins, if there is excessive in any item wear change it or have it repaired, no two ways about it, this is an antique and it's got to stand the test of TIME, that's what these clocks are all about.

                                            Movement Completely disassembled

If it is the case of a broken spring do the same thing from disassembly and change the spring. Do not use broken springs it's just not worth it. it's quite common practice for some repairers here, they punch a new hole and fix it back without annealing that end, and unless they are metallurgists they can't. 

I hope I have sufficiently impressed you on you the need to change the springs, don't save on the pennies.

A snapped spring can result in damage to corresponding wheels  resulting in the need to make new wheels for which the clock repairer must be competent in machine shop practice or he may have to outsource the fabrication of such broken parts adding to costs.  

                   A broken Spring and an unused Spring of the same size.

More often than not clock repairers will tell you that fabricated gears and wheels although done with high tech equipment do not work and they are right, because if the components are not polished or polished insufficiently for lack of proper equipment and skill will result in unwanted friction which causes stoppages and all kinds of other compounded problems, avoid it.

                                                Restoring a Main Spring  Barrel 

Email: cloxhibhition@gmail.com  

Mobile: +6012-2468196, +6016-2203771 (WhatsApp available on both)  

Phone: +603-3373 4331  

WELCOME TO THE OLD CLOXHIBHITION

 

 

The Old Cloxhibhition is all about time, captured and kept here at the this place called "The Old Cloxhibhition" to be viewed and maybe to be even owned.

                              

 Fuji Clock Circa 1925

An exhibition of my  collection of old mechanical clocks of yesteryears, each with  a story of it's own to tell, each unique in its own right with an identity - one like yours and mine.

Most of the clocks at the Old Cloxhibhition are chiming wall pieces, many are even more then a hundred years old, comprising mantle clocks, Vienna Regulators, Old American Schoolhouse clocks,  the classic and lovely European Chiming clocks both German and French with a variety of Chimes, Kitchen clocks and more and all, almost all classics in its own right. 

                                                                    Vincente & Cie Silk String pendulum Circa 1828

Medallion D'Argent 
 

                                                               

Why Cloxhibhition?

To promote and share with you the beauty of these old masterpieces made by masters of the craft over the centuries, to last over centuries  with with one purpose - to stand the test of Time.

The Tick and Tock reminds you that each second or rather each Tick or Tock, once Ticked or Tocked is gone and gone for ever, that, is "Time" and that is why it is such an important resource of our lives, because each Tick and each Tock is a moment of our lives and these clocks capture that - moments of our lives.

Ticking  and Tocking  and at each hour they chime so beautifully to announce that you have lived another hour of your life, some reminding you every quarter and yet others reminding you at every half hour with beautiful melodies, like the Gai, the Sonodo, the Frere Jacques (Brother John), the Ave Maria Lourdes, The La Paimplaise, the Angelus de la Mer, The Old Steeple, Waves of Blue, The Whittington Chime, The Saint Michael Chime, The famous Westminster or (Big Ben) and more, you'll hear them all at the Old Cloxhibhition.

Clocks will never be made  this way again, because now you have time recorders on your hand held devices, on your desktops, on your lap tops etc. these "attachments"  are discarded once the apps these Time recorders are on, are no longer relevant. 

These clocks are masterpieces in their own right, the Vienna Clocks hand made are precision master pieces, were weight driven and were made in the mid and late 19th Centuries that is the 18 hundreds.

The word Clock has its origins in the French word "Cloche," which means "Bells" and that is why many of these old clocks are associated with chimes.

The Clocks here at the Old Cloxhibhition, celebrates the craft of clock making  driven by springs, or weights, or floating balances and fixed balance wheels. 

The spring driven clocks  swing a pendulum, which in turn, turns wheels and where each cog in the wheel is so carefully crafted  that it keeps accurate time, wheels so accurately cut which even today with the modern machine tools are difficult to imitate and unlike the clocks of today are made to last centuries that was the dedication of the time when one of the biggest "Quality Parameters" was measured by how long a clock would last, and those clocks today bear testimony of that excellent products of the dedicated clock-makers of that time. .

The age of the Mechanical  spring or weight  driven, grandfather clock, the wall clock, the mantle clock may pass you by without you realising it,  and without you having the opportunity to own one of these masterpieces that captured time itself -  the Clocks of Old.

                           Ansonia Long Drop Schoolhouse Calendar Clock (Circa 1890)
 

 In this age of consumerism there are still clock makers who make beautiful mechanical clocks, but alas these are not made to last the test of "TIME" after all clocks are about "TIME." Today's clocks that are mechanically driven, once worn or spoiled comes with a manufacturer's solution - change, replace it with a new movement.

Well that is the effect of consumerism, here at "The Old Cloxhibhition," we are determined to restore your old Clocks to original condition so that it ticks and tocks for as many years as you have had it.  

These clocks are our heritage, the heritage of mankind, we have had them in the Railway Stations, in Schools, in Markets,  in Hospitals especially in the gynecological wards to record the time of your birth, in our homes and even in our bedrooms almost everywhere and now with modern inventions they have  fast  become part of our history. 

The History of Times are told in these masterpieces so owning one will soon be a privilege and the Old Cloxhibhiton plans to help you do that before it gets beyond your reach.

For all your antique clock needs, buying, servicing, restoration, valuation etc. Contact us at the Old Cloxhibhition,

The Old Cloxhibhition : mobile. +60122468196, +60162203771, +603-33734331.

Email: cloxhibhition@gmail.com

 

 

  

SERVICE, REPAIRS AND RESTORATION AT THE OLD CLOXHIBHITION

The Old Cloxhibhition now provides you the collector with facilities to repair, restore and service your clocks.

Restoration: (Dials)

Be it the case or the entire movement we have the facilities for you.

Some examples of  our work we've done on clock Dials:

                                                   

 The dial of a French Vedette Clock Restored from the original

                                                                                                 

                       

The Dial of a Fuji clock. This is a remake as the original could not be replaced, The original dial is mase of thick paper the remake Bakelite.   

 

Dials or what some refer to as the face of the clock are very difficult to work on especially when it comes to colour matching, the graphics the size  so that you get a perfect match. It has to be precise so that when  the hands of the clock rotate they do not go out but are exactly in the position they are in to tell the exact time. 

Restoration: Clock Casings:    

 

                                     

The new finish on the door is called gloss finish but then there is a less glossier finish they call gloss too, so this is glass finish.

 

                                         

The Fuji Clock before and after. After the restoration of the dial and the clock now complete.

                                         

Junghans Free Swinger Fungus infected, cleaned chemically treated and restored. The Crown bought from the Selesia region in Poland once ruled by the Germans where the Poles and other Europeans worked as slaves in the clock industry. I sent the supplier the picture asking for a crown for this particular clock. He provided pictures of 3 crowns, I picked this.

 Cassings or what some call boxes can be remade. Clock cases have to take into account size, depth so that movements fit in the windows for the dial and the Pendulum Glass so that they are well positioned and the positioning of the internal wooden or metal brackets in order to ensure when fitted the movement, the dial and even the pendulum are centered. 

It's precision carpentry.

Restoration :The Movement:

Referred to as Engine ( not completely wrong) but in horology "the Movement" is the life centre of the clock.

It comes in all shapes and sizes and the quality of the clock is determined by the quality of the movement.

Keeping your movement in good working order by regular service by qualified and or experienced Clock Makers is essential to maintain the value of your antique or for that matter any Mechanical clock.

The work demands the use of proper tools as this is precision engineering, our appointed workshop personnel are a competent lot with knowledge of clock movements, parts and fully competent in the various fabrication methods using lathes and milling machines.

There are many clock repairers who'll get your clock up and moving and more often then not their clients are ignorantly happy with their work.

For instance most local clock repairers in the country do not do bushing, not doing bushing is dangerous, it can ruin your entire plates and make repair costly.

Antique clocks become family heirlooms that are passed on from generation to generation and it has to keep running that long, and to do that service of these clocks at least once in five years if it has been serviced competently prior is essential.

Servicing in itself is no "Rocket Science" but being able to detect faults, wear and tear is an issue where it's importance  can't be over stressed.

To ensure there is continuity in the trade we have insisted that our backroom train young and upcoming horologists so there is succession.

Now To show you our Engineering Backroom facilities. 

 

 .  Movement: Chime hammers and movement being inspected before Repair

 

 

Machining and Fabrication  

Main Spring barrels fully restored.

                 

 Work In Progress In our workshop 

   
            
High Quality bushes  and completed bushings. 

Follow this blog for tips on antique clock care, these are part of your heritage and if you need advice to p

purchase an antique clock of value Contact us at The Old Cohabitation: 

The Old Cloxhibhition : mobile. +60122468196, +60162203771, +603-33734331.

Email: cloxhibhition@gmail.com