How to Reset the Time and Resynchronize the Chimes on an Antique Mantel Clock

Last Updated: November 24, 2022

Mantel clocks were popular in the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries and many people have inherited these old chimers or purchased them from antique dealers.^{[1]
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Research source} If you are one of those people, you need to know how to set their time or how to re-sync their chimes to match the hour should those two become out-of-sync as they sometimes do. An out-of-sync clock strikes a different number of times than the hour the little hand shows. These instructions apply only to old striking mantel clocks such as the one in the photos below. Newer chiming clocks may have different ways of synchronizing and setting.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Winding the Clock

1
Open the hinged glass cover of the clock’s face to access the wind-up mechanism.^{[2]
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Insert the key into the hole. Wind clockwise only until it becomes difficult to wind.^{[3]
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Research source} Do not over wind or you will damage the mechanism.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Setting the Time

1
Open the hinged glass cover of the clock’s face to access the clock’s hands.
2
Set the time by moving the big hand forward, pausing at the 11 o’clock position.
3
Listen for the subtle sound of a spring unwinding before moving further.
4
Move the big hand to the 12 o’clock position.^{[4]
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5
Pause and listen for the clock to strike the number of times indicated by the little hand.^{[5]
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Research source} If the little hand is on 5 o’clock, it should chime 5 times.
6
Advance clockwise to the correct time. Make sure you repeat the pauses at the 11 o’clock and 12 o’clock positions as needed until the clock’s face shows the correct time.^{[6]
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Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Re-synchronizing the Chimes to the Hour

1
Open the hinged glass cover of the clock’s face to access the clock’s hands.
2
Move the big hand clockwise to the 11 o’clock position and pause.
3
Listen for a sound like a spring unwinding. This sound is subtle.
4
Advance the big hand to the 12 o’clock position and stop.
5
Count the number of strikes. An out-of-sync clock strikes a different number of times than the hour the little hand shows.
6
Move the big hand back counterclockwise to the number 9 and pause.^{[7]
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Research source} You should hear another sound like a spring unwinding. This sound too is subtle. The clock now registers 15 minutes before the hour.
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Move the big hand forward again to the 11 o’clock position and pause.^{[8]
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Listen again for the sound like a spring unwinding. Remember, this sound is subtle.
9
Advance the big hand to the 12 o’clock position and stop.
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Listen and count the number of chimes.
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Repeat the action until the number of chimes and the hour are synchronized.

Community Q&A

Question

What if there are two keyholes for winding?

Community Answer

On two keyhole clocks, one is for winding the timekeeping/chime mainspring, and the other is for winding the strike/chime spring. Do not force; just wind both to firm resistance, then reset the clock through the "chime" sequence until it catches up to the correct hour/strike number.
Question

I have a Black Forest mantel clock. What is the proper sequence for winding, and how do I prevent it from chiming at night?

Community Answer

Black Forest mantel clocks need to be wound backward. To stop chiming at night, pull off the minute hand and flip the switch.
Question

Why might my pendulum clock chime out of sync?

Community Answer

Because the arms are not properly aligned with the internal mechanism. Try rotating the arm to the chiming. For example, if the clock chimes at 1 o'clock but the time reads 1:43, move the minute hand to where it reads 1 o'clock.

Warnings

You may, however, push the big hand counterclockwise for a few minutes to reset the time as long as you never do this action between the 11 o’clock to 12 o’clock positions (except when performing a re-synchronization as outlined above). If you move the hands counterclockwise between the 11:00 and 12:00 positions and you are not trying to re-synchronize, as instructed above, the chimes and the time will become out-of-sync.

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Never move the hands counterclockwise past the 11 o’clock or 12 o’clock positions from any position to the right of the 12:00 position. For instance, do not push the hand from the 1:00 position through the 12:00 position to the 10:00 position or even the 11:59 position. This action will desynchronize the clock and the chimes.
- Additionally, never advance the hands too quickly when re-synchronizing because the clock must be allowed to strike the full number of chimes of each hour.
- If you do either of these, the number of chimes and the hour will become unsynchronized.
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