Intermittent Chiming Mantle Clock

by Joan Jenkins
(South Park, Pa.)

I have a Hamilton key wound mantle clock from my dad. He got it in about the late 1980's thru his employer as a service award from United States Steel Corp.

However, I am afraid to wind it very much and I am not sure what the other 2 holes are on the front? Is there a instruction manual for it that I can get?

I cleaned out their home and never found one. I kept this clock because my father loved it and it's meaning of 40 years of service to the company. I remember as a little girl he took it to Ephrata or Lancaster, Pa. to be repaired when it was very new. Can you help me or send an instruction manual, please?

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Hamilton clock doesn't chime
by: Sil

My late Father also received a Hamilton Mantel clock when he retired from US STEEL in 1982. However, there are no 3 holes that everyone here seems to have. His clock runs with a "C" battery. Inside the back of the clock there is a button that moves 3 spaces right. I don't know what the 3 icons above this button are. There is a 'turn' knob that I'm assuming is the volume and a Night/Day switch. When I replaced the battery, the clock was set at 12 noon. It chimed beautifully. But hasn't since! Can anyone tell me how to set this clock so that it rings every hour? I don't remember if this clock chimed every 15mins or not. I vaugely remember something about setting this clock by moving the hands on the dial as oppose to setting it from the turn button near the battery. Can anyone help????!!!

is my clock wound too tight?
by: Anonymous

I have recently been given this clock by a family member..the right and left holes seem to be wound too tight..the clock doesnt run at all. Is there some way of 'unwinding' a clock...thanks for all of the info!

Running fast
by: Joe

How do I get my clock to slow down. Its running faster and faster over an hour off...my email is jcro2066@yahoo.com

Slow in Chimming. Out of Sequence
by: Anonymous

I have just started collecting clocks. I just bought a Trend Westminster manal clock. The seqencde of the chime is off by a quarter hour. I was told to use sewing machine oil to oil it with, but after I did the clock won't hardly chime, I believe the oil is to thick. What do you suggest? Also can I get it to chime in the correct sequence. Thank you

Winding info on my Hamilton mantel clock
by: Kats meow

Irecently became the happy owner of a Hamilton mantel clock that chimes every 15 min with the hour on the hour. This clock is at least 30 yrs old and was in a home with the chimes turned off, and then finally moved to a garage where it has been for about 2 yrs. I cleaned the outside and carefully sprayed any dust out of the mechanism from the back. My question is: after winding all 3 of the key openings, my clock loses the ..umph in the chimes (not the time) and I am winding it more often than 1 X a week just to get the "tones" back to where they were when first wound. It doesn't take a lot of winding before it is tight, but after 2 days or so...no umph! Any ideas out there ?

hamilton chiming clock
by: Anonymous

i have a clock also with 3 holes for winding what i would like to know from someone how to oil the clock my e-mail is ccsm 3ll@aol thank you

hamilton chiming winding clock
by: Anonymous

mine also was for 35 years of service i dont have trouble winding but i would like to know how to oil the clock. i dont have directions either hope i can get a reply. thank you

Question
by: Anonymous

I have recently purchased such a clock with the 3 holes. It seems to me that the bottom hole for winding the clock needs to be rewound every 8 days but the other 2 winders do not need very much adjusting at all. Is this normal?

Measuring for a Clock Key
by: Bill

Measure the diameter of the square shaft of the winder on your clock. This measurement should be in mm.

Example:

4.0mm is American size #8

4.4mm is American size #10

4.8mm is American size #12

You can then order the key at Timesavers.

Hamilton mantle clock key replacement
by: Richard Phillippe

I have a circa 1990 Hamilton mantle clock, but I have lost the key. How do I measure to order a new key? Thanks.

Thanks for the chime help.
by: joan jenkins

Dear bill;

Thank you for the detailed,yet easy to understand instructions. I love hearing the chiming,it makes me think of my dad (a wonderful man and always a gentleman).

I remember when I was a young girl at home and he received the clock for 40 yrs.of service to U.S. Steel, my saying to my parents, "boy that is loud, do you really want that?" My mom said, "you'll get used to it." Now that it's chiming in my home and they are both gone,it's music to my ears.

Thanks for the music!!!!

Hamilton Mantel Clock
by: Bill

Hi Joan,

The three holes are all for winding the clock and should be wound fully once a week.

The center hole is for the clocks time function and only drives the gears that actually move the hands.

The Right hole winds the gear train that operates the Westminster chimes (the every :15 minute chimes.

The left hole winds the gear train that operates the hourly chime (the one that chimes the number of hours).

I don't know of any instruction manual. Most of these clocks had the instructions printed on a label, usually on the inside of the rear door.

If you fully wind all three winding holes, and set it to the correct time by moving the minute hand forward carefully to the correct time, it should run fine. The chimes should self-correct to the right sequence automatically. (this sometimes takes an hour or so to complete)

It should play 4 notes at :15 after the hour, 8 notes at :30, 12 notes at :45, and 16 notes + the correct number of hour chimes on the hour.

There are some variations on this if your clock is other than Westminster chimes. Some have several different chime "styles" that is controlled by a switch. Also, some clocks have a "chime - silent" switch.

If you need more information, feel free to post a comment here.

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