Home >> Collecting >> Antiques

How to Adjust an Antique Ingraham Mantle Clock

Elias Ingraham was a 19th-century clockmaker out of Connecticut. He was known for the design on the cases of his clocks, and moved with the times in the mid-19th century in regard to a spring-driven mechanism. The springs differentiated from the previous weight-based mechanisms inside of the clocks made in earlier years before his business. His clocks were also smaller and mantle-based. Ingraham made a wide variety of clocks, including the popular Doric, Grecian, Ionic, Oriental and Western Union. Many of the mantle clocks have a distinct dark or marble look. To adjust Ingraham's mantle clocks, a set of specific steps in necessary.

Things You'll Need

Tools and parts for antique mantle clock repair

Instructions

Adjust the Mainspring
- 1
  Open the back of the mantle clock, and look at the movement. The movement is the top-part mechanism of the clock that moves back and forth, enabling the entire clock to work. There is a mainspring attached to the movement. Make sure the mainspring is functional and in good condition. If not, replace the mainstream or take the clock to a professional to have the mainstream replaced.
- 2
  Check to see if the movement is aligned properly, and not stuck in place. The clock won't work if the movement is stuck. Realign the movement into the grooves if out of place, and see that the movement and mainsprings are working efficiently together.
- 3
  Make sure the pendulum is in its proper position. On some Ingraham mantle clocks, there is a short pendulum. If there is a pendulum, check to see that the pendulum is not stuck in place. If it is stuck, it may be on backwards. Make sure the shiny part of the pendulum is facing the front of the glass case. If not, unhook the pendulum and re-hook it back properly. Close the back door, and place the clock on a level, steady surface. Carefully lift the left side of the clock to get the pendulum swinging, and place gently down. It is ideal to do this on the surface where the clock will be permanently displayed.
- 4
  Open up the front of the glass clock face, and adjust the time by moving the minute hand. Make sure to move the hand carefully and slowly, pausing at each hour or half-hour, and wait for the clock to strike. Never move the hands counterclockwise past the 6 or 12 numeral, for this could throw off the sequence, and disrupt the strike.
- 5
  Adjust the dowel by pushing on it. Ingraham mantle clocks have a slow-fast adjustment protruding from the dowel, which is located in the middle part of the clock hands. Pushing on the dowel will regulate the speed of the hand movement from slow to fast.

Antiques