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How to Oil & Clean a Kuempel Chime Clock

Chimes on a Kuempel chime clock can be found on their grandfather clock models. The chimes sound on the hour. Weighted mechanisms and a pendulum on the outside of the clock work together with the inner mechanisms and chimes. All the parts of a clock must be in working order for the chimes to function properly. Part of the maintenance of a Kuempel chime clock is cleaning and oiling it, which helps to promote regularity of time. Clocks should be oiled once every three years. Cleaning keeps the aesthetic appeal of the clock intact. Kuempel ceased operations in 2008.

Things You'll Need

Feather duster
Soft cloths
Wood wax
Small cloth
Glass cleaner
Clock oil

Instructions

- 1
  Wipe away noticeable surface dirt from the clock first. Use a fine feather duster on the outer mechanisms of the clock, taking care not to jam the feathers into the clock dial face, and that no feathers fall loose from the duster into the mechanisms outside or within the clock. Use a soft, clean cloth that attracts and removes dust on the elongated wood parts of the clock. Use a gentle wood wax every few months to keep the wood in good condition.
- 2
  Clean the clock face and the glass of the clock. Take care when cleaning the clock face. Ring out a damp cloth and use it to rub away surface dirt on the clock face, being careful not to rub the numerals that are painted on the clock. If the clock is antique with old paint, numerals may lift off when cleaning with chemicals that are too abrasive. Use glass cleaner gentle enough for antique glass on the glass casing parts and wipe away after spraying with a clean, dry cloth.
- 3
  Check the outer mechanisms of the clock --s uch as the weights -- and dust them gently with a cloth. Make sure the weights do not get tangled when cleaning. Arrange the weights in their proper order after cleaning by looking at the bottom of the weights where they are marked left, right and center.
- 4
  Polish the brass chimes with a clean, soft cloth. Clean the pendulum next. Stop it from swinging by gently holding the bottom, which is the pendulum bob. After cleaning, set the pendulum swinging again. Reset the time on the clock face dial, if disrupted by stopping the pendulum.
- 5
  Open the Kuempel chime clock where the inner mechanisms are located. Oil all the pivot sections within the clock, or where there are small holes near the wheel gears and springs. Oil the clock by removing the clock dial, and place a small dot of oil on each of the sections where the wheel gears rub together. Fill the oil sink halfway. The clock oil sink is located on the outside clock plate.

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