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Instructions for the Workings of a German Grandfather Clock

German Grandfather clocks are designed with complex inner mechanisms that coincide with outer working mechanisms of the clock. Antique German Grandfather clocks originated centuries ago in an area of Germany called the Black Forest. German Grandfather clocks today are made in the similar old style. The outer clock is aesthetically pleasing, with carved wooden points at the top and impressive long wooden cases made from quality wood such as oak, walnut, mahogany and pine. There are weighted mechanisms outside with a pendulum and a clock face, which is sometimes encased behind glass.

Things You'll Need

Small pliers
Clock oil

Instructions

- 1
  Open the back of a German Grandfather clock with a small pair of pliers. Examine the spring of the clock to see that it is functioning properly. The clock won't function without the spring, which is the main mechanism within a clock that enables the other parts to work.
- 2
  Oil the spring with clock oil in the pivot sections and replace the spring with a new spring if you find that it's rusted or broken. Place a small amount of oil on the gears of the clock where there is friction. Close the back of the clock.
- 3
  Look at the front of the clock and check the weights. First remove the pendulum, which is the long mechanism with a bobbed end that swings from side to side. The pendulum regulates the speed of the clock and can be adjusted to swing slower or faster.
- 4
  Place the pendulum on the side and check to see that the weights in the German Grandfather clock are in order. There are three weights marked left, right and center. Put them in proper alignment if they're twisted or replace the older weights with new weights if the chain on a weight, or weights, is broken. Hang the pendulum back up after weights have been adjusted.
- 5
  Check the clock face, where the minute and hour hand are located. See if the hands move freely. The hands on an antique German grandfather clock sometimes get stuck together. If so, carefully pry them apart by gently pulling on the minute hand. Unscrew the nut that holds the minute hand in place and remove it. Then reattach and screw the nut back into place, being careful not to turn it too tightly.
- 6
  Set the time on the clock by moving the minute hand to the hour you want the clock to chime. Wind the hour hand around counterclockwise one time, resting it on the 12. Start the pendulum swinging again by pushing it to either the left or the right.

Antiquing