Chain Driven Grandfather Clocks vs Cable Driven Grandfather Clocks
Posted on March 2, 2011 | By clockde | 5 responses
Chain Driven Grandfather Clocks
Chain driven grandfather clock weights
These clocks will have 3 chains, one for each weight. The weight on the right powers the Westminster melody. The one in the middle runs the time and the one on the left powers the hour strike and count. Over the course of a week, the weights will be dropping as they power the clock. At the end of a week the weights will be near the bottom and need to be returned to the top so they may do their work again for another week. Each chain has two ends, one where the weight is hung and the chain goes up into the clock around a sprocket and back down where it may be pulled down to bring the other side with the weight back up again. These chain driven clocks cost less to manufacturer and are usually found on entry level grandfather clocks. It is best to use a glove or cloth when pulling the chains down once a week to raise the weights so the brass on the chains will not tarnish with time and detract from the clock.
Cable Driven Grandfather Clocks
Cable Driven Grandfather Clock Weights
These clocks will have 3 cables, one for each weight. The weight on the right powers the Westminster melody. The one in the middle runs the time and the one on the left powers the hour strike and count. Over the course of a week, the weights will be dropping as they power the clock. At the end of a week the weights will be near the bottom and need to be returned to the top so they may do their work again for another week.
The advantage over the chain driven movements. You insert a key into the dial and wind the weights up once a week. Your hands never touch the brass and no chains to tarnish.
My weight chain broke on my Howard miller grandfather clock, where can I get replacments
You can get grandfather clock chains at:
http://www.timesavers.com
Good Luck,
Robert
Can I replace a chain driven movement movement with a cable driven one in a Howard Miller 610-152?
Hello Jay,
There are too many obstacles to overcome to change a chain movement with a keywound cable movement. YOu would need a new dial, weights, and hands to begin with which if you add on top of the cost of a movement is impractical. It would also mean you would have to purchase new chime rods as the ones you have now probably would not align with the hammers of a cable movement.
Sorry…Robert
Hi there, I hope you can advise. I’m thinking of buying a used grandfather clock. The woman said it’s wind up but I don’t know what that means. Any help you can give is appreciated. It’s a gift for my husband and I thought chain driven were the better ones but I don’t know. She’s asking $500 and said she paid $4,000 eight years ago.