Clock Parts Chime Hammer
Clock Parts Chime Hammer
Clock Parts Chime Hammer

Clock Parts Chime Hammer

$1.00$10.00

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Clock Parts Chime Hammer

The chime hammers are the clock parts that strike the chime rods. These hammers come in three sizes which are the approximate length of the hammer from the tip to the screw and are available in nylon or leather. Also available are just the tips themselves in nylon.

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CP1: $1.00$10.00
Mechanical clock chime rods for post 1950 mechanical clocks. Offering the chime block complete with the rods. Clockworks
Chimeblock and RodsWhy the entire chimeblockOrdering the chime blockChime Hammer Adjustment

Please view these information tabs to learn about our Mechanical Clock Chimeblock and Rods

Why we offer only the complete chime-block

We now only offer the complete clock chime-block and rods. The rods are a press fit into the chime-block by machines and it is difficult to get a single rod out. Other times there are threads that go into the block but have such a secure tight fit, you cannot remove them.

Trying to do so would result in more rods breaking. Also there are various threads on the rods that are the replacements and it can create much confusion. It is for these reasons that we now offer the complete clock chime-block and rods.

Overall, it is a tricky thing to get the correct thread size for the individual rod in a chime-block and rod set and have it fit perfect. Not to mention, when the chime-block rod is not the correct size, often enough it gets sent back. Then we get into the situation of trying to swap it out over and over.

Moreover, all of it eventually ends up being a return for a complete chime-block and rods set. So, in the long run it is best to just get a new chime block and rod set from the beginning. That will save a lot of time and frustration.

Chime-block and rods volume

The volume of the clock chime is not alterable by means of the chime-block and rods or the hammer adjustment. These parts have nothing to do with making the clock louder or softer. The only thing that can make the clock louder or quieter is to move the clock case.

If the clock is on a hard wood surface it will be louder. A rug will be quieter. The proximity to the wall can also alter the sound. It has nothing to do with the chime-block and rods.

The content of this website is copyright by Clockworks and written by James Stoudenmire in year 2022

Clock Chime Block Styles

The first step in purchasing a new chime block is to determine the chime block style that is in the clock.

The Styles are side, bottom and back strike.

Figure out which style you need. Then, count how many rods are in the chime block. Measure through the chime block to get the length of the longest rod.

Correspondingly, find this information on the drop down list for the correct chime block and rods.

Bottom Strike Style A

Chime block style A For bottom strike and side strike units.  

Side Strike Style B

Chime block style B For side strike units. Occasionally, you can also use this for back strike diagonal Westminster units.

Back Strike Style C

Chime block style C is for floor clock models (and some wall clocks) with two rows of hammers on the back of the clock movement.

Chime sound in Clock Chime Block Styles

No matter which Clock Chime Block Style you need, there has to be some adjustments made. If the clock chime does not have a clear, crisp tone, do not panic. It could just be a matter of adjusting the hammers on the rods.

The hammer heads are on wires which are meant to be bent. Do this with your fingers, while the hammer head is down.

Just bend the wire that the hammer head is on, one at a time. Keep the hammer head about 1/8” from the rod when it’s at rest. In other words, in the up position. Bend one at a time.

Then, lift and drop it to see if there is a nice crisp tone. Subsequently, do this right down the line with each hammer on whatever chime block style. Make sure each one has a nice tone. In the long run, the chime will sound perfect.

The content of this website is copyright by Clockworks and written by James Stoudenmire in year 2022

Why does Chime Hammer Positioning Need to Occur

Mechanical clock chime hammer positioning is easy to do. It only involves bending the hammer head wires. Upon the initial installation, this was done by the clock maker as well.

When replacing a clock movement you need to bend the chime hammers to the chime rods. This is why the hammer heads are on bendable wires.

They are meant to be bent into the perfect position. It is not uncommon to bend them an inch this way or that way. The clock movement will not have the hammers in the perfect spot to make the correct sound when hitting the rods. This is why chime hammer positioning is so important.

Clock Chime Hammer Positioning

A mechanical clock movement has hammers that need to be bent into their final position. The correct clock-chime hammer position needs the tops of the hammer heads to be about 1/4 inch down from the chime block.

The hammers need to be 1/8 inch away from the rod. This would be when it is at rest. In other words, bend the hammer wires so the head is 1/8 away from the chime rod. This spacing between the head and the rod is so it will not thud or double strike.

Tuning the mechanical clock chime

Repeat this process for each wire, one hammer at a time, down the line. Continue in this manner until you can lift and drop the hammer to create a crisp sound. If each hammer head is done this way the clock will have a nice song in the end.

Often a customer will say the sound is not correct. This is due to improper hammer positioning. When performing the above directions correctly the sound is beautiful.

Positioning the 340 / 341 series

The 340 and 341 Hermle clock movement series went through a change in the hammer wires. The hammer heads were on wires, but now they are made on flat bars. The positioning is still the same, however it is a little more difficult to bend them.

The hammer head is on the skinny end of the bar. The bar gets wider as it goes back toward the roll pin.

With needle nose pliers, bend this bar where it goes from skinny to wide. The overall assembly will be slightly higher from the chime block. That is, if you are swapping out the movement with the older style wire hammer head rod.

It is an option to raise the entire chimeblock with a shim to help with this. It is not an absolute requirement. Bending the hammer arms are usually sufficient.

Mechanical Clock-Chime Hammer Positioning

For a clean crisp chime sound

Mechanical Clock-Chime Hammer Positioning

Adjust the hammer wires

Mechanical Clock-Chime Hammer Positioning

Should be about 1/8 away at rest

Mechanical Clock-Chime Hammer Positioning

Sometimes they are bent to the extreme

The content of this website is copyright by Clockworks and written by James Stoudenmire in year 2022

Clock Parts Chime Hammer

The chime hammers are the clock parts that strike the chime rods. These hammers come in three sizes. This is the approximate length of the hammer from the tip to the screw. These chime hammers are very easy to remove and replace on mechanical movements. Once the new chime hammers are in place, they will strike the chime rods creating the perfect pitch. The general rule of thumb is that the hammer should be about 1/8 of an inch away from the rod when at rest. To test the sound, pick up each hammer and let it go to see if the sound is crisp. If it thuds, or just does not sound right, bend the wire to reposition the hammer. Go down the line in this manner with each hammer. This will ensure a nice clear, crisp sound when the clocks strikes. Chime hammers come in two different style of tips for the chime hammers. The first type has a Nylon tip which are found on modern German clock movements. The second type is leather which are found on Antique clocks. Whichever style of tip your clock movement may have, make sure to continue with that style. You do not want to mix leather and nylon tips. If you do, the sound will not be right. All of the chime hammers have to be the same. So make sure to pay attention to what style of hammers your clock has before ordering.

Chime Hammer Tips

Sometimes you do not need to replace the entire hammer head. There are nylon tips that are available to purchase instead. This way, it saves having to replace the entire head. Unfortunately these tips are only available in nylon. There is no option for just a leather tip. If your hammer has a leather tip you have no choice but to purchase the entire head. Again, you cannot combine nylon and leather tips. All of the hammers need to have one style or the other.

Additional information

Weight0.25 lbs
Material

Plastic Tip Only, Plastic Tip, Leather Tip

Size

5/16 Inch, 1/2 Inch, 3/4 Inch, Tip Only

22
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Terry Wagler
Terry Wagler
7 months ago

Are 351-830 hammers adjustable

Terry Wagler
Terry Wagler
6 months ago

Thank you

Christine
8 months ago

How to I know the size to buy?

Reed
Reed
1 year ago

My movment has a bar that moves and holds against the hammer bars. What is it’s purpose. I think it may be to hold the hammers while moving or to control volume.

Reed
Reed
1 year ago
Reply to  Reed

Do you happen to know if the rocker that moves with the pendulum on a 1051-030 hermle/howard-miller movement is self adjusting. If you move to pendulum too far it goes out of adjust. So do you have to adjust it by hand or does it just self-adjust. Also, do you know the difference between the 1051-030 and 1051-030A movements?

Reed
Reed
1 year ago
Reply to  Reed

Thanks for your response. I thought that may have been the bars purpose but wasn’t sure.

Lawrence Shepulski
Lawrence Shepulski
4 months ago

I understand those flat bars are holding the hammers against the chimes so they don’t move when you move the clock so they don’t bang around. But do you leave the flat bars against the hammers which are against the chimes then or do you move the flat bars out of the way and let the hammers be free

JOHN MCCLATCHEY
JOHN MCCLATCHEY
1 year ago

I have an old Mason & Sullivan TU240 movement. I built the clock that houses it in 1977. I want to update the chime hammers. Do the chime hammers you sell work for pipes as well as rods?

John B McClatchey
John B McClatchey
1 year ago

Where can I get hammers for tubular bells?

Carol Ciotti
Carol Ciotti
2 years ago

My old Grandfather clock has two coils to strike. When we moved it to Tennessee, I broke off part of the brown pad while sliding the clock face/mechanics back into the clock. Now it is only hitting one coil. Can that long pad be replaced?

Jonathan Rodgers
Jonathan Rodgers
2 years ago

I am missing a few springs that attach to the chime hammer wires on my grandfather clock. They are the springs that make the chime hammer strike the chime rod.

Is there a specific name for this spring?
Thanks.

Francis T Rozario
Francis T Rozario
4 years ago

Can I know the width of the 3/4 inch hammer