Analog clock...setting time

Posted by Bob on November 1, 2009, 11:10 pm

tnom@mucks.net wrote:

> As a force of habit I have been resetting the clocks around the house
> by only moving the hands clockwise. Somewhere along the line I was
> told a clock could be damaged if you moved the hands backwards.
> I have no idea of the source or validity of the information. Have I
> been misled all these years?

Some mechanical clocks were so cheaply built that you risk damage trying
to manually adjust the time in either direction. In the fall it's much
easier to adjust for the change by stopping the clock for one hour
rather than the 11 or 23 hours needed in the spring.

Posted by Wayne Boatwright on November 2, 2009, 1:10 am

On Sun 01 Nov 2009 08:49:47a, told us...

>
> As a force of habit I have been resetting the clocks around the house
> by only moving the hands clockwise. Somewhere along the line I was
> told a clock could be damaged if you moved the hands backwards.
> I have no idea of the source or validity of the information. Have I
> been misled all these years?

It depends entirely on the clock. I have a collection of ~25 vintage and
antique clocks. Most can be turned in either direction. Half a dozen can
only be turned forward. Of those that can only be turned forward, several
literally cannot be turned backwards, as the hands won't move. Of the
others, it puts the chimes out of sync with the time the hands are
displaying.

You just have to know your clock.

--

~~ If there's a nit to pick, some nitwit will pick it. ~~

~~ A mind is a terrible thing to lose. ~~

**********************************************************

Wayne Boatwright

Posted by Jules on November 2, 2009, 11:03 am

On Mon, 02 Nov 2009 06:10:21 +0000, Wayne Boatwright wrote:

> It depends entirely on the clock. I have a collection of ~25 vintage and
> antique clocks. Most can be turned in either direction. Half a dozen can
> only be turned forward. Of those that can only be turned forward, several
> literally cannot be turned backwards, as the hands won't move. Of the
> others, it puts the chimes out of sync with the time the hands are
> displaying.

Yes, I've got one from the '50s where it screws the chimes up if turned
backwards (although there doesn't appear to be anything in the mechanism
that can actually suffer damage as a result). If turned forwards it'll
stay in sync, so long as I stop on every quarter hour for the chimes.

As there's no calendar functionality it's usually easier just to stop and
restart when it next shows the correct time.

Thankfully the mainspring will run for about a week, so it doesn't need
winding that often...

Posted by Bob-tx on November 2, 2009, 6:22 am

> As a force of habit I have been resetting the clocks around the
> house
> by only moving the hands clockwise. Somewhere along the line I was
> told a clock could be damaged if you moved the hands backwards.
> I have no idea of the source or validity of the information. Have
> I
> been misled all these years?

Why bother turning them at all. If in doubt, just stop them for an
hour and next spring, turn them ahead.

Bob-tx

Posted by Mike on November 2, 2009, 11:23 am

On Nov 1, 10:49=A0am, t...@mucks.net wrote:

I just stop the clock for 1 hour, then re-start it. No worries.

Mike

Page 5 of 5 << first < 1 2 3

Similar Threads	Posted
Carrier Thermostat Clock not keeping time	October 12, 2006, 11:18 am
Maytag Electric Range - Strange beep and clock loosing time	January 15, 2007, 9:14 pm
Voltage on analog CATV line	May 25, 2006, 9:01 am
Furnace low heat run time = A/C low cool run time	December 29, 2005, 4:42 am
Setting Toilet	February 15, 2005, 5:52 pm
Air Conditioner Setting	August 13, 2005, 11:52 pm
Thermostat setting?	October 8, 2005, 8:20 am
Setting a toilet	November 6, 2006, 11:44 am
thermostat setting	January 5, 2008, 12:06 am
Setting toilets	March 20, 2009, 1:29 am

Analog clock...setting time - Page 5