Your pendulum weight is out of adjustment. There should be a nut at the bottom of the pendulum bob weight. The weight rests on this nut. To speed up the pendulum, raise the weight by turning the nut; To slow the pendulum, lower the weight. If you are loosing 2 minutes per month, it may require one to two turns of the nut to correct. The adjustment is a trial and error procedure. Keep adjusting until it is right. Shorten the pendulum a bit and then observe the change for one day. A difference can be seen in shorter time intervals when the clock is considerably our of adjustment. I use a digital watch, one that I know its accuracy, and can make rough adjustments in periods as short as an hour. Longer time periods are needed as the adjustment gets nearer to the correct point. Careful: Be careful when adjusting the pendulum. Many of these old clocks have flexural pivots: The pendulum may be suspended by a thin flexible strip of metal (at the top end). This thin piece can be damaged if undue force is applied to it. When adjusting the weight nut, use care not to pull on the pendulum. The weight may hang on the pendulum rod from a hook at the end of the rod. You can lift the weight off the pendulum for adjusting if you wish. One other point: Temperature sensitivity. If your pendulum is not "temperature compensated", there will be a small change with temperatrure. Typically, it will gain about 1 to 2 minutes a month in winter and loose a minute a month during midsummer depending on the average temperature of the clock. How do you tell if you have a temperature compensated pendulum. A plain pendulum made of a single rod is likely not compensated. Compensation is done by using dissimilar metals with different thermal expansions, often brass and steel. Brass expands more than steel. The pendulum consists of a steel rod that desends to near the bottom end and then brass rods asend upward with another steel rod that descends to the bob weight. A properly constructed pendulum can be very accurate keeping time to a few seconds a month. Transporting or moving a clock. The pendulum weight should always be removed when a clock is to transported or moved. This is done to protect the fragile flex pivot and the verge, a wire form that fits over the pendulum and operates the escapement mechanism. The verge is adjusted by bending and can be bent out of adjustment if the pendulum is allowed to move beyond a limit point. Therefore, it is advisable to immobilze the pendulum for any move that requires tipping the clock case.

christina I got caught up with a party we hosted today and just got back here to see your question about tall case clocks. I've also heard the story goldengirl mentioned - don't know if that's truly the beginning of the refernce or not but it sounds good! Tall case or long case is just the 'proper' term but there's nothing wrong with the term grandfather or grandmother (slightly smaller) clock. I have only seen wall collages of clocks in clock stores - sorry - not in any decorating magazines. But if that would help I could easily get pictures for you. barb - you mean the clock under the glass dome? Those 2 dials are days of the week in French (on the left) and dates (on the right). I guess the assumption is you know which month you're in! Most of them do chime or strike but not all. The big carved tall case chimes every quarter hour and strikes in addition on the hour - I don't even hear it most of the time! I've been listening to it since I was a little girl so it's just in the background to me.

Dear all, Here's a copy of email I sent to the three Kids: Dear SS, SD1 and SD2, SS, your father tried phoning this evening, left a message, and turned in for bed before 9pm. He did have an opportunity to speak with SD2 on the phone a bit earlier, and he went to visit with SD1 at (her work) for a couple of hours today. I want you to know that we would really, really enjoy having all three of you here for a few days to spend lots of time with each other and your father. I know you all would like it best if he would come to (SD's hometown) (either with or without me), but he's feeling pretty stressed, and does not want to travel at all right now. He and I had planned to have a couple of days in the motorhome this September. We had talked about it in the late summer, after it was evident that we weren't going to be busy canning our non-existent fruit this year. But now he doesn't want to go anywhere. He seems to forget about the plans we had made -- that's just how things are right now. It's been very confusing to him to have all the conversations with all three of you about how, where, dates, etc., regarding this visit and trying to explain how and why he feels like he does. What he would like best is for all of you to come here and stay in our home or cottage (which we are still keeping vacant until we hear the final plans). Right now he's most comfortable at home, and he can't think of being anywhere else. I think the best thing to do for everyone would be to just try and make this visit as easy as possible, as comfortable as possible for everyone, and just plan on having nice relaxing days "chewing the fat", reminiscing, and hanging out together. Going sightseeing, going on adventures, experiencing new things ... are out of his comfort level. He's unsure on his feet, is afraid of feeling confused, and can't describe how he feels at times. I know that I have many projects I can work on and things I can do on my own, which would afford all of you time to be there to talk, listen, and nap with your father as you see fit! Who knows, you might all enjoy relaxing in one of his two favorite rooms and close your eyes like he does! Maybe there will be a day where your father feels less weak, confused, agitated or stressed and he will feel like riding with me over to SS's town, SD2's town, or SD1's Island -- but that day is sure not now. Since I'm the only one here who can tell you what it's like to no longer have your parents alive, I'll let you know this: It's final. It's nothing you can wish or pray to change. There are no more opportunities to enjoy their presence. There are no more opportunities to say what you wanted to or should have said. And if I had to live with regrets for not doing what I knew I needed to do ... well, it would be unbearable. Please understand that I'm not trying to "guilt" any of you into anything ... I'm just trying to share what I've learned because I've recently experienced losing both of my dear parents. They weren't perfect; my father especially wasn't always easy; and I wasn't always the best daughter. However, next to your father, their wellbeing and happiness were my top priorities. Above all else, you must know that my love, time, energy, and money went to care for them and your father, as it does now for your father alone. I know that I tried to put myself in their shoes and do everything I possibly could for them, just as I would hope that my daughter and granddaughter will do for me someday. So, please do what you can to visit with him sooner rather than later. As we all know, "later" doesn't always arrive. And if you all can't make it here together (with or without your spouses) please know, again, that you are always welcome to come visit on your own. Love, Kathy ...................................... This is the email I received back from SD2: Dad and Kathy, I spoke very briefly to (brother - SS) this morning. He should find out within a couple of days when he has to go to (foreign country for work). I would prefer October 17 as I think it would be better for my work. Our freshmen are arriving tomorrow and school begins September 22. Its always crazy this time of year and I can feel the tension around my office increasing each hour. So IÂm hoping that (brother - SS) will know in two days (by Thursday) if he is available Oct. 17. If he doesnÂt know by then, maybe IÂll need to get bite the bullet and be brave and let (my boss) know IÂm taking Friday, Sept. 26 off (donÂt ask, tell her!!) and weÂll come that weekend. I want to know by Thursday so that I can book at least a one week in advance flight. IÂm leaning towards flying out on Thursday night but that will get me in to Seattle between 10-11 pm then I will need to drive to (your home). If I leave on Friday, half the day is over before I get there. I will be leaving Sunday evening whether we come Sept. 22 or October 17 to get back to work on Monday. IÂm sorry for all the confusion and seemingly indecisiveness. But itÂs just that all of our lives, like everyone elseÂs, is complicated with all 3 of our work schedules. I havenÂt spoken to (SD1) yet but hopefully sheÂs flexible. Love, SD2 ................................................. Here's the email I sent back to all three of them Dear SD2, SD1, and SS, Thank you both for trying to arrange things. SD2 and SS, I am willing to pick you up and take you back to Seattle airport. Your father might be willing to "go for a ride" since he usually reclines his seat and sleeps whenever we travel beyond (our home town) anyway. I'm accustomed to driving to and from the airport, and night driving isn't a concern for me. It's not my favorite thing, of course, but it's not too difficult as long as there's not rain. However, if both of you, SS and SD2, are able to arrange flight times close to each other and you'd like to rent a car that's fine too. I don't know the need for another vehicle while you're all here, but that's up to you, of course. Your father's still in bed, and I'm bringing coffee in to him and we'll sit and enjoy that. I'll let him know of the (still possible) dates. I know he'll feel relieved and happy to know that you'll all three be here. And SD2, the lawyer I worked with for so long (and who is still a good friend and I admire so much) had a lovely sign in his office. About "easier to ask forgiveness than permission". I think you'll find this true with your boss! Of course, we got most of our clients through that same adage ... trying to sort out their "forgiveness" because they hadn't asked "permission", but I don't think (your boss) will sue you about this! ha ha I'll put the cream in his coffee, and go visit with your father right now. Thank you both (and SD1, too) for trying to arrange this visit with your father. Love, Kathy .................................................. NOW, friends on the Stepfamily forum: I thank you for all your ideas, suggestions, comments, and opinions. My husband made his decision and spoke with all the kids about it. They discussed it amongst themselves. I sent emails and they sent emails. Everything is settled and, as you can see, all communications are friendly, proper, and loving. I am certain we will have a nice visit with them ... whether they arrive in a week or so, or later in October after we return from our one flight of the year ... to a grandson's wedding in Santa Barbara. PLEASE LET THIS TOPIC DIE OF NATURAL CAUSES, NOW. I hate to see so many of you going on and on about this. This is NOT what I needed from any of you. I don't think continuing this conversation is beneficial to anyone. I believe we all know where everyone stands now. However, if any of you would like to learn more about Dementia and/or Alzheimer's Disease, I suggest you do some research. I've read a number of comments that led me to believe some of you just don't understand the disease and its symptoms and behaviors. Now, to all, Goodnight! I'm joining my husband in the library where we will watch (undoubtedly) something on The History Channel, because that's one of his favorites! Kathy in Washington P.S. I'll tell you a perk of being married to a man who fought in World War II: learning my history from him! I know more about that war than I ever learned in school. And I have such a great appreciation for what truly was The Greatest Generation! Please ask questions of anyone you know who fought then -- they'd most likely be happy to share their experiences with you.

Thanks Raye and Glenda! I'm just sentimental over this old thing. It's been ticking away all my life, growing up, and after my mother's death in 1978. I've had it cleaned twice and it's gone on without fail for 100 years. This is the first day that I couldn't coax it to continue. My grandfather sold Watkins door to door. My mother said he caught heck from my grandmother when he came home with this clock that he'd taken in trade for vanilla and hairbrushes -- no cash for the kitty. He always wanted 'finer things' for his little girl. What I'm finding are battery operated clocks in a similar 'tambour' casing. Some are silent. Some have chimes every 15 minutes or on the hour. Some have chimes on the hour and strike the hour. I don't want chimes at all. Maybe I could find a working *mechanism* to put into my clock -- or a whole still working clock like mine? Thousands were made; they shouldn't be expensive. This is an Ingraham "Abbey" model mantel clock. It has one winding stem for the time and one for the striker, both on the face of the clock. No chimes. It strikes the hour and half hour with a mellow 'Bong!'