Westminster Assembly: Mantel Clock Restoration and Cursing the Chime Mechanism, Phase III
In a dusty old barn, a hidden gem was discovered - a vintage 1931 Sessions Westminster A chiming clock. Purchased for just $25.00, the clock has been brought back to life with careful restoration work.
The clock was disassembled in 2015 to replace a bad click, and Robert Croswell's guide for the Sessions Westminster A clocks is being used to fix the strike and chime side of the clock. The dial bezel was polished using Brasso, giving it a fresh, gleaming appearance.
To properly set up the racks and snails on the strike side of a Sessions Westminster A clock, follow these key steps:
- Identify the Strike Snail and Rack: The snail, a cam with stepped levels, controls the number of strikes. On the strike side, the snail determines how many times the hammer strikes.
- Placement of the Snail: Mount the snail on the hour wheel shaft so it turns once every 12 hours, aligning with the hour hand. The highest step corresponds to 12 o’clock (12 strikes), with progressively smaller steps for fewer strikes.
- Setting Up the Rack: The rack, a toothed lever, must be carefully hung on the strike fly arbor. The rack hook should catch the correct step on the snail corresponding to the current hour.
- Correct Mesh and Alignment: Ensure the rack teeth are lined up correctly with the rack hook and the snail steps. The rack must drop freely onto the snail, and the gathering pallet on the rack must engage the rack hook smoothly to count the strike accurately.
- Test and Adjust: Manually advance the hour hand slowly around the dial to check the rack drops on the right snail steps and the strike count matches the hour. Adjust the rack’s position or the snail’s placement on the shaft if strikes are too few or more than expected.
- Check Lift and Drop: The rack should lift fully when the strike train starts and then drop precisely to the snail step number without jamming. Lubricate pivots lightly if needed to ensure smooth action.
Unfortunately, specific step-by-step guides or instructional images for this model’s strike side snail and rack setup were not easily found. However, general principles from mechanical striking clocks apply, and careful attention to the rack hook and snail step alignment is crucial.
If possible, consult a specialized Sessions clock resource or detailed repair manuals, or post photos in expert forums like the NAWCC for precise guidance tailored to your clock’s exact mechanism. This is important because some subtle variations exist among Sessions Westminster A models.
After following these steps, the clock is running for a few days, but the strike side is still having issues. One rack on the clock is missing its retaining spring, which was replaced with a new one made of brass wire. The author remains optimistic about solving the current issue with the clock.
Vintage clocks, specifically the 1931 Sessions Westminster A chiming clock, can be a fascinating addition to home-and-garden lifestyle, especially when restored. With careful restoration work and the use of resources like Robert Croswell's guide, one can fix the strike and chime side of such clocks. In the process of setting up the racks and snails on the strike side of a Sessions Westminster A clock, it is essential to pay attention to the rack hook and snail step alignment for accurate striking.