Chelsea Ship's Bell Clock - Adjustment of Gong Time

ADJUSTMENT OF GONG TIME, Chelsea Ship's Bell Clocks:

The clear resonant tone of Chelsea Ship's Bell clocks is obtained by means of a controlled strike hammer dropping onto a coiled steel gong. The clock must be in its natural upright position (12 o'clock up) to have it strike properly. Should the striking tone be "deadened" or "flat" - or if no gong tone is heard when the strike mechanism is operating, an easy adjustment can usually be made.

The flat tone is caused by the hammer head resting on or too close to the gong coil. This fault is corrected by merely bending the hammer wire up a little - just enough to have its head not touch the gong coil when the hammer is in its rest position.

Ship's Bell clocks have an opening in the back through which the hammer wire can be reached for adjustments. Proceed as follows:

1. At some hour point when the clock has finished striking an EVEN number of bells, remove the back cover plate by unscrewing the three screws.
2. Lift and drop the hammer wire with your finger so you can hear and see how the resonance of the gong tone is muted by the hammer's leather tip resting on the gong.
3. To adjust the hammer, hold the hammer wire while it is in the rest position with one hand. Do not press down on the wire. With a pair of needle nose pliers or any rigid object, lift and bend the hammer end of the wire upward just enough to clear the gong coil while in the resting position.
Then repeat step 2 to determine if the gong tone has been corrected.

If, after following these instructions, the striking does not occur at the hour and half hour markings on the dial, then the clock must be sent back to the factory for correction.

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