Herschede Tubular Bell Restoration Class

 

Michael Gainey CC21

Herschede Tubular Bell Restoration Class

 

March 24-26 2021

Location: AWCI Headquarters in Harrison, Ohio

Cost of class:  AWCI members – $595 Non-members – $745

 

Michael will share his hard earned knowledge gained from forty years of experience through his extensive power point presentation with over 200 photos that focus on dozens of examples of those issues, both before and after a rebuild, that are unique to the most common Herschede Tubular Bell movements.  This is not a simple discussion of disassembly, restoration and reassembly but an in depth look at all the problems associated with these high quality but often troublesome movements.  Just a few of the topics include the dead beat escapement, anchor replacement, bushings, polishing and adjusting of levers and pins, hammer dampers, the chime cylinder, chime lift lever, gathering pallet adjustments and replacement, rack hooks, minute wheel issues, the main wheels and maintaining power system, cable replacement tips, self adjust chime adjustments, delivery and installation tips, parts availability, pricing concepts and repair times as well as special considerations for the two weight Herschede tubular bell clock.    The class will also include an actual demonstration of restoration techniques on a Herschede tubular bell movement. 

Attendees are encouraged to bring any Herschede movement they may have for inspection or possible trouble shooting help.

Expected Class Schedule

1. General Info/Introduction
2. Specific Repair Issues

                Disassembly

                Wear Repair

                Pitch Circles

                Pivots

                Proper bushing installation

                Chime gathering pallet engagement

                Chime release lifting lever issues

                Gathering pallet, rack, and rack hook shape for proper operation

                Minute wheel and lift pin issues

                Minute hand pipe

                Escapement

                                Dead beat escapement adjusting rules

                                Lock, drop and lift

                                Polishing out ruts

                                Step to reset escapement

                                Mounting a new set of pallets

                Main wheels

                                Disassembly

                                Maintaining power system on time main wheel

Polishing

                                Bushing and broaching technique

                                Inconsistent diameters and depth issues

                Levers and pins

                Chime second wheel depth control

                Chime cylinder and hammer superstructure

                                Disassembly

                                Hammer tails

                                Damper replacement

                                Hammer tension

                                Bent cylinder pins and how to straighten

                Cable replacement

                                Techniques and knots

                Lever lubrication

                Sagging tube racks

                Moon dial issues

                Self adjust chime issues

                Strike rack

                Synchronizing

                                Chime warning

                                Strike hammer lift pins

                                Strike warning

                                Chime lift release lever and minute hand

                                Proper alignment and techniques

                Fitting new gathering pallet

Testing

III. Finishing the Job

                Restringing hammers and tubes

                Hammer pads

Tubular bell cosmetics

Weight and disc appearance

Cracked tubes

1. Delivering the Repaired Movement

                Level and stabilize

                Installation

                Re-check functions

                Customer care instructions

1. Initial Diagnosis

                Wear – where to look first

                Estimating

                Offer enhancements

Available parts references

                Bushings

                Cable

                Hammer string

 

Examples of Herschede movement varieties

Discussion of two weight Herschede tubular chime movements

Demonstration of restoration techniques on actual movement

Demonstrate synchronizing process

Bench testing

Place on testing stand and perform final adjustments

Examination of any participant Herschede movements

Demonstrate proper set up of full 9 tube movement

Demonstrate customer instructions

Review of critical areas when restoring these movements

Michael Gainey CC21

Bio

Michael’s career as a clockmaker began in 1978 when he took a job with a local clock retail shop delivering and setting up grandfather clocks.  This soon led to a five year clock repair apprenticeship.  He eventually established his own shop, Master Clock Repair in Columbus, Ohio in 1994.  Once on his own his hunger to expand his clock repair horizons prompted him to become more and more active with AWCI and its Ohio affiliate, WAO.  Through these organizations he began to attend every available clock class.  This led to becoming a Certified Clockmaker in 2001.   From 2004 to 2011 he served on AWCI’s Education Committee where he helped write the first ever Standards and Practices document for clockmakers, helped rewrite the certification exam and trained to become an assessor for the exam.  He achieved CC21 status in 2010.  He has also served on the AWCI Board of Directors, Affiliate Chapter Chairman, Honors and Awards Chairman, the Board of Clock Examiners and has been President of WAO for four terms.  During his career he has repaired over 40,000 clocks, has often taught classes for both AWCI and WAO and is a published author of over 15 articles in the Horological Times. He has an extensive web site at masterclockrepair.com.