Herschede Tubular Bell Restoration Class

 

Michael Gainey CC21

Herschede Tubular Bell Restoration Class

 

August 11-13  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.