my wife and i bought a mantle clock, but it goes for about ten seconds then stops,when i keep a fraction of pressure on the pendulum it goes for a long time the clock is an enfield 30 mins strike
my wife really likes this clock
could you please help

thank you j travis

john tavis, June 2009

i bought a smiths mantle clock which was stated as just serviced and was sent in working order. However this Smiths clock seems to not tick tock when pendulum placed on stick yet does when taken off but obviously gallops ahead of actual time. What could the problem be I have not moved clock without taking pendulum out and it is on even service and I have tried tilt method and gentle launch but to no avail. Seller is stating he sent it in perfect working order. Yet it has obviously been wound up to the full on both chime and time and my understanding is that clocks should be wound down when sent? I don't know what to do or try as he is now asking me to contact the clock repairer

david gale, October 2017

There could be a couple of things wrong with the mantle clock - First is the long piece the pendulum hangs on is called the LEADER and this could need adjusting if the clock has been moved with the pendulum on - This part has to be centre so the swing should be the same both to the left and right and then make a even TICK/TOCK sound and this can be adjusted with a little pressure on the bottom part pushing it either right/left to get it centred OR at the top of the pendulum leader it slides onto a SUSPENSION spring which may have one or two steel blades fixed between brass blocks and one of these steel blades may be broken affecting the swing ect of the pendulum..

Pip the Clock, June 2009

Most of the time when a clock is warn out or dry, you wind it up and it doesn't do anything. If your clock has not been oiled in 3 years then it is dry. If it has not been overhauled in 10, it is warn out and needs bushings. You need to have a repairman look at it and determine what it needs. Because you are applying pressure the clock runs because it now has more power than it was designed to have. (spring + your pressure)

Stevens Clocks, June 2009