Glossary of Terms
Automatic beat adjustment (a Kieninger patent): Ensures a perfectly even tic sound will develop after the over swing period of the pendulum is completed.
Automatic night shut-off (a Kieninger patent): When activated, is automatically shut-off the chimes or strike between:
10.00 P.M. and 7.15 A.M. (movements with quarter hour chime);
10.00 P.M. and 7.00 A.M. (movements with half hour strike).
Case: The timber frame of the clock that houses the clock's moving parts. In Clocks & Chimes timepieces, is constructed from solid hardwoods, and in some cases, has decorative inlay.
Compensation pendulum: Compensates for the different expansion rates of the metallic components in the pendulum, which otherwise would affect the length of the pendulum and consequently the running speed / timekeeping.
Dial: the face of the clock, white enamelled with either Roman or Arabic numbers.
Mechanism: the mechanics that turn the hands to give time and produce the chimes and strike (gong).
Movement: - the driving and regulating parts of a mechanism.
Key Wound: The clock is wound up by inserting the supplied key into the holes in the dial and turning.
Pendulum: Shaft and pendulum bob, normally brass, with a thread and nut at the bottom to adjust timing of clock. The longer the pendulum, the slower the clock runs.
Weights: These are lead and cased in brass shells. When facing the clock, these have the following functions from left to right:
PS55 movement - two weights: left drives the hour strike mechanism, right drives the time drive.
RWS movement - two weights: left drives the chimes/melody & hour strike mechanism, right drives the time drive.
Home | About | Clocks | Contact | Design | Terms