Tuesday, August 18, 2009

What are the holes for?

My blogofriend Frannxis has blogged about his old clock (I don't think this type is called grandfather clock; but never mind). In his photo you will see two round holes on the face of the clock.

Here is a question for those young people who have never used such a clock before. Do you know what functions those two holes serve? Please post your answers at his blog and not here because I will not keep this post for long.

Thank you.

7 comments:

peter said...

for keys to adjust time

Anonymous said...

One to wind the clock. I think the other one is to wind the bell that strikes at the hour.

alex said...

Anonymous is correct, there are two "spring boxes" in the clock, one to store the energy for running the movement to tell time, and one for the striking of "bells", where the hammers in the clock will strike the bells installed within the clock, on the hour, half hour, and some on the quarter hour.

Tom said...

Tom said,
I would like to come in on this one, Antique clocks have either 1,2or three winding holes, One hole would indicate a time only,Two winding hole is a time and strike clock ,the three winding hole is a chime clock, The three hole clock,the hole in the centre is for time one on the right for chime and the left for strike

Anonymous said...

It should be for ventilation , with such humid weather , clocks need to breathe too

Lam Chun See said...

I am surprised that Peter cannot remember.

fighting fit said...

to adjust the time on these clocks, you simply push the minute hand. But do it gently la. Put your index finger on one side of the minute hand near its tip, then push the hand clockwise. I think you can only push the minute hand clockwise, not counterclockwise.