Opinion about leather tipped chime/time hammers

[timepast]

I need your opinion and suggestions regarding leather chime hammers. I am thinking about replacing the silicone/plastic tips on some of my modern clocks with leather tips because I like the sound that my older clocks have with leather hammers on gongs and tubular chimes. I have a clock with a set of tuned cast bell that is brass hammers hitting on the bells and I would like to sofen the sound. Any thoughts /suggestions? I see a supply of leather at Timesavers. What would I have to do to prepare the leather before I put them into the hammers? Any preparation needed like soaking in oil , special incantations?? Thanks

[timepast]

I need your opinion and suggestions regarding leather chime hammers. I am thinking about replacing the silicone/plastic tips on some of my modern clocks with leather tips because I like the sound that my older clocks have with leather hammers on gongs and tubular chimes. I have a clock with a set of tuned cast bell that is brass hammers hitting on the bells and I would like to sofen the sound. Any thoughts /suggestions? I see a supply of leather at Timesavers. What would I have to do to prepare the leather before I put them into the hammers? Any preparation needed like soaking in oil , special incantations?? Thanks

[Sooth]

I am sure someone can explain how to change the leather tips properly, but if the clock has newer plastic tips, you could just change the entire hammer heads.

As for the bell chiming clock, they usually use brass hammers. I would absolutely NOT alter these, as it could devalue the clock. Bell playing clocks are highly collectable and valuable.

[Bill Ward]

If the leather is new and pliable, it doesn't need any treatment. Old hard leather can be softened sometimes with a drop of neatsfoot oil (available at the cobbler's, or better shoestores.)
If you really can't stand the ting-tang-ting of that fusty antique bracket clock, I'd be more than happy to trade you a nice new modern Hermle in a shiny polyurthaned case with a proper aluminum dial for it! :cool:

[Scottie-TX]

Yes; The leather must be prepared.
It must be laid out across an alter in the presence of an aromatic incense. A specific mantra must be chanted at only a certain hour applicable to your leather. Several "hail Marys", a three minute immersion in Jack Daniels, and your leather should be good to go!
All seriousness aside, put on your hammers what you like to hear. When you sell it, return to original.

[Mike Phelan]

Leather is freely available in the shape of old belts and the like.

I would not bother changing plastic hammers unless they were damaged.

Old leather hammers can have the glaze removed by using a wire brush.

Bell hammers are usually metal and generally a clock with bells is going to be an antique and should not be vandalised by modification.
The heads are often immovable as well.

[Sid Daniels]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">a three minute immersion in Jack Daniels </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
Scottie, It the Jack Daniels for you or the leather?
Sid

[timepast]

Thanks all for the great suggestions. I sometimes think I need to take a drink after reading some of the more creative suggestions maybe those authors have been affected by the clock cleaning fumes. I`m pretty much a traditionalist so I have a great respect for original parts, even though I don`t have all of mine... I wouldn`t alter an old clock in such a way that is not easily reversible. As to that new Hermle clock movement with the plastic case-- I`ll consider it only if you throw in a cuckoo clock that lays an egg each April 29th...

[Patrick R]

When I replace old or missing leather hammer pads, I use scraps of thick leather. I'll use a hole punch the size of the hammer pad hole, or just a little biger hole, then I will install it into the hammer as required. But the thing I like to do is use liquid supper glue, this hardens the leather in about five minutes and I think it prduces an exclent sound, because soft leather to me is just not going to prduce a quality sound.

[Ansomnia]

Well, I have a different view of preservation when it comes to inexpensive modern clocks. I think it's perfectly fine to modify them and keep them that way - so long as the modification(s) are done well and actually constitute an improvement. Here's my reason.

Modern clocks, especially inexpensive ones made in our own time, are still "fresh" and any improvements to them during their contemporary periods actually comprise part of their legitimate history. It's when a clock has been out so long that any originally legitimate reasons for modifications has long since passed that further modifications become plainly wrong.

It's also important to consider that clocks made today often use cheap parts selected for no better reason than cost or "convenience" whereas old clocks made in the heydays of mechanical clocks, used the best materials the makers could think of at the time. IMO, a modification to use significantly better materials made when the clock is new is legitimate.

I do know there are people who want their stuff looking exactly like when they left the factory, complete with stickers and original pricetags and all packaging materials. I'm not one of them.

I like my clocks used as they were intended. A bit of well-aged whiskey stashed away in the works wouldn't hurt either. :biggrin:


Michael

[SrWilson]

WHY would you wanna soften the sound of the bells???

Bell playing clocks are the nicest sounding clocks of all and you should be honored to have one - to want to alter the tone by duffening the hammers with something is sacrilage.

Get used to them as they are and enjoy them!!!

*calms down deep breaths*

Sorry to sound angry I just cannot stand it when someone disrespects the sound of clock bells.

[Ansomnia]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by SrWilson:
WHY would you wanna soften the sound of the bells???... </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
Hi SrWilson,

I can't vouch for timepast's reason(s) but I should say that leather hide tips do not actually soften the sound.

From my experience, what the hide seems to do in my clocks is stop any nasty secondary vibrations that can actually mess up the sounding of the bell or gong.

Properly dried hide is actually very hard but it also resists rebound so you just get one clear "DONG" instead of "DONG, ding-ding-ding...".

At least that's what happens with the strikers in my old clocks when the hide is worn away. The sound of a hide striker is very beautiful when the striker and gong/bell are properly adjusted. It has a deep rich sound like a much bigger bell.


Michael

[dagwra]

PATRICK R said: But the thing I like to do is use liquid supper glue, this hardens the leather in about five minutes

PATRICK R

Please don't invite me over for supper at your house!

[Mike Phelan]

Originally posted by Patrick R:
But the thing I like to do is use liquid supper glue
That'll stop you getting the runs, Patrick! :wink:

[tymfxr]

If a customer doesn't like the loud metallic sound of a metal on metal strike, I take a piece of leather and make a 'thumb' and put it over the hammer. Very simple solution that doesn't alter the clock.

[Seth Thomas Fan]

Timepast,

The leather had crumbled in a couple of my clock hammers and I did nothing more elaborate than cutting a piece of a leather bootlace off an old boot I found in my garage. I doubled it into a "U" shape and inserted the two ends into the hammer hole, having what initially looked like an excessive amount of leather sticking out of the hole. Then I removed the hammer head and put it in a vise, pressing the leather firmly into the hole (no glue needed). Only a little leather was left sticking out of the hole and it isn't going anywhere. The leather is firmly in place and makes a crisp "dong!" without sounding harsh.

Lightly flaming the leather with a burning match will harden the leather more if needed.