Seth Thomas 124 (total newbie)

[Bill Stuntz]

Maybe I'll be lucky - I don't even wear a watch, I use my phone.

Then again... back in the 70's I had a watch that was supposed to be accurate to within 15 seconds a month or some such. But wasn't. I was stationed at Bethesda Naval Hospital and had been absolutely fascinated during a visit to the Naval Observatory. I had the phone number of the Naval Observatory's atomic clock. It doesn't take much imagination to figure out what happened next!

[R. Croswell]

About bushings: I've seen lots of references to KWM/Bergeon bushings, but nothing to help me decide which to equip for. From what I've read, it seems to be mostly personal preference, but I don't know enough to HAVE a preference. How are they different? Which do you use, and WHY?

It really is 6 of one and half dozen of the other. I initially ordered a bushing machine for KWM and it was out of stock and back ordered. Canceled the order and found a used Bergeon machine on eBay at a reasonable price. That's how I decided. There are several bushing machines available and there is something to like and something to dislike about all of them including the $$$. Most places that sell bushings offer them for both systems. The Bergeon bushings are larger OD and allow a bit more opportunity to cover punch marks that are often found around pivot holes and severely worn pivot holes. The KWM bushings require a smaller hole which arguably makes a neater looking job and leaves a bit more room for a “second try” if you don’t get the bushing placed exactly right the first time.

So if you plan to by a bushing machine that will probably drive your decision- get one you like. If you plan to bush by hand, just flip a coin.

RC

[Bill Stuntz]

I'm not even considering buying a machine - WAY out of my price range, even on ebay. I can probably spring for the hand tools in a couple weeks. If "She Who Controls the Purse Strings" agrees.

With all the help I've found here, I'm starting feel like just a "newbie" instead of a "total newbie"

[neighmond]

Did you want a chime/silent arbor and cam for your 124? I have one here you can have for the asking.

[Bill Stuntz]

Yes, please. I'll PM you. THANKS!

[Bill Stuntz]

Now that I am thinking about chime/silence... Why can the chime be silenced, but not the strike? It would be trivial to lift all 5 hammers with the same mechanism, instead of just the 4 chime hammers. Historical reasons that I'm not aware of?

[shutterbug]

Normally the strike is activated by the final part of the hour chime. So, if the chime is silenced, so is the strike. It can't be activated.

[Bill Stuntz]

OK, I'm an idiot, as well as crazy! I KNEW that, but hadn't thought it all the way through. And I haven't turned off the chime on my ST124, so I haven't observed it working that way either. I'm ejjoying listening to it too much!

WAIT A MINUTE! Yes I have, while it was by the computer out of its case. I had the hammers lifted & I'd swear that the chime train ran, but couldn't make noise because the hammers were being held up. Of course there were no rods for the hammers to hit anyway. I gotta think about this some more!

[Bill Stuntz]

I just confirmed it - the silence mechanism simply lifts the hammers, but does nothing to disable the chime train in my 124. The chime locking lever still lifts, and the train still runs, the locking plate turns, and the strike lift pin on the locking plate still triggers the strike. Is this an oddity of the 124? I guess I'll have to look at some of the other movements in Conover.

So I guess my question still stands - why is it designed to NOT silence the strike, too?

[Richard T.]

If I remember correctly the 124 does not have a self correcting chime mechanism. The chime and strike trains continue to run and thus stay in sequence. I haven't checked my Conover to confirm this but I'm sure someone will correct me if this isn't correct.

Best.

Richard T.

[Bill Stuntz]

Yes, it does have self correction. I watched it work before I put it back in its case. And I just confirmed it in Conover. The book shows 2 different versions of the chime correction mechanism. I guess the early ones could jam. The way it works is pretty slick! It won't chime or strike at all until the correction mechanism has done its job. But it's the only mechanism I've ever examined closely, so I'm not sure how unique it is.

[shutterbug]

yeah, simply holding the hammers up won't disable the chime. A clothespin on the fan would

[Richard T.]

Yes, it does have self correction. I watched it work before I put it back in its case. And I just confirmed it in Conover. The book shows 2 different versions of the chime correction mechanism. I guess the early ones could jam. The way it works is pretty slick! It won't chime or strike at all until the correction mechanism has done its job. But it's the only mechanism I've ever examined closely, so I'm not sure how unique it is.

Yes, it does have a self correct mechanism. I just checked Conover to refresh my memory. I have found that it is not always easy to adjust. Either too high and no chime correction or too low and no chime. Conover outlines all of this as well.

Best,

Richard T.

[Bill Stuntz]

Yup, that would work, but so would lifting all 5 hammers instead of just 4. But you should know me pretty well by now - I gotta know WHY! If the chime wakes the baby or something, wouldn't the strike? Why NOT silence both? I can't think of any logical reason. Maybe it's OK to wake the baby every hour, but not every 15 minutes?

Every single piece in there was designed to work EXACTLY the way it does for a good reason. And I'm sure that lifting mechanism wasn't designed that way to save the 5 or so grams of brass that would be needed to lift the 5th hammer.

YES, I drove my teachers NUTS all through school.

[David S]

Bill I just checked the little Gustav Becker 3 train movement I have here and it does the same thing..lifts the chime hammers but leaves the strike to continue striking. I can understand not stopping the chime train, since you want to keep it in sync so that when you enable again in the morning, you don't have to fool with syncing it up again.

So who knows why the strike isn't silenced as well? I NEED to know now as well.

David