Part of a tall case clock

[RickNB]

I saw a pic of a clock with this part I have never run into before. Can anyone tell me what it is and what it does? (red tinted)

 

[bwclock]

I saw a pic of a clock with this part I have never run into before. Can anyone tell me what it is and what it does? (red tinted)


View attachment 721175
I believe the primary purpose of that piece is to irritate clock repairmen. The secondary purpose may be to keep the leader from coming off the suspension spring, say, for example, when one accidentally bumps the leader upward when installing the pendulum. Likewise, when a clock is being transported with the pendulum removed the part will keep the leader from falling off.
The way you highlighted the part in your photo is a nice touch.
Bruce

 

[Willie X]

It helps keep the spring from being broken and also keeps the leader from accidently unhooking. Willie X

 

[RickNB]

So my assumption is that you would slide it back out of the way when the clock is running. Right? Otherwise I could see it interfering with the suspension spring.

 

[bwclock]

So my assumption is that you would slide it back out of the way when the clock is running. Right? Otherwise I could see it interfering with the suspension spring.

I never moved it back. I would check to make sure the bottom block of the suspension spring was centered in the slot. If not, I would adjust the part so that the clearance was the same on each side with the pendulum swinging. The slot in the ones of these I have encountered is wide enough for this.
BB

 

[Willie X]

No, it stays in place all the time. The locking thumbscrew drops into a recess in the post. There is no adjustment needed, unless your clock had been in a terible
accident. Willie X