Westminster chime clock

Please don't get upset if this is not as exciting as a schoolgirl fight, or somebody getting hit in the nuts. It's just to document the old Westminster chime wall clock that I got recently on eBay, and to demonstrate how it looks and sounds to a few friends online.
The seller described it as a German clock ca. 1900-1910, whose movement was unmarked, although he said it looked almost identical to a Kienzle movement in another clock that he had. The case is described as being for the "French market," and it does indeed have a little hook inside with a round plaque around it that reads "Sonnerie Arret," and I do know enough French to figure out that it's for a little string that attaches to the lever that blocks the hammers from striking the chime rods, if desired (but really......where's the fun in that?).
What I'm really curious about, though, are the melodies of the Westminster chime sequence as played by this clock. To me, the actual pitch of the notes played seem to vary somewhat from what I think of as the Westminster chime melodies. In listening to other Westminster clocks online, they seem to get it "right" to my ear, while this one seems a bit "off" one a note or two. It is not unpleasant or jarring, but I'm just wondering......is something awry here? Might a rod or rods of the wrong length be inserted into this particular array? Or is this a common variation among old Westminster chime clocks? Or am I just hearing things? The longest rod here is about 18 inches, and they do have a lovely deep tone. But aside from the tone, I can't help wondering a bit about the tune.

[@en1909s9iah]

Clocks with chimes are like the heartbeats of a home

[@JenkoRun]

I like this analogy.

[@hariranormal5584]

you made me cry '-'

[@chrisorah919]

I'm not sure what I liked more, the video or the description lol

[@hariranormal5584]

XD SURE!

[@Naji_Naughty_Pantry_Eggs]

Brings back memories of childhood. Love that chime

[@noonsight2010]

Westminster chimes are after the prayer "Lord through this hour, Be Though our guide, So by Thy power, No foot shall slide."

[@hariranormal5584]

Yeeep

[@baldevis]

Yes, you're right. For some reason, it's clearer to see in the video than it is to see in real life. The shortest rod is actually a different color and finish than the rest of them. I have since replaced the entire chime block, and it's sounding more in-tune. These chime blocks are not always easy to find on their own as a spare part, but they do turn up occasionally on eBay. At the time, I was lucky enough to find a couple of them for sale.

[@hariranormal5584]

beautiful description,beauitful clock :P

[@TheLarryburns84]

Cheap Trick brought me here. These clocks are epic.

[@baldevis]

Yes, quite right. Since posting this video, I managed to get another vintage Westminster chime block on eBay that sounded more in-tune. And luckily, the mounting holes were almost at the same position, so minimal modification was necessary to the case. They sound much better now.

[@Thevacomaticvacuumcorner]

my mom use to hang her grand mother clock that played this lovely chime every hour

[@hariranormal5584]

Hourly chimes makes amazing music

[@glisses7]

Yes, definitely 'out' a little, but a good-looking clock. I suppose it would require taking the gong block out of the case and determining which notes are 'out'. One tip though: somehow take off minute slivers off the 'flat' gong, bit by bit, as if you sharpen the note, you cannot put the metal back on again. Material dealers can supply gong rods to screw into the block, but I have never done this myself and tend to not buy such a clock with off chimes, far less missing or broken chime rods. Gaius

[@TheClockwise770]

Thank you Gaius , I didn't realise that you could get new rods made and fitted . My Westminster chime Kienzle clock needs a new hour gong.

[@choosetolivefree]

Anyway, very exciting video. Personally I was on edge the entire time. Couldn't wait to hear what the 45 min chime sounded like.

[@baldevis]

+choosetolivefree OK, be sarcastic........but this video will haunt your waking hours and turn your dreams into hellish nightmares. Enjoy!!!

[@Crmsn-qk2io]

beautiful chime and nice clock

[@simpsonizer]

That hourly chime is beautiful! Nice clock as well

[@hariranormal5584]

Very!

[@kae4466]

great sounding clock. loved the vid and description.:)

[@daveydorman7984]

So beautiful !!!

[@patrickmusson4571]

I bought a Smiths Enfield mantle clock on Ebay. It has Westminster Chimes on it, it is a smaller clock then yours so the chimes are a bit higher pitched. I love the chimes on yours and mine. They remind me of Big Ben.

[@hariranormal5584]

Strike is so beauitufl almost like a beat

[@rainbowsparkle30009]

You've Reached 6 am! your safe from the Animatronics!

[@Hikarmeme]

rainbowsparkle30009 fuck off

[@rainbowsparkle30009]

What?

[@moisesnunez4173]

rainbowsparker300 *cheers*

[@10yearoldcringeclub99]

+rainbowsparker300 Naw, you only started

[@rainbowsparkle30009]

oh shit... he's right...

[@kwhawell]

the clock has a lovely tone to it, the problem is with the chime is your shortest rod, giving the highest note, is slightly too short, making it sound sharper than the rest. so that's why you hear things a little off, that's because your shortest note in the chime block is too short by a fraction, it's fixable, just need to get a longer rod, maybe one that's too long and trim it, chances are the rod could have broken at some stage, an someone has put a substitute in, thus upsetting the tone.

[@awightviewuhs6103]

The highest pitch rod must have been replaced. You can notice how off it sounds and when you show the inside it looks much newer.

[@jamesmills5069]

Make to realise the hammers so you will know if it has a nice chime. Try and get the clock for as little as possible. Then replace the rods in this clock, and you will have the clock sounding the way it should.

[@jamesmills5069]

I can see exactly whats the problem is. From seeing the rods when the clock is chiming midnight, I can see that during this clocks life one a rod has been replaced. Look at the inside of the clock when it is chiming quarter past the hour. The first note will sound out of tune. You will notice that the rod the hammer has hit is different to the other seven hammers, as in its much newer. Look round auction houses for an eight rod Westminster chime wall clock. To be continued...

[@Sebastian_George]

Nice tones & chords (key). :-)

[@jamesnicholson3313]

Would have been nice to see the movement instead of just the hammers, was it a Gustav Becker or what?

[@baldevis]

As mentioned in the description, the movement is unmarked...though the guy I got it from said it looks almost identical to a Kienzle movement he had.

[@Blucrystalman]

Speed it up 2x and you'll here the fnaf 4 chime

[@aarono8685]

“Fnaf 4 chime” 😐

[@RosyKittyfashionmotion]

The sound of this clock is different to an identical clock but not the box or form. you had this clock or changed by a new one?

[@ioccatonyz1]

The tempo on the hour chime is to fast. Big Ben is much more pronounced to allow the bell to ring out the vibration. Very neat clock love it.

[@Josh-rl8lu]

The clock is really slow so it may need to be oiled

[@lucasowen5040]

Lovely clock with a movement of high quality. The top note is too high.

[@aleksandarvukelic7716]

How many chime rods?

[@baldevis]

Eight

[@robertphillips1665]

Is it a Kienzle? Just wondering who is the maker, I have a clock just like it but no way to ID it... no trademarks

[@baldevis]

The person I bought it from said it resembled a marked Kienzle movement he had, although this movement has no ID other than a few numbers.

[@blue_hedgehog_gaming_clock9580]

It sounds like it needs to be cleaned and oiled.

[@robertscharba6443]

Well, that was 8 years and two moves ago. What it needs now is to be unpacked again.

[@aleksandarvukelic7716]

Eight?

[@RenRenRan]

The tune does sound a bit off, not quite like I remember the Westminster chime sounding.

What a slow chimes... But cool!

[@railroadelevators9258]

1:19 cuckoo clock strikes 11

[@aleksandarvukelic7716]

What country?

[@baldevis]

A German movement in a case made for the French market, according to the person I bought it from.

[@suwadarniantiquegallery8651]

Bunyi nya mengerikan

[@aleksandarvukelic7716]

What year?

[@baldevis]

Not sure....around 100 years I think. The person who sold it to me said ca. 1900-1910.

[@michaelroeroe4093]

needs oil or wind

[@tfcdrew5483]

Could you show the clock next to someone being kicked in the nuts by the winner of a schoolgirl fight?

[@baldevis]

I most definitely can.........but just to be a tease, I won't!!!

[@tfcdrew5483]

Nice clock though. Glad to know you won't stoop to cheap and tawdry tactics just to be popular. OK, How about a picture next to the clock of a crazed nut kickin school girl. That would get a few hits.

[@jamesnicholson3313]

What a stupid remark, to show ones ignorance. PLEASE.

[@brandj567]

Fnaf 4 is clock chimes

[@josephrodriguezdelgadillo5843]

$$$???

[@philippeheili]

Le carillon est un peu trop lent

[@stock8313]

sicuramente gli ingranaggi della suoneria vanno di nuovo lubrificati, ecco perché è così lenta, infatti i rintocchi non lo sono, siccome sono due serie di ingranaggi separati ecco gli ingranaggi della suoneria sono da sistemare

[@acoolpiggy48]

This is the fnaf 6:00 noice

[@crossmel6600]

+acoolpiggy You gave me cringe-vitus.

[@acoolpiggy48]

+cross melrose what does that mean

[@crossmel6600]

acoolpiggy First off: That's a damn fast response, and second of. I'm saying that comment gave me cringe

[@baldevis]

+acoolpiggy +Noah Adamcik Gentlemen, please...............I deplore you!!!

[@acoolpiggy48]

+Noah Adamcik well it is the fnaf chime

[@choosetolivefree]

Every 15 mins? Seems a bit redundant and obnoxious. sounds loud as shit too. how do you sleep with that thing

[@baldevis]

+choosetolivefree The mic was close to the clock.....it's not too loud if it's in another room.