Setting up and regulating your clock
First when getting the clock home you want to decide where it will look best and be easy to maintain. Next a small level will help in getting the clock in a level position, although this step is important it is not as critical as setting the beat. To level the clock you may have to slide a filler or what I use is a piece of cork cut from a bottle of wine. Slide two equal pieces of cork under one side or the other of the clock to establish a level effect. Now that the clock is level place the pendulum on the pendulum leader or suspension spring. Next wind the clock but don't over wind it as that is harmful and could impair the running of your clock. I usually wind until it feels as if the spring is getting close to being fully wound. Now give the pendulum bob a slight flick to one side or the other to get the clock ticking, don't flick too hard or you will cause the clock to be out of beat and will need an experienced horologist to set it back in beat. Now listen to the beat of the clock and if everything is setup correctly you should have a nice even beat on both sides as the pendulum swings back and forth. If the beat is harder on one side or the other, lift or remove the cork and continue listening and raising or lowering the clock until an even beat is established. Setting the beat is more critical to the clock continuing to run than whether it is level or not. Once you have an even beat your clock should run without any problems. Now we set the time and always stop and wait for the chime to strike out the hour or half hour before moving to the correct time. If you perform these steps in setting up your clock you will get much enjoyment from your old time piece. If you already have a clock and it keeps stopping you can try these steps before taking it to be cleaned and oiled. This is not to say that your clock should never be cleaned or oiled as it is recommended that a clock be oiled every six months and cleaned once a year to keep it in good working condition. If you take care of your clock it will last for many years.
