tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48430278099103359022024-03-05T04:38:25.535-08:00Cuckoo Clock Doctor, Repairs by Mail. Got Questions, Ask Papa Now?Posts related to cuckoo clock repair and any questions you might have"Papa" Barnettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14072414587107676128noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843027809910335902.post-30023126968501550572017-09-24T23:36:00.000-07:002017-09-24T23:36:31.555-07:00It's been a while.....Hello Friends! It's been a while. It's been a long while now since I've written anything in the blogging world. It's been about five years actually and my how time goes by. It's been a little over 5 years since the passing of my Dad and my taking the reigns solo of the clock repair business he founded as well as this blog that he started long ago. He taught me his Trade, my Trade, and he taught me very well. When I took hold of the blog I had the best of intentions of writing more often. It didn't quite go that way though. I've thought of it often but nothing has gotten written. There have been many interesting things happen in my clock shop over the last five years that I would have loved to share with you all. I've learned a lot of interesting things too that I would love to share. Perhaps I will be able to share a few of those stories with you in the near future. I've seen some really amazing clocks pass through my shop in the last few years since I've written. I've seen a few clocks the like I never would have dreamed I'd see and given them a second life. I've seen some very beautiful cases indeed and a few clock movements that were true works of art themselves, beautiful marvels of mechanical engineering. I've seen some awesome cuckoo clocks and had the great pleasure of restoring them to full working order and enjoying them for a short time while they test ran on my wall before flying my coop to go home. I've been called on and asked to do a few house calls and seen some beautiful Tallcases. Most of the clocks were fairly common I suppose but each one is special to their owner and that alone makes them truly priceless. There have been hundreds of clocks pass through my hands just in these last five years. I worked on another few hundred before those in the years when I Apprenticed under and worked for my Dad. I lost count long ago. I keep records and I think one day I might count and see just how many there have really been but then I think I really don't want to know. It's been a wild ride I can assure you. Being in the clock repair business can be like holding a Tiger by it's tail most of the time if your really good at it. If your not so good at it or an amateur that Tiger could eat you up and quick! Most of the clocks I've repaired in the last 5 years were very good patients and didn't give me too much trouble. Some of the clocks were a little more problematic and put up some resistance to my efforts. Some were real monsters and fought hard till the bitter sweet end. Each one is different in it's own way. It's a gamble with each clock you take into your care on what problems your going to run into and how long each one may take you to restore them. That is something my friends that is not easy to explain to someone who is not a professional in the Clocksmithing Trade and lived it. In my opinion one of the hardest things to deal with in this business is the fact that few people can truly understand this even when the tale is told. Few people can truly understand just how many hours upon hours might have to be put into their clocks in order to give them back running again. Even the clocks that go relatively easy take a lot of time and energy if you do the work right and refuse to cut any corners. You had better or they will be back to haunt you. The ones that are problematic can eat up your time like a hungry wolf as the days pass by and turn into weeks. The clocks that prove to be real monsters can suck the life right out of you and really put you out. My friend Mike, a true professional mind you, calls the bad ones "Time Vampires" and boy how right he is because that's exactly how some clocks can tend to be. Some of them really have a mind of their own and drive you crazy doing what they want to do but not quite what they're supposed to do at all times and they don't want to tell you why but you have to figure them out. Some of them are known to make finding out why they are being most difficult most difficult indeed too! I guess those are what I would call the playful ones. I love Clocksmith work very much and you really have too otherwise it could drive you insane. I have written in the last five years, I've written quite a lot actually...but not in my blog. My Dad believed in sharing information and answering peoples questions about their clocks. I do too and I've tried my best to follow in his footsteps. I enjoy it even though it can be really taxing to do on top of everything else one has to do in this business, in life and in keeping oneself in good health so you can continue to work on . I can understand why someone else would choose not answer questions related to their craft. I have people write to me with clock questions from all over the world and I try to respond to them all with good answers as I am able and if I am able. I've missed a lot of questions too in the last five years, if you wrote to me and asked me a question that went unanswered I am truly sorry but I get so many questions asked of me I can't possibly get around to them all as I would have liked. I stay way too busy in the work shop for that and there has been times here and there where I have just flat out not been able to. When I began five years ago I had though and had full intention to answer every single one I would receive. I've tried to answer the most of them and for sure the best of them and I hope at least I've been at least somewhat successful in that. I've tried to get the ones answered that would help people the most and help those who truly needed my help the most and sometimes had to overlook and not respond to many of the simple questions I've received that the answer to could easily be found elsewhere if I could not reply and they sought the answer elsewhere on the internet. I don't reply typically to questions whose answers can be found on the frequently asked questions page of my website. I get so many of those it would make your head spin. You would think a guy who answered questions about clock repair and had a FAQ page would not get so many of those same questions but it indeed happens to me every day. In the beginning I used to respond to those with a brief response and a please see my FAQ page just to be helpful but that quickly became too much additional weight to bear. I would if I could just to be friendly and helpful I suppose but I very seldom can. When I'm writing answers to questions I'm punched in on my personal Time clock and working for free because I enjoy it and it's helps people and I believe that helps me. I don't answer dumb questions either. I've heard it said that the only dumb question is one that's not asked but ya'll I am hear to tell you that is not true! "Clock doesn't run?" is not a question! It's a statement in fact but when posed as a question it qualifies for a dumb one in my book and I've gotten that one many times. "Pendulum doesn't swing?" is not one either and I've seen that one too and both of them more times than I could count. I have so more funny examples I could share. Maybe I can write about some of those silly questions in a future blog post along with the answers I would love to reply to them with but I wouldn't actually as it would be unkind besides the fact I don't have the time too regardless but I just know they would make a hilariously funny and interesting blog post. I bet I could get you rolling on the floor laughing friends. Bottom line is I stay very busy in the work shop and if you were to write to me and ask me a question that is not at least one complete sentence, well, you might not be receiving an answer from me anytime soon. In the last five years I've met so many wonderful people by being in this business. My customers are some of the best people you could ever hope to meet and I truly mean that. I feel like they are all my friends in a way and I have actually made friends with a couple of folks and we talk often on clocks and such. Don't get me wrong I've met a couple of not so nice people in the last five years too. I wish I could have seen them coming I would have kindly asked them to take their business elsewhere if I had known what awaited for me. I've made many new friends and lost a few friends too in the last 5 years. One of my best and long time friends passed away in 2013 from a sudden heart attack just a little over a year after my Dad passed from a failed heart. He was a friend to my Dad as well I and a big part of the life here in the clock shop. I lost my Cousin Beth whom I loved very much not long after as the cancer took her quick. My Grandmother took on the Alzheimer's and it made a long two years watching her go slowly. She passed just a little over a year back now. My oldest daughter not only went through high school over the last 5 years she graduated with honors and left for college this Fall. I can't tell you how proud of her I am as well as my younger girl whose just starting as a Freshman at the High School now. I along with the rest of the world watched a new President of these United States be elected in these last five years since I've written into the blog as well as a lot of other big events that have come and gone and are now down in the history books. The clocks have kept on ticking the time away through it all here and I'm quite proud of that. I wanted to write tonight on this pleasant September night to say hello to you all let everyone know that I'm still here and working hard at it and to let everyone who reads this know just a little of what all has happened with me since I last wrote. It's hard to believe so much time has past actually looking back while writing this. It is said Time flys! Tempus Fugit and Tempus Regit are true I think indeed and applies to all including blogging. A Clockmaker most certainly understands this I would say. Time flys, Time rules, and Time is money! I hope it is not 5 more years slip past me before I write again. I never intended the last 5 to pass by without. I had hoped to write more often and do again now. Maybe with a little luck I can write many times over the coming 5 years and share with you some great clock information and stories. I'm not sure but I am going to try in hopes that my blog will help someone out there some day, an aspiring and up and coming Clocksmith perhaps or just anyone interested in clocks and or the Clocksmith's Trade. That would sure make it having been worth my time to spend writing if it helps someone someday. It's been fun writing this tonight. It's been very therapeutic actually as I've missed the blog badly and been wanting to begin writing again for some time now because it has indeed been a while.......<br />
<br />
All the best to you! Papa <br />
"Papa" Barnettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14072414587107676128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843027809910335902.post-56902768573108114452012-11-05T08:37:00.000-08:002012-11-05T08:37:08.730-08:00A Love of ClocksI have a love for clocks of all kinds. I don't just love them because I repair and restore them. I don't just love them because my father before me loved them. I love the fine crafstmanship that most antique clocks bear. I love their history and the thought of the many hands that have touched them and the many eyes that have gazed at them during their lifetime. I love the peaceful and relaxing sound that the make, a nice steady tick tock that reminds us time rules, time flys, and we are here but for a short while and should enjoy life and be happy making the most of our time. I love the sound of chimes that some clocks make as their tiny hammers hit the chime rods on cue to produce a melody like St. Michael, Whittington or the famous chime of the Westminister clock in London whose largest bell is known World round as "Big Ben" I love the cheerful happy sound of a cuckoo clock as the cuckoo joyfully sings his call to announce the hours and possibly music, dancers and other types of animations come to life about the clock. I love the accuracy of these man made marvels that take the power of gravity or a wound spring and transfer that power into a measurement of time itself. Clocks grace a home or office wall with their Timeless charm and simplistic beauty. Clocks have a life of their own and they seem to bring life to the room that they occupy. They remind us of a time when life was simpler or at least seemed that way. I recently recieved a clock that was saved from destruction for my Birthday. It is a rare clock made by a man named Riley Whiting around 1810 in Conneticut. Riley lived from 1785 to 1835, a mere fifty years and he only made his clocks for around twenty five of those. It's movement is all handmade from wood. Even the gears are made from wood I speculate from some of the first trees cut in the American forests. The clock came to me from Ohio so during it's life it traveled from the hands of Whiting in Conneticut to the West probably by wagon. It is two hundred years old now and still running. This clock should be in a museum now but it almost ended up in a dumpster. How many lives has this clock seen come and go. Sometimes I wonder if this clock could talk what kind of stories would it have to tell? Would they be good memories or bad? I'm sure each antique clock I encounter has seen it's share of hard times, watched life and death go and come, encountered joy and sorrow. So in a way clocks have a lot in common with people in my opinion. Sure they tell us what time it is, how many hours we have left in this short day we are in at present but are they really saying more to us. I think they speak of our mortality and remind us of the fact that tomorrow is promised to no one. Yesterday is History...Tomorrow is a Mystery...and Today is a gift that's why it's called the Present!!"Papa" Barnettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14072414587107676128noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843027809910335902.post-9697546066105896002012-10-02T13:05:00.001-07:002012-10-02T13:05:54.158-07:00Hello Friends, my name is John "Papa" Barnette II the Cuckoo Clock Doctor. My Father Papa Sr. you all knew and loved passed away from heart failure at age 59 on May 19th of 2012. Today October 2nd would have been his 60th Birthday. This is a sad day for me in many respects but also a happy one as my Mother and I celebrate the short life of such a fine man we were blessed to know and share life with. My Dad apprenticed me well in the Clockmaker's trade and for many years I have been his assistant in the shop. He loved his Trade, his business, his customers and friends and cuckoo clocks so very much and did not want CCD to die with him. I now carry on where my Papa Sr. left off as he requested when his "Time" ran out and his "Clock of Life" stopped as all of our clocks will one day. We have great Faith in the fact that only Christ is the Great Clocksmith that will fix us and keep us ticking long after the movements in our frail human bodies wear out and can no longer be repaired and our hearts can no longer keep it's beat and our pendulums slowly come to rest. I could think of no better tribute to Papa than to get his blog going again today and introduce myself to you all. Keeping our business going without my Dad's smiling face and his bright shining happy eyes has been most difficult but the Clockshop is where I feel the closest to him and things look brighter everyday as the work progresses and the cuckoo clocks keep flying in and flying home again to their loving owners. I have made many new friends and met many of my Dad's friends and this has been a big help to me and I am forever grateful to them, to my Mom Kathy for all of her support and love. I am here to answer questions and give advice as my Dad loved to do and possibly even bring your cuckoo or other type of mechanical clock back to life again. Blogging is new to me but I will do my best to keep up!"Papa" Barnettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14072414587107676128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843027809910335902.post-15951758480132166742011-10-14T16:04:00.000-07:002011-10-14T16:04:06.818-07:00How to install chain on cuckoo clock? - Yahoo! Answers<a href="http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20110913164541AADzDB2">How to install chain on cuckoo clock? - Yahoo! Answers</a>:<br /><br /><a style="font-size:13px" href="https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/pengoopmcjnbflcjbmoeodbmoflcgjlk">'via Blog this'</a>"Papa" Barnettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14072414587107676128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843027809910335902.post-61620979382086803452011-09-18T11:18:00.000-07:002011-09-18T11:18:40.049-07:00Cuckoo sings the wrong time.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"></span><br />
<div>Papa, oh thank you thank you thank you! I got my cuckoo clock back in sync! Such a fast and easy fix! I thank you with all my heart! It only took a few minutes to do! I was thrilled beyond belief to hear my cuckoo singing the correct time!</div><div><br />
</div><div>Thank you again!</div><div id="yui_3_2_0_1_1316350443184172"><br />
</div><div>Sincerely,</div><div><br />
</div><div>Jessica</div><div>P.S. The chains don't hit the floor so I don't need to shorten them I think. If we ever move the clock (which I doubt because it's in the perfect spot) I will certainly keep in in mind! Thanks for the hint! I will be sure to pass it on to my dad because on his trip to Germany he purchased the one for me and one for himself as well.<br />
<br />
Sent from my iPad</div><div><br />
On Sep 17, 2011, at 3:58 PM, Cuckoo Clock Doctor wrote:</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 19px;">Dear Jessica,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><blockquote id="yui_3_2_0_1_1316350443184187" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 1em;" type="cite"><div id="yui_3_2_0_1_1316350443184184"><div id="yui_3_2_0_1_1316350443184181" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 14pt;"><div><span></span></div></div></div></blockquote><blockquote id="yui_3_2_0_1_1316350443184187" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 1em;" type="cite"><div id="yui_3_2_0_1_1316350443184184"><div id="yui_3_2_0_1_1316350443184181" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 14pt;"><div><span>Thank you for your question. I'm going to make your day because this is a real easy fix that you can do yourself and you won't even need your husband. Don't be too hard on him. The hour hand is simply a press on fit onto a tapered shaft. The minute hand is the hard part so leave it be, but all you need to do is to know how many times it cuckooed last or turn the minute hand clockwise and get it to cuckoo. Say it cuckoos 4 and the clock hand says 6. Just move the clock hour hand to the 4 and then use your thumbnails and press down on each side of the hand right at that shaft. Now you will have to set the correct time of course, but your clock is back in sync.</span></div><div><span></span> </div><div><span>Another little piece of advice so you will have a long life with your clock. If the chains run down all the way and touch the floor, either raise the clock or shorten the chains just a bit. If you let it run down and the cuckoo weight hits the floor first, then the time will still be running and it can lock up a safety device in the clock to keep a part from breaking. If this happens the clock will run and keep time but it will only cuckoo one time on each hour and half hour. I just thought since it was new, and they probably didn't tell you this, that it would be helpful and save you from more trouble. Enjoy your cuckoo, forgive your husband, and both of you have a nice weekend.</span></div><div><span></span> </div><div><span>God Bless,</span></div><div><span></span> </div><div><span>John "Papa" Barnette</span><br />
<a href="http://www.cuckooclockdoctor.com/" rel="nofollow" style="color: #234786; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"></a><a href="http://www.cuckooclockdoctor.com/" rel="nofollow" style="color: #234786; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">www.cuckooclockdoctor.com</a></div><div id="yui_3_2_0_1_1316350443184178"> </div><div style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 14pt;"><div style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><div class="yiv1036002056hr" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; font-size: 0px; height: 0px; line-height: 0; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 5px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></div><b><span style="font-weight: bold;">From:</span></b> Jessica <b><span style="font-weight: bold;">To:</span></b> Cuckoo Clock Doctor<br />
<b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sent:</span></b> Saturday, September 17, 2011 10:53 AM<br />
<b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Subject:</span></b> Cuckoo sings the wrong time</span></div></div></div></div></blockquote></span>"Papa" Barnettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14072414587107676128noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843027809910335902.post-37736125978239537992011-09-12T06:21:00.000-07:002011-09-12T06:21:07.323-07:00'Cause My Cup has OverflowedThis little poem was sent to me recently but I don't remember who sent it. If you are the one, I'd like youto know how much it has meant to me. Please let me know if it was you. Thanks, John "Papa" Barnette.<br />
<div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6vgPcOdzA1WUVE-2lclux9UiwfkjdFIb6OSCTb2HKB8HSKlYeDnvNM0F6WPSy7Vewl_JiGs113LwXETDFYh1RTgglAKhdayY0WeLkVy4uUTidNjDPn-v8Zz-XoC5H6C-SUAp3Ts-fcjs8/s1600/coffeecupoverflowing11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6vgPcOdzA1WUVE-2lclux9UiwfkjdFIb6OSCTb2HKB8HSKlYeDnvNM0F6WPSy7Vewl_JiGs113LwXETDFYh1RTgglAKhdayY0WeLkVy4uUTidNjDPn-v8Zz-XoC5H6C-SUAp3Ts-fcjs8/s1600/coffeecupoverflowing11.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<br />
'Cause My Cup has Overflowed<br />
<br />
I've never made a fortune,<br />
And it's probably too late now.<br />
But I don't worry about that much,<br />
I'm happy anyhow<br />
And I go along life's way,<br />
I'm reaping better than I sowed.<br />
I'm drinking from my saucer,<br />
'Cause my cup has overflowed.<br />
<br />
Haven't got a lot of riches,<br />
And sometimes the going's tough<br />
But I've got loving ones all around me,<br />
And that makes me rich enough.<br />
I thank God for his blessings,<br />
And the mercies He's bestowed.<br />
I'm drinking from my saucer,<br />
'Cause my cup has overflowed.<br />
<br />
I remember times when things went wrong,<br />
My faith wore somewhat thin.<br />
But all at once the dark clouds broke,<br />
And the sun peeped through again.<br />
<br />
So Lord, help me not to gripe,<br />
About the tough rows I have hoed.<br />
I'm drinking from my saucer,<br />
'Cause my cup has overflowed.<br />
<br />
If God gives me strength and courage,<br />
When the way grows steep and rough.<br />
I'll not ask for other blessings,<br />
I'm already blessed enough.<br />
<br />
And may I never be too busy,<br />
To help others bear their loads.<br />
Then I'll keep drinking from my saucer,<br />
'Cause my cup has overflowed.<br />
<br />
<br />
May today there be peace within you. May you trust your<br />
God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.<br />
"I believe that friends are quiet angels who lift us to our feet<br />
when Our wings have trouble remembering how to fly."<br />
<br />
<br />
When I think of how many people in this world have it worse<br />
Than I do, I realize just how blessed we really are.<br />
Don't be too busy today...<br />
Share this inspiring message with friends and family.<br />
<br />
"Love never gives up, Never loses faith,<br />
Is always hopeful, And endures."<br />
<br />
Have a great Day! Unknown"Papa" Barnettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14072414587107676128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843027809910335902.post-9999367693493781522009-07-09T22:10:00.000-07:002009-07-09T22:18:08.287-07:00Original Question from Pat on Thursday, July 09, 2009 8:52 AM <br /><br />Hello nice to meet you..I have a old cuckoo clock from Germany 1969-1970. It was in a closet for years and I have it working but the music wont play the dancers do go around. The only noise from the clock is a ticking nosie from the music box. This clock is my Mothers and a Black Forest, back 30 years ago the clock broke and the repair man took advantage of her. He removed the music box and put in a cheap one. It never played right and did not play the song "Some where my love" Is there a way to fix it without taking it to a repair shop? Seem that it is turning inside just wont play music <br /><br />Dear Pat,<br /><br />Thank you for your question. It sounds like you have a great clock. Most likely the release wires to the music box are bent. When the clock finishes cuckooing the music box is then released and the music box turns the dancers in most cases. I'm going to cut and paste below a pre-written answer I keep for just this question. If you are fairly handy and understand how they work you just may get it running. I would definitely try it before I took it in for repair. Just don't bend any of the wires until you understand how the releases function and you should be fine. If after this it doesn't work, you will more than likely need professional help. Best wishes and have a good weekend. <br /><br /><br /> I'm going to try to tell you how the music box works. It may not be exactly what you have, but all are similar and will give your somewhere to start. There should be 2 connections from the movement to the music box. On some movements both wires come from the same spot. On others there is a flat strip of metal coming off the right hand corner of the clock and a straight wire coming off the back center of the clock. The flat strip of metal is hooked to a linkage that pulls a locking pin out of the music box at the top of the hour. The music box tries to play but the fan is immediately stopped by the straight wire coming off the back of the clock. That wire will move back and forth as the clock cuckoos and when it finishes it is supposed to drop away just enough to let the fan rotate freely and the music will play and will lock itself back down. That is how it is supposed to work. Getting it to do that is extremely tricky, but if you are persistent you may well succeed. Last year I had 2 gentlemen and 1 lady succeed in doing just that. There have been at least 75 or more who didn't. Normally I advise people to stay away from that, but some are handier than others. I sometimes spend as much as a whole day on adjusting one music box. Others may take me 10 minutes. There is only one sweet spot where everything will work.<br /><br />Pat, I hope this helps and at least gives you a good understanding of how it should work. If the fellow who originally worked on it didn't install it properly and the adjustment of the releases aren't the problem then you may need professional help.<br />Best wishes and have a nice weekend.<br /><br />Sincerely,<br /><br />John "Papa" Barnette<br />Cuckoo Clock Repairs by Mail<br />www.cuckooclockdoctor.com"Papa" Barnettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14072414587107676128noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843027809910335902.post-35548305641852383672009-07-09T21:48:00.000-07:002009-07-09T21:52:52.413-07:00Dear Cuckoo Clock Doctor,<br /><br />It was very kind of you to respond to our needs with our clock. We will try what you said and see how it goes and, like you say, if we can't follow your directions, we will ask for more help. Thanks so much.<br />Denise<br />"Art is good for you and the world!"<br /><br />Dear Denise,<br /><br />You are very welcome. I hope this works for you. Have a good weekend.<br /><br />Sincerely,<br />John "Papa" Barnette<br />Cuckoo Clock Repairs by Mail<br /><a href="http://www.cuckooclockdoctor.com/">www.cuckooclockdoctor.com</a>"Papa" Barnettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14072414587107676128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843027809910335902.post-12476433734069132552009-07-07T06:22:00.000-07:002009-07-07T06:24:11.634-07:00Nice note from a military family that got their cuckoo running.Dear Papa,<br /><br />Toni and I want to thank you again for your help and advice on my cuckoo clock. I did as you said and so far so good. Its been running for almost two weeks now. I appreciate your help and your obvious passion for these clocks.<br /><br /> Here was my answer on how to get their clock running.<br /><br />Dear Jason and Toni,<br />Thank you for your question. I would have gladly answered anyway but my son in an Army Reservist and I admire and appreciate your service to our country.<br /><br />As to your cuckoo clock. <br /><br />The first thing to check is to see if it is off level. You've probably already done this but this is where we start.Even if it is level on the wall, if that little pendulum hanger wire gets bumped up hard it will knock the clock out of beat. You need to try this with the weights on. Level the clock and start the pendulum. If it runs a little and stops, move the base slightly to the left. If it runs longer but still stops move it slightly further left. If nothing happens go back to level and do the same as above but move the base slightly to the right. If the clock will run without the pendulum on it, then I think I can tell you how to get it running. Leave the weights on and remove the pendulum. You may have to now give that little metal wire hanger that held the pendulum a flick. Or it may start running very fast on its on. If it runs like that, with the age of your clock it needs oiling which you can do with my help. It probably has enough wear and dried oil to stop it. I'll put oiling and "jump starting" instructions below. I have these pre-written because I get similar questions all the time.<br /><br /> How to make an oiler, oil your cuckoo clock and "jump start" it.<br /><br />Take a paper clip, open it up and whack one end of it with a hammer. That end of clip that you whacked is now your oiler and you will dip it in oil and touch each hole coming thru the back plate that has a shaft running thru it. Use any oil you have around, razor oil, sewing machine oil, motor oil, or 3 in 1 oil. Just don't use WD-40 or any spray oil. You can see the steel of the shafts and usually there are indentations around it in the brass that help hold the oil. Now, here is the most important part. Trace your finger up the pendulum, follow up on that metal hanger and you will see a wire looped around the hanger and it goes up into the movement at a 90 degree angle. That sounds complicated but you will see it as soon as you open the back. I'm not talking about what the pendulum hanger wire is suspended from but a wire the pendulum hanger slips thru. At the end of that wire is a brass wheel with sharp teeth on it called the escape wheel. When the pendulum moves back and forth it lets off the power one tooth at a time. You need to take your paper clip oiler and touch a drop of oil to about every other tooth. Just move the pendulum back and forth to get the wheel to move. If it doesn't you may have to tug slightly on the chain. When the escapement dries out, the clock won't run long. Now that you've oiled the escapement put a drop of oil on that loop the hanger goes thru and on the very top of the hanger where it is suspended from and moves on. If your clock is ever going to run without professional help it will do so now. Equally as important is the leveling of the clock. You may get a little life from this, you may get a lot or nothing will happen. The oil in these clocks turns to gum and the brass filings mix with that and they start wearing those pivot holes you oiled into an oval shape from the gravity of the weight. Once those ovals get too wide the gears separate enough to stop the clock or slow it down to where it will barely run. I hope this will fix you up.<br />Jason, I hope this gives you somewhere to start. Let me know what happens and I can advise you further if you need it. Have a good Sunday and a good week.<br /><br />Sincerely,<br /><br />John "Papa" Barnette<br /><a href="http://www.cuckooclockdoctor.com/">www.cuckooclockdoctor.com</a>"Papa" Barnettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14072414587107676128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843027809910335902.post-54810453200055666882009-06-20T09:45:00.000-07:002009-06-20T09:50:16.275-07:00Email from nice lady who got her cuckoo running<div>From: Cyndy F.</div><div>Saturday, June 20, 2009 10:14 AM</div><div>I finally took the time to oil my cuckoo clock - I delayed as I wasn't sure it would work again. I'm happy to say that my 40-year old cuckoo clock is back in business. Thanks for the information on how to oil it. </div><div>Cyndy </div><div>----- Original Message ----- </div><div>From: John Barnette </div><div>To: Cyndy F.</div><div>Sent: Sunday, March 01, 2009 7:45 PM </div><div>Subject: Cuckoo won't run</div><div>Dear Cyndy, </div><div>Thank you for your questons. I'm going to cut and paste below my instructions on how to oil your clock and "jump start it so to speak. Also, I'm going to include instructions on hoe to tell if your clock has wear that is contributing to a lack of power that affects the running or stops the clock. Your sewing maching oil will do just fine. </div><div>How to Oil and "jump start" any clock including cuckoos. Take a paper clip, open it up and whack one end of it with a hammer. That end of clip that you whacked is now your oiler and you will dip it in oil and touch each hole coming thru the back plate that has a shaft running thru it. Use any oil you have around, razor oil, sewing machine oil, motor oil, or 3 in 1 oil. Just don't use WD-40 or any spray oil. You can see the steel of the shafts and usually there are indentations around it in the brass that help hold the oil. Now, here is the most important part. Trace your finger up the pendulum, follow up on that metal hanger and you will see a wire looped around the hanger and it goes up into the movement at a 90 degree angle. That sounds complicated but you will see it as soon as you open the back. I'm not talking about what the pendulum hanger wire is suspended from but a wire the pendulum hanger slips thru. At the end of that wire is a brass wheel with sharp teeth on it called the escape wheel. When the pendulum moves back and forth it lets off the power one tooth at a time. You need to take your paper clip oiler and touch a drop of oil to about every other tooth. Just move the pendulum back and forth to get the wheel to move. If it doesn't you may have to tug slightly on the chain. When the escapement dries out, the clock won't run long. Now that you've oiled the escapement put a drop of oil on that loop the hanger goes thru and on the very top of the hanger where it is suspended from and moves on. If your clock is ever going to run without professional help it will do so now. Equally as important is the leveling of the clock. You may get a little life from this, you may get a lot or nothing will happen. The oil in these clocks turns to gum and the brass filings mix with that and they start wearing those pivot holes you oiled into an oval shape from the gravity of the weight. Once those ovals get too wide the gears separate enough to stop the clock or slow it down to where it will barely run. I hope this will fix you up. </div><div>How to tell if your clock is significantly worn or not </div><div>Caution: do not lay the clock on its back or turn it over because the chains are only held on their sprockets by gravity and will come off. While looking in the back pull up and down on one chain. Another words tug back and forth on the winding chain and the weight chain of one wheel. Watch the back plate where the steel rods the gears ride on come through the plate. Particularly the 2nd gear up from the bottom. If that steel pivot rod is jumping back and forth in the hole then you have significant wear. Keep doing it and look at the other holes as you go up each train as you are pulling. If your case is big enough to get your hand in there just wiggle the bottom gear that the chain rides on. You will get the same effect. Usually the wear starts on that second gear but it is normal to have 2 or 3 gears worn that much on a clock that has been run a lot. The wear causes the gears to start separating and they don't mesh well. That causes it to loose power all the way up the train of gears. . Try the time side also to check for wear. If one side is worn, it is likely that the other side isn't far behind.</div><div>Cyndy, I hope this helps get your clock going. I get questions from all over the world and I like to help people help themselves where they can and at least be well informed as to what may be wrong with their clocks so they can make good decisions. Thanks for pointing out that my website is down and I hope you have a good week. </div><div>Sincerely, </div><div>John "Papa" Barnette </div><div>www.cuckooclockdoctor.com </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>----- Original Message ----- </div><div>From: Cyndy </div><div>To: papa@cuckooclockdoctor.com </div><div>Sent: Sunday, March 01, 2009 6:55 PM </div><div>Subject: Cuckoo won't run </div><div>Hi, </div><div> </div><div>I am looking for information about oiling/lubricating my cuckoo clock. It is 37 years old and has never been lubricated . . . it is now in need of something as it will not keep ticking. As far as I can tell (having taken it apart), it just needs some oil. I have some sewing machine oil which I think I may use and wondered if it would work. </div><div>Good luck with your webpage! </div><div>Cyndy</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>"Papa" Barnettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14072414587107676128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843027809910335902.post-45389315515604344862009-01-05T22:00:00.000-08:002009-01-05T22:02:21.902-08:00Dear Customers,<br /><br />I want to thank you for your business in 2008. If you need any cuckoo clock repairs or information, as always don't hesitate to ask. Thanks Again,<br /><br />John "Papa" Barnette <br /><a href="http://www.cuckooclockdoctor.com/">www.cuckooclockdoctor.com</a><br /><a href="http://www.cuckooclockdoctor.com/repairprices.html">www.cuckooclockdoctor.com/repairprices.html</a>"Papa" Barnettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14072414587107676128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843027809910335902.post-64219825188102917552008-04-08T21:54:00.000-07:002008-04-08T22:17:08.178-07:00Nice comments from cuckoo clock repair customersAs you may know, I take on all cuckoo clock repair questions at my website. Here is a letter I received after a questioner phoned me to see if I would be insulted if he sent me enough money to take me and Mrs. Papa out to lunch. All I had done was answer his question about setting his cuckoo clock hands. I get lots of calls with questions about cuckoos and my services, but this was a first. I told him it wasn't expected, I don't mind answering cuckoo clock questions. I get them all the time from someone who bought a clock that didn't meet expectations when it got there from eBay. I certainly didn't mind helping this fellow repair his treasured clock by email. I expected nothing in return<br /><br />03-12-08<br /><br />Hi "Papa" John,<br /><br />I just wanted to thank you again for your precise advice on setting my cuckoo hands correctly. I got it right on the second try. Enclosed is a small token of my appreciation. It won't buy you and your wife a steak dinner, but it might buy you both breakfast at your local diner. If you are ever in the northern New Jersey/Eastern Pennsylvania area give me a call and I'll buy you another breakfast.<br /><br />Sincerely, BA and phone#"Papa" Barnettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14072414587107676128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843027809910335902.post-71690826351386325022008-02-29T18:56:00.000-08:002008-02-29T19:01:04.741-08:00I'll be selling some fine cuckoos before ChristmasDear customers,<br /><br />I'm always on the lookout for fine antiques cuckoo clocks that I can repair like new and sell for Christmas. If you run across any at a flea market or yard sale, let me know. I'm always in need of cases, bellows, movement, and weights. <br /><br />Many of my customers treasured clocks unfortunately have missing pieces. A new weight next to an old weight is very obvious. <br /><br />Try me, I'll buy your cuckoo!"Papa" Barnettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14072414587107676128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843027809910335902.post-62044914162342045742007-12-24T14:11:00.000-08:002007-12-24T14:17:01.764-08:00Ask me your Cuckoo Repair Questions before having your clock serviced!I'm John "Papa" Barnette<strong> The Cuckoo Clock Doctor</strong>. My website is <a href="http://www.cuckooclockdoctor.com/"><strong>www.cuckooclockdoctor.com</strong></a> . Whether yourcuckoo clock has been silent for 50 years or its brand new and the cat pulled it off the wall, finding a clock shop that will repair it can be frustrating. <strong>Most clock shops won't take in cuckoos</strong> because they are time consuming. When they do take them in they will replace your old movement and bellows with new ones. This saves them time and they will just add the cost of the new parts to their labor. Your old bellows and movements will wind up on eBay. <strong>Don't fall for the latest scam</strong>. There are some people advertising to oil and adjust your clock for a low price. If that is all your clock needs, <strong>save the shipping and just ask me</strong>. The gimmick price is a guaranteed loser because you will be charged for any and everything else that they can get away with.I don't work that way. My workshop is tooled up for just cuckoos. Cuckoo clocks are time consuming because you have to remove the bellows "the coo coo whistles", wires, the bird, weights, chains, and music box just to get to the movement. These are all crammed into a tiny case and their adjustment is critical. That is where experience with cuckoos pays off. Now, here is the rub. Generally old cuckoos have deteriorated fabric on the bellows causing the whistles not to work without an airtight fit. I replace the fabric on the bellows if needed. I won't try to sell you new tops or new bellows, I fix the originals. The same applies to the movement. I totally disassemble your movement and clean it ultrasonically. I polish all the pivots and check the front and back plates for wear. I will put in up to 4 bushings, (bearings in the plates that the gears rotate on) in the plates. If it needs more than 4 bushings you need a new movement and we can handle that if necessary. Before I put it back in the clock, I will run your movement for 1 week on a test stand connected to a computer. It will count every tick and every strike of the clock, and spot problems if any. After, I reassemble your clock, I will time it, set the beat, and then run the clock for an additional week before shipping it safely back to you. I will include full instructions on setting up your clock."Papa" Barnettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14072414587107676128noreply@blogger.com0