Watch this space for current and upcoming news of all things horological and mechanically interesting, as well as helpful support information for all your fine clocks. NCI is your source for the finest timepieces since 1953.
Thursday, January 19, 2006
1200, 1300, 8200
Our best-selling cuckoo clocks are IN STOCK. Order today to make sure you have a supply of the 1200, 1300, and 8200 models.
Wednesday, January 04, 2006
More help with cuckoo clocks
North Coast Imports is the best solution to providing cuckoo clocks of the best quality with the best service. We have 53 years experience.
We go on to prove our excellence by providing the following answers to frequently asked questions. For further reference take a look at the sketch below.
"My cuckoo calls three times and it's four o'clock." or "How can I get my cuckoo to call the correct amount of times on the hour?"
ANSWER: This is a really simple fix.
1. Slowly turn the minute hand clockwise until the clock calls. If it calls once, let it finish and then proceed until it calls again. Count the number of times the cuckoo calls.
2. Carefully move the hour hand to the correct hour according to how many calls you just heard. For example, if it chimed 3 times, move it to the 3:00 position.
3. The hour hand is a friction fit on the hour-hand cannon. Press down on the base of the hand to firmly fix it in place.
4. When setting the clock, remember not to touch the hour hand again. Just move the minute hand counterclockwise to the correct time. In other words, it is better to move the minute hand backwards until you reach the correct time. If you only move the minute hand, the hour hand will follow along slowly.
"My hour hand is always pointing to the six." or "Why won't my hour hand move?"
ANSWER:
The hour hand simply came loose and you will have to secure it more firmly onto the hour-hand cannon. Follow the instructions above to make sure you have the hour hand pointing to the correct number.
Be sure to slide the hour hand back (towards the dial of the clock) so that it fits snuggly. It is best to use your thumbnails on the round part of the hour hand. Don't push on the tip of the hour hand as this may cause breakage.
"My cuckoo calls multiple times on the half hour and only once on the hour." or "How can I correct the way my cuckoo clock chimes?"
ANSWER:
You will need to loosen the threaded hand nut on the end of the hand shaft. The minute hand is sandwiched between this nut and the locking nut. Carefully loosen or remove the hand nut so that you can freely move the minute hand without turning the locking nut. Turn the minute hand to a point 180 degrees ahead (or behind) and refasten the hand nut.
We go on to prove our excellence by providing the following answers to frequently asked questions. For further reference take a look at the sketch below.
"My cuckoo calls three times and it's four o'clock." or "How can I get my cuckoo to call the correct amount of times on the hour?"
ANSWER: This is a really simple fix.
1. Slowly turn the minute hand clockwise until the clock calls. If it calls once, let it finish and then proceed until it calls again. Count the number of times the cuckoo calls.
2. Carefully move the hour hand to the correct hour according to how many calls you just heard. For example, if it chimed 3 times, move it to the 3:00 position.
3. The hour hand is a friction fit on the hour-hand cannon. Press down on the base of the hand to firmly fix it in place.
4. When setting the clock, remember not to touch the hour hand again. Just move the minute hand counterclockwise to the correct time. In other words, it is better to move the minute hand backwards until you reach the correct time. If you only move the minute hand, the hour hand will follow along slowly.
"My hour hand is always pointing to the six." or "Why won't my hour hand move?"
ANSWER:
The hour hand simply came loose and you will have to secure it more firmly onto the hour-hand cannon. Follow the instructions above to make sure you have the hour hand pointing to the correct number.
Be sure to slide the hour hand back (towards the dial of the clock) so that it fits snuggly. It is best to use your thumbnails on the round part of the hour hand. Don't push on the tip of the hour hand as this may cause breakage.
"My cuckoo calls multiple times on the half hour and only once on the hour." or "How can I correct the way my cuckoo clock chimes?"
ANSWER:
You will need to loosen the threaded hand nut on the end of the hand shaft. The minute hand is sandwiched between this nut and the locking nut. Carefully loosen or remove the hand nut so that you can freely move the minute hand without turning the locking nut. Turn the minute hand to a point 180 degrees ahead (or behind) and refasten the hand nut.
Sunday, January 01, 2006
Care of your Castle Clocks
No matter how well merchandise is packaged, it sometimes happens that certain parts are knocked loose during shipping. Certainly during the busiest shopping time of year we have come to expect some minor mishaps with some of our products.
Rather than waste time with warranty claims and the nuisance of not having your beautiful new clock on your wall (where it belongs) take a moment to check this website or contact us at clocks@NorthCoastImports.com and see if you can solve the problem yourself. Much of the technology of these old-world clocks have been honed over generations so that some adjustments can be easily made by the clock novice.
If the dial of our Sternreiter Castle Clock with the 8-day weight driven mechanism was knocked loose during shipping refer to the following pictures and see if you can reattach it yourself.
The above picture is a side view of the dial of a Sternreiter Castle Clock. Here you can see how a heavy spring fits over and around the large spindle at the bottom (or 6:00 position) of the dial.
In the above picture you can see how the end of this same spindle fits into the corresponding hole in the movement plate. There is a small clip which fits around the end of the spindle to hold the dial firmly in place. Notice in the next picture how the clip fits around the end of the spindle.
Rather than waste time with warranty claims and the nuisance of not having your beautiful new clock on your wall (where it belongs) take a moment to check this website or contact us at clocks@NorthCoastImports.com and see if you can solve the problem yourself. Much of the technology of these old-world clocks have been honed over generations so that some adjustments can be easily made by the clock novice.
If the dial of our Sternreiter Castle Clock with the 8-day weight driven mechanism was knocked loose during shipping refer to the following pictures and see if you can reattach it yourself.
The above picture is a side view of the dial of a Sternreiter Castle Clock. Here you can see how a heavy spring fits over and around the large spindle at the bottom (or 6:00 position) of the dial.
In the above picture you can see how the end of this same spindle fits into the corresponding hole in the movement plate. There is a small clip which fits around the end of the spindle to hold the dial firmly in place. Notice in the next picture how the clip fits around the end of the spindle.
Care of the quartz cuckoo clock
North Coast Imports offers a wide variety of cuckoo clocks - we even have caught up with technology in our offering of electronic, or battery powered cuckoos. These fine clocks are more in tune with modern life yet they offer the old-world charm of the originals.
If you are lucky enough to be a proud new owner of these clocks please pay careful attention to the instructions included with the clock. In addition, the following information may be helpful:
Please do not use Energizer Brand batteries. Energizer uses a plastic covering over its terminals which may impede the contact with the clock movement terminals. Try another brand.
Depending on the model you have, the pendulum leader may need to be freed before use. Pictured below is a sketch of the backside of the clock with the back piece removed.
Check and see if the pendulum leader which hangs from the fulcrum at the top of the movement is to one side. Some models have this pendulum leader secured to remain immovable during shipping. In order for your clock to run properly, this pendulum leader must hang free so that it can move from side to side.
In the picture below you can see how you have to unfasten the pendulum leader from a stationary post. Simply unclip the pendulum leader from this post.
NOTE: in some instances (depending on the type and size of clock you have) this post and clip may not be visible behind the battery pack. If you can see that the end of the pendulum leader is firmly fixed to one side, try moving it to the opposite side to allow it to move properly.
By the way, unlike mechanical clocks, the pendulum on quartz clocks is not an integral feature. Quartz clocks will work perfectly without any pendulum at all.
If you are lucky enough to be a proud new owner of these clocks please pay careful attention to the instructions included with the clock. In addition, the following information may be helpful:
Please do not use Energizer Brand batteries. Energizer uses a plastic covering over its terminals which may impede the contact with the clock movement terminals. Try another brand.
Depending on the model you have, the pendulum leader may need to be freed before use. Pictured below is a sketch of the backside of the clock with the back piece removed.
Check and see if the pendulum leader which hangs from the fulcrum at the top of the movement is to one side. Some models have this pendulum leader secured to remain immovable during shipping. In order for your clock to run properly, this pendulum leader must hang free so that it can move from side to side.
In the picture below you can see how you have to unfasten the pendulum leader from a stationary post. Simply unclip the pendulum leader from this post.
NOTE: in some instances (depending on the type and size of clock you have) this post and clip may not be visible behind the battery pack. If you can see that the end of the pendulum leader is firmly fixed to one side, try moving it to the opposite side to allow it to move properly.
By the way, unlike mechanical clocks, the pendulum on quartz clocks is not an integral feature. Quartz clocks will work perfectly without any pendulum at all.
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