North Coast Imports, Inc.

North Coast Imports is pleased to present Sternreiter's new line of mechanical alarm clocks . These charming pieces are inexpensive and sold either individually or by a box of 24. They come in five different colors, and are all metal!

One thing German manufacturers needed to clarify when building clocks was which way the shut-off switches work. Many manufacturers have tried with different kinds of markings on stickers placed near the shut-off switches. But what if these stickers come off? Or, what if they come off and are put back on upside down? Here is an easy way to tell if your chime/cuckoo is turned off or on: The way to tell if the shut-off switch is in the correct position is to listen for a “click” when moving the minute (larger) hand slowly clockwise past the hour or half hour. If there is a click=the shut-off is on, no click=the shut-off is off. Sometimes the sticker next to the shut-off switch can be confusing. It is best not to trust this sticker, and to go by the simple gauge (click=on, no click=off)

Clock movements are really very simple, when you compare them to electronics. Brass clock movements are generally not influenced by all but the most extreme static electricity, temperature fluctuations, humidity changes, or magnetic fields. Once all of a clock movement's wheels have turned 1 revolution, there is no reason why they shouldn't keep making those revolutions for at least 2 years time without service unless some physical change has come to them. Unless it has been moved or jostled there is no reason to expect that any modern mechanical clock should develop any new problem after a week's worth of good running. If your clock stopped working properly "out of the clear blue sky," take a moment to double check the following: 1. "Is the clock hanging straight?" Forget about how straight the clock looks on the wall. Use your ears. You should be listening for an even TICK TOCK ( listen ) sound. If you hear an uneven tick TOCK or TOCK tick ( listen ) s...