There are two types of striking mechanisms: Rack & Snail (R&S), and the Count Wheel (CW). The R&S will automatically correct the sequence if you let the clock run down, or move the hands on the clock without stopping for it to strike or chime. This is assuming that you have not moved the hour (short) hand. If it is striking something different than the hands show ( Out of Sequence) see "Hour Hand Adjustment" below.

With the CW strike you must stop at every hour (and half hour if it applies) to allow your clock to strike. Failing to do so will get the clock out of sequence. In other words, your clock may show 3:00 and strike 10 times. You will have to manually correct this.

Correcting the Sequence: From the example above your clock shows 3:00, but strikes 10 times. On some of the Gingerbread or Kitchen clocks they have a small wire that hangs down below the dial (on the left side).This would also be on the old Calendar clocks. If your clock does not have a wire, then see "Hour Hand Adjustment" below.

By lightly pushing up on the wire it will activate the strike, and advance it by one strike. You will continue to trip the wire and advance the strike until the striking agrees with the time the hands show. Once it is in sequence you will advance the minute hand (ONLY) to the next half hour, and allow it to complete its strike before advancing to the next half hour. Continue advancing the minute hand until you reach the correct time. (Some of the very old clocks only struck on the hour).

Hour Hand Adjustment: Most clocks with the CW strike do not have the trip wire, so you must move the HOUR hand to correct this. First advance the minute hand to the next half hour and count the times the clock strikes. Let's assume the clock shows 3:30 and stuck 10 times. Now advance the clock to 4:00. It now strikes once (for the half hour). The first thing we must do is get the hour striking on the hour, instead of half hour.

This time when you advance the minute hand go one complete revolution from 4:00 to 5:00 and do not stop at 4:30. Now the hands are showing 5:00 and the clock just completed striking 11 times. At this point you will move the hour hand only to point to 11.The hour hand may be moved in either direction without damage. The clock now shows 11:00 and is in sequence with the striking of the clock. With the minute hand only, you will advance the hands, as you stop every half hour. Wait for the strike to complete before advancing to the next half hour. Continue this until you reach the correct time. Now the clock is set and striking correctly. To avoid having to go through this process, fully wind all mainsprings on your clock once a week. If you plan to be away for more than a few days, stop the clock from running. Then when you return you will only need to swing the pendulum, wind and set the clock.

The CW striking clocks can get out of sequence from allowing them to completely running down, moving the hour hand when setting the time, or by not stopping and allowing the clock to strike as you set the time. Clocks with the R&S strike will not be affected by running down, or failing to stop and allow the clock to strike.

Do not use the hour hand for setting the time on any clock. The only time it is necessary or correct to move the hour hand is when you are adjusting it to agree with the striking.

If you have a CW striking clock that gets out of sequence during the running week, it may be in need of adjusting. Before you take it to the clockmaker, be sure you are fully winding the clock.

The R&S strike is capable of striking correct on some hours and incorrect on others. Once again this would be in need of internal adjustments by the clockmaker.

My clock is striking one (or several) hours off: This is typically due to the hour hand being moved. This is a common occurrence when the clock is adjusted for "Daylight Savings Time", or back to "Standard Time". See "Hour Hand Adjustment" above.