Tall Case Clock Kit GMKIT6

Tall Case Grandfather Clock Kit Kieninger is one of the best German clock movements you can buy. With thick plates and outstanding reliability, these movements last the test of time. A nice clock case to build for this kit would be a taller case where depth is not a concern but with some what of a narrower width. What makes this unit tall is of course the pendulum length, the depth is pretty deep with the longer two inch hand shaft and rear hammers, the width can be narrow as the weights are 47mm wide and has a smaller pendulum bob. All this makes for a nice tall case unit with a variable width to a very narrow possibility. The width of the case would depend on the pendulum bob chosen, there should be 2 inches on each side of the pendulum bob at minimum for the pendulum to swing back and forth. It can have an open or closed waist depending on if you want to see the pendulum through a glass window or not. The pendulum length is 116cm from the top of the movements pendulum post, all the way down to the very bottom of the pendulum rating nut threads. If you were to take the pendulum off the clock and measure it from tip to tip off of the clock it would be around 42 inches. The bob width Options The "Bob" is the round disc at the bottom of the pendulum, it can be a variety of widths. To select the width of the bob, you need to first measure how wide the waist of the clock is. The bob size selected should have at least two inches on each side to swing back and forth.

Assistance = 800-381-7458

Kieninger Grandmother Clock Kit
  • Kieninger SKS
  • Westminster
  • Chain Driven
  • 11 x 14 7/8 Dial
  • Stick Pendulum
  • Handshaft is 52mm
  • 2-year warranty

Listen to Westminster

Components are installed in this order

1. Chimeblock

Chimeblock Description The chimeblock will mount to the back of the clock case by the included hardware. It has 8 premounted, pretuned chime rods and an overall length of about 27 inches through the block. Chimeblock Installation The back of the clock case will only need the four holes drilled to mount this. The bolts have a flat head screw driver slot on the ends, they go through the washer and install from the back of the case to the inside. The washers keep the bolts from going through the wood back and they thread right into the chimeblock. Sometimes it is good to have a spacer block mounted on the inside of the clock case where the chimeblock will mount. Keep in mind that the chime blocks positioning only has to be approximate as the movements hammers are meant to be bent into final position. What this means is it does not have to be dead on, just pretty close to where the movements hammers will be. It should be positioned so the tops of the hammer heads are about 1/2 or 1 inch down from the block that the chimerods come out of. The final adjustment will come later when you bend the hammer wires as to make the head about 1/8 away from the chime rod. This spacing between the head and the rod is so it will not thud or double hit. If you just do each hammer so it sounds good down the line, you will have a nice song at the end.  

2. Movement

Movement Description The chain driven Westminster movement will run 8 days on a single wind up. It comes factory oiled and ready for installation. It includes its chains, mounting screws and washers, the leader, the suspension spring, hand nut and moon dial gear. It has two square shaped outer plates made of brass with the puzzle of gearing between them, and then it has the hammers on the back, 4 on one side for the chime and 4 on the other for the strike. Movement Installation The movement will need a seat board to mount on. A seat board can consist of only two parallel board strips that are approximately 2 x 2 square. These two boards run along the bottom of the hood of the case, spaced about 1 inch apart. The front plate of the movement sits on one board while the back plate sits on the other. The chains drop down between the boards to suspend the movement in the air where everything else will dangle from it. The movement is secured from underneath with the included two screws and rectangle washers. The washers are rectangle as it will clamp each seat board while the screw goes up to the movements bottom pillar post's threaded hole.  

3. Dial

Dial Description Includes a Tempus Fugit style dial that is 11 x 14 7/8. The silver and brass tone dial has raised numerals. Dial Installation The first thing to do is install the selector switch to turn off the chimes to the clock. Find the small steel arm that is about 1 1/2 inches in length with a set screw. This will go on the arm coming out of the clock movements right hand side. That is to say, your right as you face the front of the clock movement there is an arm sticking out the movement. The selector arm gets put on by sliding over that larger arm and secured with the set screw. It may or may not already be mounted on the movement, but if it is not, it only needs to be able to come through the slot at 3 o'clock. This will enable the customer to change the chime to silent. Mounting the dial is easy as it only has to be attached to the wood case. The usual way this is done is drilling four pilot holes in the corners of the dial and use some small brass screws to secure it.  

4. Hour and Minute Hands

Hands Description Black Serpentine style hour and minute hands sized for the dial diameter. Hand Installation The hour hand has a round hole and is only a friction fit onto the post. It will be able to move forward or backward to adjust the time. The minute hand has a 2mm square hole in the rotatable mounting bushing. The minute hand is secured with the included minute hand nut. If the clock ends up chiming at other times than the quarters, do the following. Take the minute hand off of the clock, this is the longer of the two hands. With this minute hand off of the clock, turn it upside down, you will see it has a square hole where it attaches to the clock. Well this square hole is in a bushing that will rotate WITHIN the minute hand itself. So just use needle nose pliers to turn this bushing so the square in the bushing rotates. Then put the hand back on the clock and see if it is pointing to the correct place where it chimed. Then set to time.  

6. Pendulum

Pendulum Description The wood stick pendulum will come unstained so it can be stained like the case on the customers end. It is a simple design that is good for the rustic antique style look. Pendulum Installation The wood stick style pendulum will include the bob included separate in the packaging. The bob will need to be mounted to the bottom of the sticks rating nut threads, with the nut on the threads to secure it. This is called the rating assembly and it holds the pendulum bob on and is used to adjust the time keeping of the clock. If you turn the nut at the bottom as to raise the pendulum bob a little, this will speed up time. Reverse for slowing of time. After the movement is in, its only a matter of hanging the pendulum on its leader. The term leader is that pendulum hanger on the back of the movement that swings back and forth. Be gentle with the pendulum and leader, no violent moves, just hang it on there and then stop the pendulum from wobbling around.  

7. Weights

Weights Description The kit includes three polished brass tone weights that are 47mm in diameter. The weights are shipped complete with fillers already assembled. Please note, these are tricky to ship as upon shifting back and forth sometimes the end caps get slightly damaged or concave. If this is the situation just let us know and we will ship out new end caps free of charge. Weight Installation Do not touch the weights with your bare hands as you can discolor them. It is best to use gloves or a rag to handle them. These weights may or may not all weigh the same, usually they do not. If they do not, the heaviest weight goes on your right as you face the clock. Out of the two that are left, if there is one lighter weight, this will go on your left as you face the clock. The reason for the inconsistency of the weight specifications is due to factors such as pendulum bob diameter and also the weights function. To hang the weights on is easy, there are three chains with the clock that loop over there sprockets in the movement. Just hang the weight on the side of the chain that has the hook on it, and then stop it from wobbling around.