Hardware for Clocks

Notes on Mechanical Clock Parts – Hardware for Clocks

Here are some various mechanical clock parts to help with clock repair. This clock parts page is basically the mix hardware that is sometimes needed. For parts to a pendulum please see This Page instead.

For clock hands, see the clock hands page. The most popular items on this clock parts page would be the German hand nuts and the taper pins. If you order glass be sure to get the correct size as these are returned and swapped often.

Mechanical Clock Parts

We have far more Mechanical Clock Parts then what is displayed here, please use the search bar up top of the page for more. Offering a full line of Hermle clock parts and components as well.


Mechanical Clock Movement Identification - Rather then repairing it sometimes just makes more sense to replace. Save time and money on repairs.

Mechanical Clock Parts InformationAbout mechanical hand nutsAbout clicks and click springs
Mechanical clock parts information and important facts to know. Additionally, it is not always easy to get parts for an antique clock. Many of the parts are now obsolete and the older the clock the harder things are to find.

Subsequently, it is not uncommon to need a part custom made. If that's the case, we may be able to help. Please email pictures of the movement to us here at Clockworks.

Mechanical clock hand nuts

One of the most common parts a Mechanical clock needs is the hand nut. As we said before, the older the clock the harder things are to find. So, the hand nuts Clockworks offer are for movements made after the 1930's.

Prior to 1930 clock hand nuts

There were not many standards on what the hand nut size should be on the early clocks. However, prior to around 1930 there is no telling what will work. In other words, it is literally trial and error. There was no standard hand nut size.

Subsequently, any hand nut we offer, may, or may not, work. This includes cuckoo hand nuts, American clock hand nuts, or German hand nuts. However, with even all of these assortments, there is a chance none of them will work on the clock.

Post 1930 clock hand nuts

Generally speaking, what we have to offer in the three types of clock hand nuts will cover most of the post 1930 Mechanical clocks.

The cuckoo hand nuts fit about 80% of the post war German made cuckoo clocks.

So, the American clock hand nuts fit many of the mechanical time strikes that were so popular. German hand nuts fit most post war German made mechanical clocks, with the exception being a few large grandfather clocks.

Clocks that do not take a hand nut

However, not all clocks require a hand nut. Some antique mechanical clocks require a clock hand washer and a tapered pin instead. These secure the minute hand as an alternative to the hand nut.

The washer may have a small square hole, or large, oblong or round hole. Clockworks offers an assortment of 100 clock hand washers that includes all the styles above. Use a taper pin to secure the hand with the washer on top of it.

Insert the taper pin into the hole in the end of the minute hand arbor to secure the washer and minute hand to the clock. A taper pin is a small brass or steel rod that is wide on one end and skinny on the other. Clockworks offers them in an assortment of 100 to ensure the right one is there.

The content of this website is copyright by Clockworks and written by James Stoudenmire in year 2022

Clicks and click springs

Mechanical clocks with a ratchet wheel use clicks. This can mean a spring driven clock or a weight driven clock.

Clicks keep it wound in only one direction. Both have a ratcheting function as in a wheel being able to turn one way only. It spins one way and makes a clicking sound when this is done. That clicking sound is the click. This is the small part that makes the wheel turn in only one direction.

The click is held in the down position with some pressure from what is known as a click spring.

Clicks on spring driven movements

Often when a mainspring breaks the click will loosen considerably from the shock.

Replace or tighten the loose click to ensure it will not let go when winding the clock with the key.

It is not uncommon to think the mainspring broke when really the click eventually came loose and let the mainspring slip. Once the click on the ratchet slips the mainspring lets loose and momentum of it unwinding is unstoppable.

Clicks on weight driven movements

In general, this is a harder style to replace and not really available on the market. If you need these for a weight driven ratchet wheel it is best to replace the entire wheel. Replacing the entire wheel will include the ratchet wheel, the arbor it is on and also the gear.

It will have the click and spring on it all as one unit. This maybe the ratchet wheel on a chain driven clock or a cable drum for a cable driven clock. In both situations it is best to replace the entire component with the click and spring together. That way is it complete and done the best and quickest way.

The content of this website is copyright by Clockworks and written by James Stoudenmire in year 2022

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    351-350 Clock Mounting Brackets

    Clock Movement Mounting Brackets set of 2. This is for a front mounting a Hermle 351 or 350 series clock movement. Do not remove all four hex nuts on the movement plates at once or it will come disassembled.

    RC23: $10.00
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    400-Day Suspension Springs 12-Pack

    These are a pack of 12 suspension springs for a 400-Day clock. Furthermore, these are the springs only with no fork or blocks. So install the old blocks and fork or purchase new ones. Of course, these are the most common suspension springs which are all even thicknesses.

    AN1-1: $33.00
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    American Clock Hand Nuts

    A mixture of steel and brass American clock hand nuts. This is a 12 pack of hand nuts that are all the same thread size. They are likely to fit American time strike units made from around 1930 to 1950's.

    CP14: $15.00
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    Anniversary Clock Suspension Springs

    Single Strength suspension springs in a three pack. These are the springs only with no fork or blocks.

    AN1: $10.00$14.00
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    Antique Clock Suspension Spring

    Most round antique clock movements use this spring. These clocks were popular prior to 1950 and goes way back from there.

    SUS-C: $28.00
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    Antique Pendulum Suspension Spring

    A brand new suspension spring that fits some antique clock movements made prior to 1950. Please match up the appearance and measurements against the broken spring to replace. It is called a suspension because it suspends the pendulum in the air.

    SUS-D: $15.00
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    Brass Bell For Strike

    5 1/8" Wide round brass bell for a bell strike clock movement. Has a hole in the top and can be screwed to the wooden case. Typically mounts on the top side roof or bracket for an above strike hammer movement.

    BrassBell: $30.00
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    Brass Bracket Clock Handle

    Solid brass and excellent quality brass handle for a bracket clock. Measures 3 1/2 inch wide, 1 1/2 inch tall to the top of the brass handle. A Bracket clock is a square clock case and this is the handle that mounts to the very top.

    CP43: $30.00
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    Brass Clock Rivet Assortment

    Pack of 100 brass rivets in various sizes and lengths. Very useful in many clock repair applications.

    CP33: $10.00
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    Clock Case Eagle Finial

    Clock Case Eagle Finial Brass decorative eagle finial that is very heavy for its size. This is the top decoration for a grandfather clock case. The finial is 4 1/2 inches tall. The threaded screw is 4.5mm wide and the ball base is 48mm wide.

    CP12: $30.00
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    Clock Case Spiral Finial

    Brass decorative spiral finial that is very heavy for its size. This is the top decoration for a grandfather clock case. The finial is 4 1/2 inches tall. The threaded screw is 4.5mm wide and the ball base is 48mm wide.

    CP11: $30.00
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    Clock Chain End Hooks

    Hook and ring set for chain driven floor clock models. The chain link only consists of a bent wire that loops around to itself. Only needs two needle nose pliers to open the connecting point on the link and install these pieces.

    CP16: $7.00
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    Clock Chime block Mounts

    These are the screws and washers that mounts the chime block to the clock case. The chime block has threaded holes usually and these screws go through the case and into the chime block. These are the universal thread size for most chime blocks.

    CBMOUNT: $5.00
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    Clock Chime Selector Rod

    Clock chime selector rod provides an alternative to the chime selection switch. (The switch that would typically come through the dial at 3 o'clock.)

    SelectorRod: $15.00
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    Clock Click Spring Assortment 33PC

    Small clock click spring assortment, these hold the click so the clock will wind in only one direction. There are 33 springs in the assortment. Will fit many Antique German, American, and French clock movements.

    CP36: $43.00
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    Clock Clicks Rivets Assortment

    An assortment of 50 piece click and rivets for mechanical clocks. These are useful to use on antique spring driven American time strike clock movements. Not easy to find the proper click on these units, but this assortment usually solves the problem.

    CP5: $10.00