American Hand Nuts

American Clock Hand Nuts

(22 reviews)

$15.00

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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.

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CP14: $15.00
Mechanical Clock Hands are the arms that point to the numbers 1 to 12 so you know what time of day it is. Clock hands come in a variety of lengths.
Mechanical Clock HandsHand RemovalHand InstallationOrdering Mech HandsChime On Time FixAbout Hand Nuts

Please view these information tabs to help get Mechanical Clock Hands.

Removing Mechanical Clock Hands

Removing Mechanical Clock Hands is fast and easy to do. The following are hand removal instructions for German mechanical movements post WW2.

German Post WW2 wall, mantle and floor models

Removing mechanical clock hands for post WW2, mantle and floor clocks is quite simple. Turn the hand nut to the left while holding the minute hand with your fingers.

Use some small needle nose pliers to loosen the nut first. Once the nut is loose, turn it with your fingers until it comes off.

Then the minute hand will be able to wiggle straight off its square arbor and off of the clock. The hour hand is a friction fit, so just twist the hour hand back and forth and pull toward you until it comes off.

If having a second hand bit, that is only a friction also, so just grab it with your fingernails, twist and pull off.

American Antique time and strike

These type of movements come in two styles. If there is a minute hand nut, the first style is the same as above.

Be very careful not to lose this hand nut. They are very hard to find and replace. The second style of mechanical clock hands will have a pin holding the minute hand on instead of a nut.

This pin tapers, meaning it's fat on one side and skinny on the other. Just grab the fat side with needle nose pliers and yank the pin out. The minute hand will fall out with a washer.

Save the washer and the tapered pin for ease of reinstalling the hands. If these items happen to get lost, Clockworks offers washers and taper pins for purchase, as well as replacement mechanical clock hands.

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

German Mechanical-Clock Hand Installation

The German Mechanical-Clock Hand Installation on a German mechanical movement is quite simple. It is the reverse of theremoval.

If you are doing a replacement of the movement, or if the hands are new, the minute hand must go through some adjustments. This is so it will point to the correct time when it chimes.

German Mechanical-Clock Hand Installation

Installing the hour hand

First comes the hour hand. The hour hand is simply a friction fit. All you have to do is put the hand on its round post. Then twist and push toward the front of the dial.

One thing to be sure of is that it is not in contact with the dial at any point during the its rotation.

This includes the base of the hour hand. It cannot rub against the hole in the clock face itself. So, if at any point the hour hand touches anything the clock can stop. Because it is only a friction fit, you can turn the hand to point to whatever hour it is, just with your fingers.

Installing the minute hand

Second, comes the minute hand. The minute hand installation is done by putting the square hole in the hand, on the square post of the hand shaft. The bottom of the minute hand cannot be rubbing the hour hand tube or the hour hand. If it is, the hour hand has to be set lower on its tube.

Therefore, it is imperative to check the positioning of the hands to ensure they are not touching anything. With the minute hand on its square post, now it's time to put the hand nut on.

The nut goes on finger tight and then a little bit more with a pair of needle nose pliers to make it secure.

Mechanical Clock Hands

The German mechanical clock hands are sold by the time track diameter. When ordering these mechanical clock hands, this measurement is important. To clarify, the dial diameter is the measurement of the time track.

This means from just outside the 9 straight across to just outside the 3. For example, if this time track diameter is 6 inches, then select hands for a 6 inch time track in the drop down list. Hands for a 6 inch time track will have a minute hand of about 2 7/8 long from the mounting hole to the end.

The proportionally smaller hour hand will come with the minute hand. This is a vastly different way of measuring than the quartz clock hands. So be sure to follow these directions for measuring and not the ones for the quartz hands.

Ordering Hands

After getting the time track diameter measurement, it is time to choose a style for the mechanical clock hand. Under each style of hand, there is a drop down menu. Look to see if the style comes in the size needed for the clock.

Not all styles of hands come in the same sizes, so might have to look at the different options available. The most popular styles of mechanical clock hands are the serpentine and spade hands.

Remember, the minute hand will come a little less than half of this time track measurement. The hour hand will be proportional in size to the minute hand.

How they are sent

So, when ordering mechanical clock hands, remember that they come as a pair, hour and minute hand. They ship the next business day from Clockworks in Huntington MA USA, via the method that is chosen upon checkout.

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

Mechanical Clock Chime On Time

These are the directions to get a German mechanical clock to chime on time. This means having the clock hands point to the right spot when the clock chimes.

When replacing a clock movement, or getting new clock hands, either one, you will notice it will chime 5 minutes before it should, or 10 min after, something like this. This page explains how to correct this situation. It is unbelievably fast and easy to do.

Working with the minute hand

After the installation of a new mechanical movement , or if you are just installing a new set of hands, you may notice the clock will not chime at the time it should.

To correct this, 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 and look that it has a square hole where it attaches to the clock. This square hole is in a bushing that will rotate WITHIN the minute hand itself.

The correction

So, all to be done is just use needle nose pliers to turn this bushing ever so slightly. Put the hand back on the clock and see if it’s pointing to the correct place where it should chime.

If it is, then it all set and it will point to the exact place it should be pointing to. If it is still not right, take the hand off and try again. Once you get the minute hand to point to the correct chime you then set it to the correct time.

The conclusion

It is really that easy, there is nothing to do with the clock itself, only the minute hand. In other words, to put it in a silly way, take the minute hand off of the clock and walk to the garage with it.

Take it far, far away from the clock. When in your garage take needle nose pliers and turn the bushing within the hand itself. Then walk back to the clock and put it on. See if it's now pointing to the right spot.

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

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
Clock Hand Measurement

American Clock Hand Nuts

A mix 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.

Older American units are basically a gamble if these will work or not. This assortment is still the best odds for getting a hand nut for an antique American made mechanical clock.

Additional information

Weight0.1 lbs
Dimensions0.25 × 0.25 × 0.25 in

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Nancu Currans
Nancu Currans
5 months ago

I have a Sessions mantle clock. I need a nut that holds the clock hands on to the face. The diameter of the screw that holds the clock hands on is .075″. Can you instruct me on what to purchase.

Mark Gorman
Mark Gorman
8 months ago

Hello. I need a hand nut set for a 1970s era Ridgeway Grandfather clock. I assume that I should get an American hand nut set. Is that correct?

Mark Gorman
Mark Gorman
8 months ago

Thanks, James!

Steve Curll
Steve Curll
10 months ago

I have an Ethan Allen grandfather clock from late fifties or early 60’s which is missing a hand nut. Will I be able to use your American hand nut set?

Adrian Pattingly
Adrian Pattingly
1 year ago
Rating :
     

Thank you!

Michael Thomas Kearney
Michael Thomas Kearney
1 year ago

I have a mechanical Seth Thomas clock model A403-012 made in 06 1979. The movement was made in Germany for Seth Thomas and I need the nut that holds the minute hand on. Any advice? Mike

Michael Thomas Kearney
Michael Thomas Kearney
1 year ago

Thanks James, and thanks for the quick reply. I will order some. Thanks again, really appreciate it. Mike

Joyce
Joyce
1 year ago

I am looking for a replacement key/crank for my Howard Miller #613-489

THOMAS H. PUTNAM
THOMAS H. PUTNAM
1 year ago

HOW MANY SIZES HEX NUTS ARE FOR QUARTZ MECH CLOCK?

Mark
Mark
1 year ago

I have an empire clock around 1985 I need a hand nut which one do I order

Lois Hamilton
Lois Hamilton
1 year ago

I have a school house style clock made by my uncle, probably from the 60’s. No name on it. It needs a hand nut. Any suggestions please, and thank you.

Lois Hamilton
Lois Hamilton
1 year ago

Thank you, I’ll give it a try. Pretty sure it was made in the 1960’s!

John A Johnson
John A Johnson
1 year ago

When I tighten the minute hand nut the movement (Hermle) stops, if I loosen the nut all runs well but minute hand flops around. How would I remedy this (hopefully) simple problem?
Thanks
John

Robert Simon
Robert Simon
1 year ago

My mother has a Mason Sullivan Shaker wall clock. It has a spring wound movement with a working pendulum. I am looking to find replacement hand nuts. The original was blank, but this is not a requirement. Do you sell hand nuts that will fit? Thanks!

Vlad
Vlad
2 years ago

Hi! Will hand nuts (yours pack of 12) with clock model UW32001B (UW32319) ?

susan e kelleher
2 years ago

i have a dutch bell clock the has the pendulum with the horse and rider. the regulator nut came off so i need to replace it. which one should i buy

Mark McDade
Mark McDade
2 years ago

What size is the thread in these nuts? I need a #1-64tpi nut (for a 120 beat self-winding Western Union clock).

Andrew B Conversano
2 years ago

I have a Howard Miller Floor Grandfather Clock purchased new in Jan 1993. Somehow I have lost the adjusting disc from the bottom of the pendulum. I see how to order pendulums but not just the disc. Any advice ?

Thanks

David Boyer
David Boyer
2 years ago

is a Howard Miller grand father clock 1987 clock an American or German clock movement need hand face nut which set

David Boyer
David Boyer
2 years ago

I have a Miller Clock movement that does not have the nut on the end of the shaft holding the hands on. Is it likely that this kit will contain a nut that is able to replace this? 1980 Grandfather

Patricia Marshall
Patricia Marshall
2 years ago

I have a Seth Thomas ship”s brass clock that rings watches. The only identifying mark is the number one on the back of the clock. This clock was used in WW 1 or WW2. Would these hand nuts work on this clock?

Sean Albertson
Sean Albertson
2 years ago

We have inherited a Fugitive Tempus Seth Thomas grandfather clock and it is missing the center hand but. Is there a replacement for that specifically?

Carol Fuller
Carol Fuller
3 years ago

The knob I’m referring to is for a Howard Miller grandfather clock and it was black with tread inside. My clock stops when the hands are in the same spot ie.12,1.05etc.

Carol Fuller
Carol Fuller
3 years ago

Where do I find a hand nob that “holds the hands on

Dan Bell
Dan Bell
3 years ago

I have a Ridgeway clock movement that does not have the nut on the end of the shaft holding the hands on. Is it likely that this kit will contain a nut that is able to replace this?

Dan Bell
Dan Bell
3 years ago

Thanks for the prompt response!