Chimes not loud enough

[EricPringle]

Hi all, I've aquired a Kieninger movement for which I intend building a case. I have however mounted it on a saddle board to test it and measure the weight drop, pendulum swing etc. The chimes are mounted on a piece of 16 mm supawood (MDF).
The volume of the chimes is rather disappointing. I expected it to chime louder. Once the gong is mounted to a backing board will the resonance of the board will improve the sound? Also does the case need to be vented for the sound to escape? I've seen plans with no board in the bottom of the pedestal, plans with the bottom of the pedestal closed. How thick should the backing board be for optimum sound?

Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

See attached pic of setup.

[ColW]

Hi Eric i'll take some measurements off my old longcase and get
back to you with that. You can trust that once the chimes are
in the case they will most certainly sound different, as far as
volume, you don't want them too loud trust me.

[EricPringle]

Hi ColW, Thanks I'll appreciate it. The reason I want it loud is that I've got 5 other clocks that chime and I'm afraid it'll get lost in the cacophony. If you've ever listened to Pink Floyd's Time you'll know what my house sounds like every hour on the hour:roll:. I once put up a mate of mine for the night as he had a car accident and couldn't get home. He bitched like hell the next morning, complaining that the clocks kept him awake the whole night.

[ColW]

Hi Eric,
I don't mind a bit of Pink Floyd, just not at 5am :wink:

Ok i had a squiz, the set up's a little different as the machanism
and chimes are seperate. The chimes are mounted directly to the
back of the case, which is about 8mm solid timber running the full
length of the case, about 1800mm. There's no inner framework
within the case itself. The clock is circa 1920's and by no means
top of the range, very basic solid construction, with an arc at the
top which i suppose adds form, and function for the acoustics.

The mechanism is then supported on a board 18mm and slides between
two rails on either side of the case, this board is only wide enough to
support the mech. and even then has holes bored out for the chains.
This allows more open space behind the mech. i suppose and doesn't
absorb or hinder any soundwaves.

The only deliberate evidence of venting is the fact , as you said, there's
no board within the pedestal, the case sits on small feet about 30mm
above the floor.

I'm no expert on case clocks, so these are just observations, but
i will say that my clock has a beautiful deep resonance and i really
enjoy owning it.
If you'd like some pics of the mountings etc i can post some up later

Cheers
col.

[clockmaker]

Mounting chime block is most important, it must be solid mounted if possible to the case itself and on heavy timber, there is an optimum strike point on the chime, usually about 1 inch from base, trial and error.. Venting is not required as the clock case is itself is a sounding board.

[EricPringle]

Thanks all