A quarter strike is a clock striking mechanism that sounds the quarter hours as well as the hours. In its simplest form, often called ting-tang striking, the clock sounds a pair of notes on two bells once at the first quarter, twice at the half and three times at the three-quarters, before striking the hour in full.
Quarter striking was known on much earlier turret clocks, but in domestic clocks it appears on fine English bracket and longcase clocks of the late Stuart and Georgian periods, sometimes on a set of bells. It is distinct from a full quarter chime, which plays a tune such as the Westminster chime on several bells or gongs at each quarter, although the terms are sometimes used loosely. French carriage clocks of the nineteenth century often have grande sonnerie or petite sonnerie striking, related forms that sound the quarters regularly, as well as repeat mechanisms. A quarter-striking movement needs an additional train of wheels, so it represents a more complex and usually more valuable clock. When buying, check that the striking is correctly synchronised with the hands, that all bells are present and that the mechanism has been properly serviced by a specialist.
