No wax is applied. The movement determines the quality of the clock. Herschede movements are hand manufactured from hardened brass. The front and back plates are three times thicker than any German movement. The faces for the phases of the moon will vary between manufacturers.
Chimes vary from manufacturer to manufacturer.
It can be a four, six or eight note melody. Only Herschede uses the Canterbury melody. The tubes on Herschede are larger in diameter and longer than all modern day tubular bell movements. Typical weights of Herschede chimes are 82 lbs. The pendulum bob on Herschede movements is physically smaller than it German counterpart, but is a much heavier slug in order to move the escapement.