Clock Servicing and Restoration

Westminster chime movement service - rebuilding movement after its clean.

Westminster chime movement service - rebuilding movement after its clean.

 

Servicing and Restoration

I provide a serving, repair and restoration solution for my customers.

Working from home, I have a well equipped workshop with the majority of tools needed to service and repair most types of mechanical clocks. I have many years experience carrying out clock repairs and services, to all ages of clocks, from the 1700s to present day.

We can also restore cases, either in house or via an external partner. We can accomodate repairs to veneers, repairs/replacement of architectural elements, French Polishing and glass replacement.

Fusee movement service and dial replacement

Fusee movement service and dial replacement

Servicing a movement, comprises of:

  • an initial inspection to check for excess movement in the wheels etc.

  • stripping the movement down to its component parts - including removing the mainsprings from their barrels.

  • Cleaning:

    • first by hand to remove the worst of the built up grime

    • then putting all parts through an ultrasonic cleaner, using a specialised clock cleaning fluid

    • finally a polish to the brass work

  • once clean, another detailed inspection of each part is made. Worn pivots and bearings are repaired. The pinions are checked for alignment. The mainsprings are either replaced (usually) or cleaned and greased.

  • The movement is then re-assembled, and tested on a rig for a week, to ensure it is running correctly.

  • The movement is then put back in its case, and tested again for a week, before is it released back to the customer

Edwardian Balloon Clock Restoration

Edwardian Balloon Clock Restoration

Case restorations

We always discuss your requirements when you bring a clock into us, especially regarding the case, after all this is the element you actually see…

With wooden cases, we clean the woodwork and give it a polish as part of the standard service of a clock. We can also polish the brass bezel if fitted and give it a coat of lacquer to keep it bright.

With brass cases, e.g. carriage clocks, we can re-polish the brass with a coat of lacquer or just clean it together with the glass panels.

If there are finials or other architectural pieces missing, these can be replaced in most cases.