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Clock refurbishment in Yorkshire
My business is the repair and restoration of antique mechanical clocks. I have been restoring clocks full time since I established the business in May 1998.
I am happy to collect a problem clock as this is a good opportunity to see where the clock has to run (and be wound). It is also a good chance to discuss fully with the owner the extent of the repair/restoration work to be done. I will then deliver the clock and ensure it is running well in its position in the house.
If the customer lives a significant distance from me, it is sometimes agreed that they bring the clock to me. I will then personally deliver and set-up the repaired clock.
I work on clocks spanning the full spectrum of disrepair. This ranges from the loved and cared for, family heirloom or collector's piece, which requires an overhaul to attend to normal wear and tear, to the severely neglected or ''barn fresh'' clock from an auction house. The neglected clock requires the wear and tear to be attended to but in addition significant parts of the movement may be missing and possibly have to be replaced. I am happy to deal with this kind of work and will make parts in keeping with the period style of the clock.
With all clocks I do most of the restoration myself, but for certain parts of the job I do use other professional craftsmen. These craftsmen cover the following areas:
Clockwork information
Old English clockwork
I have repaired many hundreds of longcase clocks, spanning the period from 1690 to 1840. This covers almost the full range of longcase work from early clocks with square brass dials and count wheel striking mechanics, through to painted arch dials with the, then standard, rack striking mechanism. These are always interesting as the differences in the movements are so varied, from 30 hour and 8 day, to one month durations. There is a wide range of complications which all present problems to the restorer, centre seconds, centre calendar, moon dials, calendars. I have worked on three train movements where the third train is a quarter chime or a music train which is released every hour or every three hours with or without a tune change mechanism.
English bracket clocks cover the same date range as the longcase clocks. I have worked on a good number of early bracket clocks with two or more fusee trains. These have been configured as follows:
- Silent pull repeat
- Silent pull repeat with alarm
- Striking with quarter pull repeat on a number of bells
These bracket clocks have had verge escapements, which are invariably badly worn and require a lot of careful restoration to bring them back to a state of reliable timekeeping. I enjoy working on verge escapement clocks.
All English clockwork is a joy to work on, single fusee, double fusee or triple fusee chiming the quarters on a nest of bells.
French clocks
I have restored many French clocks these have been mostly two train movements striking the hour and half hour on a bell. A number of these clocks have had square plated movements with a verge escapement and a silk suspension pendulum. When restored these are beautiful movements.
The other later French movements, which are always of high quality, are fairly standard either counter heel or rack striking, but with a good range escapements, anchor, deadbeat, tick-tac to the elegant visible brocot.
Carriage clocks
An important sub group of the French clock is the carriage clock. I work on the full range of carriage clocks from the single train timepiece, through to the grande sonnerie with alarm.
As mentioned above I can have the case gold plated to restore a worn finish if the customer feels this necessary.
German and Vienna clocks
I work on all German made wall and mantle clocks and the full range of Vienna wall Clocks from the single weight timepieces, through to the three train grande sonnerie.
The Vienna movement is invariably of high quality and a very satisfying movement to repair.
1930 style mantle clocks
I am quite happy repair the more modern, not quite antique clock, the sort of clock that was on the mantle shelf when I was a boy and intrigued me no-end. This type of clock gets the same treatment as the older clocks. Fully dismantled mainsprings removed and the wear addressed in all areas of the movement.
- The restoration of ceramic dials
- The restoration of painted dials
- The piercing of replacement period hands
- Cabinet work for case repair and finishing
- Guiding of cases and clock parts
- Engraving of clock parts
All my work is guaranteed for up to two years.
If you'd like to find out more about the clock restorations services mentioned on this page, please call me on
01943 879 585