Professional Clock Repairs at Antique & Modern

We are professional repairers/restorers of many different clocks. There is little we haven’t worked on before. All our estimates are free (in the shop). A full service/restoration comes with a two-year warranty. We can also provide advice on how to setup and regulate your clock when you get it home.

All our clock servicing repairs are undertaken in the shop by BHI qualified expert clock repairers. We have our own fully equipped workshops in-house. Work such as dial restoration or case repairs may need to be sent away.

Full Service

This includes cleaning and where needed the following; new bearings/mainsprings/suspension spring; re-facing of the pallets; new taper pins; new gut lines (if applicable); oiling. Lightly damaged gears will be repaired (to a maximum of 3 teeth) and damaged pivots will be refinished and cleaned. Costs start from £190 +VAT for a timepiece and a 17th-18th century long case/grandfather clock on average is £640 +VAT

THE TWO YEAR WARRANTY

Will cover labour and the parts provided at time of service.

Note: After six months any further parts needed in the two year period will not be include in the two year period. You will incur an additional charge, for example: Gear cutting/Main-springs/Suspension springs/Door hinges and Hands, labour for fitting will be free.

Unfortunately we deal with antique machinery and old metal, if we replaced everything, you would get a new clock back.

We do our best to make sure all parts are serviceable at the time of service, unfortunately there is currently not a viable cost effective method to x-ray every part of your clock, thus we can not be held responsible for metal failure or fatigue.

The chances of this happening are very unlikely but not impossible.

Cleaning process

We clean our clocks by hand, using tried and tested age old techniques; soaking the clock parts in a mild horological approved cleaner and then brushing each part by hand. Each part is then inspected for damage and wear. The parts are then rinsed in a degreaser and dried using Maizorb (a modern replacement for sawdust). Polishing mops and ultrasonic machines are never used at any stage, as both are detrimental to clocks in the long run.

Regulation

We will regulate your clock in the shop, but this is no guarantee that it will hold the same time in your home. When we test the clock all we require is to satisfy ourself that the clock is capable of being calibrated with in its tolerance and the regulation will hold over the duration of its wind (7-30 days). This is due to the difference in temperature humidity and altitude between our workshop and your home.

Therefore you may need to make small adjustment yourself when the clock is in your home. Some clocks are more accurate than others and some have temperature compensation built in. We can provide you with instructions on how to make this simple adjustment. We normally assume that you know, so please don’t be shy to ask. Please note the regulation of your clock will also change throughout the seasons, so if we are having unusually hot or cold weather its best to not make any adjustments.

GEAR CUTTING

We have a large store of old clock parts that we have accumulated over some 30-odd years, enabling us to restore even the oldest of clocks, so sometimes we don’t need to make parts. However, when we do, we have a fully fitted machine shop, equipped to hand/machine make replacement gears/bearings and other missing parts for your clock’s restoration.

CASE RESTORATIONS

We can only do light case repairs in-house, we currently don’t offer full case restoration or re-polishing. We believe it’s best if you can deal with this yourself. We may be able recommend someone, but we find cabinet makers tend to be quick at restoring large pieces of furniture and very slow with clock cases, as they can be easily tucked in their store room and forgotten. They tend to work faster for a direct client than they do for a trade repairer. We have worked with many restorers and we have found this to be the case with all of them.

Most clock case’s only really need a little TLC or elbow grease, but this takes time and rather than pay a horologist to polish brass or wood, there can be big savings made and a little pride in getting involved yourself. If you would like to be involved in this part we are happy to offer some free advice and tips on this process.

DIAL RESTORATION

We work with one of the best in the trade, she’s restored many dials for our customers and our own stock. If your clock face is in need of a face lift, or maybe you uncle Fred decided to repaint the numbers on the clock face and it now looks like a deserter, it can soon be rectified.

GILDING

If you have a carriage clock that’s looking a bit shabby, we can send the case off to be re gold plated, normally in 18ct. Please note that it is hard to give a price on the spot, as the price changes with the price of gold. These jobs also have to be posted to the trade guilder.

CLOCKS WE SPECIALISE IN:

Longcase clocks (Grandfather clock, Grandmother clock and Granddaughter clock), English, French, Dutch and German / Carriage clocks - Striking - repeating - grand & petite sonnerie / Lantern clocks - English and Dutch made / Bracket clocks -Striking - musical - chiming and with automatons / Dial clocks - Railway - ex-GPO and Act of Parliament / Ship's chronometers - box - deck clocks and Regulators / French mantel clocks / Vienna regulators / Atmos clocks made by Jaeger le-Coultre / Pre-20th century cuckoo clocks.

WARNING

LUMINOUS PAINT: If your clock has luminous paint, you should be made aware that it may be radioactive. We have a Geiger counter in our workshop, and please do not be offended if we return your clock rather sharpish on the discovery of such luminous paint. If you have a pre-1970s clock with luminous paint, and you wish to have it tested, please feel free to bring it along to the workshop.

HOUSE VISITS:

We appreciate that some clocks cannot easily be moved, so we provide a call out service with a qualified clock maker for visiting your Grandfather/Longcase clock or regulator.

POST CODES we COVER:

Times: Most of our local callouts are undertaken on weekdays around 10 AM. Less local visits are normally carried out in the late afternoon or early evening around 6-7:30 PM.

Dates and Availability: Dates are limited and our diary gets full very quickly. Remember to make your appointment as soon as possible. The average waiting time is 2-4 weeks and the run up to Christmas gets booked very quickly. Please take this in to account when booking a visit. Normal cost £40-£80 depending on millage and traffic.

Mornings:

EN1 EN2 EN4 EN5 N11 N12 N13 N14 N20 N21

Late afternoons/early evenings:

WD23 WD24 WD25 WD17 WD18 WD6 WD7 WD9 AL1 AL2 AL3 AL4 AL6 AL7 AL8 AL9 AL10 EN3 EN6 EN7 EN8 EN9 NW3 NW4 N7 N8 N9 N10

Out of our preferred area? We may be still able to help, just give us a call: 02084498067 or message us: tempus76@ntlworld.com