A bit of a long shot

JohnM20
JohnM20 Forum Participant Posts: 1,416
1000 Comments
edited March 8 in Your Hobbies #1

I know it's a bit of a long shot but are there any clock repairers out there? If so, can you suggest what might be my problem. I have a skeleton wall clock about 30 years old. It hasn't been serviced but I do give it a very gentle 'tickle' occasionally to get rid of any dust on the mechanism. For quite some time now it has stopped keeping good time. The strange thing is that sometimes it is fast and sometimes slow by anything up to half an hour either way on the same weekly wind-up. It's really got me baffled. If it was always fast or slow that is easy to correct with the pendulum but when it varies so wildly is totally beyond me. I can't see anything which is obviously wrong but there must be a reason for the erratic behaviour. I hope someone can help.

Comments

  • Bakers2
    Bakers2 Forum Participant Posts: 8,191 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 8 #2

    Can't suggest anyone sorry. But I would say if you do find one check out reviews! They are a dying breed 🥲

    I used one in Essex. For the clock inherited from my parents.  Took forever, not that time 🤣 scale was an issue. Moved and it wasn't keeping time. Our 'new' village had its own horologist 😀. As we were new to the village he took pity on us. Lovely workshop with plenty of ongoing repairs 😀. Turns out not one item had been oiled or serviced 😡. Another 3 figure charge, but less than 1st BUT it works beautifully now.

    He's retired since we moved here 2 years ago. His sons weren't interested in taking it on. He carried on from his father. 

    Try a search locally, maybe on social media? Perhaps you'll be lucky enough to find a 'hobby' clock mender 🤞

     

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,425 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 8 #3

    There is one in Newcastle (on Tyne) that we used to repair a very old pendulum wall clock about three years ago. They did a good job as it run flawlessly on time now, I forget their name but it's probably  along way for you. There was a three month waiting list though!

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,030 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 8 #4

    This might be of interest John

    http://www.yorkshireclockrepairer.co.uk/

    Elsecar Heritage Centre is not far from M1, and is a great day out in itself, if you want to make a day of it. All sorts to see, some good little businesses, and eateries. I would check opening times though before coming up. If traffic is kind, not a bad run up M1 from Derby area.

  • InaD
    InaD Club Member Posts: 1,701 ✭✭
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    edited March 9 #5

    We found a clock repairer on the BHI website: https://bhi.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Accredited-Register-CLOCKS-080324.pdf

    We have 2 old Dutch clocks, one is a pendulum clock, which we wanted someone to have a look at.

    Only 2 in Lancashire and the one nearest to us was a retired 80 year old, who still does the odd repair/service,  Having had a quick look, there are 3 in Derbyshire,, so possibly worth contacting those?

    As an aside, our repairer wouldn't entertain us taking the clock to him; he came to our house, had a look at the clock, then decided he would take it back with him and service/repair it.  He then brought it back, as he wanted to put it back on the wall and level it himself, then check it again.

    Good luck with it.

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