Finding And Restoring Longcase Clocks

This comprehensive guide to finding and buying longcase grandfather] clocks tells you everything you will need to know about what to look for, what to avoid, and their prices and restoration costs, before going on to cover the practical aspects of restoration. Contents include: a detailed section on the workings of the clock; covering the time and strike trains; introduction to the restoration project; step-by-step instruction to assessing and restoring the clock case, dial, hands and clock movement, and finally advice on setting up the clock and keeping in good working order.

Clocks.

The grandfather clock, an entirely new kind of furniture, first appeared in the late seventeenth century. From then on, with its long case to protect pendulum and weights, its rugged movement and large, clear indication of time, it has been a success story right up to the present day. Virtually none of these clocks is beyond repair and often the work required is within the scope of inexperienced owners. This is the first full-length book to cover repair and restoration of these attractive and often valuable antiques, including their casework. The first part outlines how to clean and service the clock 'works' and also how to refurbish the dial, while in the second part restoration or casework, both structural repairs and finishing, is considered. The illustrations are of two actual clocks (one eight-day and one thirty-hour) and work proceeding on them. The last part of the book sketches common variations from these particular examples. Armed with this book and appropriate tools (for work on both movement and case), the owner of a dilapidated grandfather clock will be encouraged and given the know-how to restore it to life as a useful and attractive clock and a prized possession.

Longcase clocks were invidually hand-made during the golden age of change that took place between the late seventeenth and mid-nineteenth centuries. Longcase clocks with their seventeenth century clock-making technology were innovative and incorporated an accurate pendulum clock within an attractive piece of domestic furnishing. This invaluable book is essential reading for all those who own and collect longcase clocks as well as clock repairers, horologists and conservationists. The authors provide detailed information about how longcase clocks work and how they are made. They also cover the theory and the 'best practice' practical steps that are required in longcase clock maintenance, restoration and conservation. The book outlines the history and horological development of longcase clocks; describes how longcase clocks can be dated; considers materials, tools and equipment; examines the movement and the associated simple, and more difficult, workshop procedures; covers maintenance and effective repairs; explains the more difficult woodwork procedures. Superbly illustrated with 300 colour photographs. Nigel Barnes and Austin Jordan provide advice and guidance in the field of antique horology and regularly run weekend courses.

This practical, informative and beautifully illustrated book will be essential reading for all those with a passion for mechanical clocks. It will be of particular interest to both amateurs and professionals alike who wish to work on clock cases and restore them in the correct way according to modern best practice. The authors, both experienced horological restorers, examine in detail the restoration processes and provide detailed descriptions, and a wealth of photographs and diagrams. Difficult, and often misunderstood, areas of restoration and conservation are explained in the context of twenty-first century thinking. The haphazard approach to clock case restoration, which has continued in some quarters almost to the present day, is no longer considered appropriate for preservation of the rapidly dwindling stock of clocks that represent our horological heritage. Accordingly, the authors emphasize that sensitive and sympathetic clock case restoration is essential and, indeed, is the most economically attractive approach to adopt. The book outlines the history of the main types of clock case made up to about one hundred years ago, and considers clock case woods and woodworking, and some of the special techniques involved in clock case construction, restoration and conservation. It demonstrates how a new clock case can be constructed, provides a clock case restoration study and describes the restoration of a number of other wooden clock cases. Covering both stone and metal clock cases of the 19th and 20th centuries and including a useful appendix which provides guidelines for restoring and conserving horological objects, this is an essential resource for all those who wish to work on clock cases and restore them in the correct way - whether amateurs or professionals. Beautifully illustrated with 500 colour photographs.

In The Clock Repairer's Manual, Mick Watters explains how to approach all aspects of clock repair, maintenance and cleaning with confidence. For anyone who has ever considered clock repair as a hobby or a profession, as well as those under initial training and for the existing repairer, this comprehensively illustrated and detailed manual will be a useful reference.Topics covered include the typical clock movement; dismantling, cleaning and reassembling; striking and chiming clocks; repairing worn pivots and bushing and escapements, staff fitting and jewelling.