Our Services
While we specialize in the repair,
restoration and conservation of
antique timepieces, we service all
makes and models of contemporary
clocks
From our initial inspection you will
be provided with an estimate of the
charge you will incur; deviations
from this estimate must be approved
by you. Each timepiece is
completely disassembled and all
components cleaned. During
reassembly, each component is
closely scrutinized and
repaired/replaced as required.
The timepiece is then lubricated and
run in our shop for a minimum of one
week prior to return. Your
timepiece is, quite literally, as
good as new while retaining its
antiquarian value.
You will receive a detailed write-up of all work performed as well
as a written appraisal of your timepiece.
Your absolute satisfaction is guaranteed and backed
by a one year written warranty.
Among the brands of
clocks we repair are: Seth Thomas,
Ansonia, Ingraham, Gilbert, New
Haven, Kroeber, Jerome, Waterbury,
Welch, Terry, Sessions, Enfield,
Smiths, Junghans, Kienzle,
Hamburg-American, Urgos, Hermle,
Kieninger, Jauch, Regula, Howard
Miller, Gustav Becker, Chelsea,
Boston Clock Co., Japy, and many
more.
Movement
Overhaul
This is the
most common service for a
mechanical clock. The steps
involved are:
-
Remove the movement
from the case
-
Carefully examine
the movement for
excessive wear and other
potential problems.
-
Fully disassemble
the movement.
-
Completely clean the
movement.
-
Examine and, if
needed, polish all
pivots and bearings.
-
Reassemble and
lubricate the movement
with state-of-the-art
lubricants.
-
Adjust the movement
for proper timekeeping
(see "A Note About
Accuracy" below).
-
Spring driven clocks need overhauling every 5 to 7
years.
The environment in which
the clock is used plays
a big role in the
interval between
overhauls.
As dust gets in the
mechanism, the oil
becomes an abrasive
paste that causes wear.
The longer the clock runs in this condition, the more repair the clock
will ultimately require.
Clocks have very strong
mainsprings that will
run the clock for years
after the oil has gone
bad, causing severe wear
to pivots and pivot
holes “bushings”.
If your clock stops and you spray it with oil to make it go again, it
will continue to wear
badly, because it is
still dirty.
Shortcuts like cleaning the movement absent disassembly, even using an
ultrasonic cleaner,
cannot properly clean
pivots, bushings, and
mainsprings.
These techniques merely postpone the need for a proper overhaul.
During overhaul, the movement is taken apart and cleaned in a specially
formulated ultrasonic
solution.
Each component is
examined for wear and
damage, and checked for
correct operation.
The necessary work is carried out including repair to pinions,
polishing each pivot,
replacement of worn
bushings, the
mainsprings are replaced
(a broken mainspring can
easily destroy the
movement), the
mainspring ratchets and
lock mechanism are
inspected, and the
correct alignment and
“meshing” of each gear
is confirmed.
Each part is again cleaned; each pivot bushing is then cleaned and
polished with a
sharpened piece of
peg-wood.
The movement is then reassembled and lubricated.
Finally, the movement is put into beat (via an electronic beat
analyzer) and any
adjustments made.
Your clock is “bench
tested” for a minimum of
two days and regulated
for correct timekeeping,
then assembled into its
case and allowed to run
for a minimum of one
week.
A written evaluation of
the movement, of each
observation and any
corrective action taken
is provided.
This evaluation should
be kept with the clock,
as it will provide
valuable maintenance
history for the next
repair facility and
enhance its value for
sale.
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Grandfather
clocks
For grandfather clocks
(and other clocks too large
or heavy to move), we come
to your house, remove the
movement, weights and
pendulum, and bring them
back to our shop for
repairs. When completed, we
return and re-install the
movement. Beware of
repairmen who say they can
do a proper job of cleaning
and oiling a movement in the
home!
House calls
do incur an additional
charge. |
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Maintenance
As with any precision mechanism, your clock needs periodic maintenance to keep
it running reliably and to give it long life.
We recommend the following:
Three Year Lubrication and
Inspection:
After three years of operation, your clock should be
inspected and lubricated. We
will check the overall condition of the movement, including the mainsprings,
dirt deposits on the face of each wheel, and on each pivot, and excessive
wear or movement (end-shake) of each wheel arbor.
Assuming each of the foregoing is within operating standards, we will
lubricate each pivot and other points of contact using specially formulated
clock/watch oil. We will provide a written evaluation of your clock, our
observations and recommendations as to when an overhaul should be completed.
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Charges
Your clock
movement is
either a
"single
train"
(having time
only), a
"double
train"
(having time
and
strike),
or, a
"triple
train"
(having
time, strike
and
chime)
Our general
shop rate is
$35/hour/man.
Inspection
and
Lubrication:
(Remove
movement
from case,
inspect,
lubricate
{each
bushing,
points of
contact and
mainsprings},
clean inside
of case with
compressed
air, remount
movement,
re-align
strike/chime
hammers and
clean case
including
glass)
Single Train
Action
$45*
Double Train
Action $55*
Triple Train
Action
$70*
* Add 25%
for cuckoo
movements
(more points
of contact
and more
time
consuming to
remove and
remount
movement),
and,
hairspring
controlled
clocks/watches
(hairspring
and balance
wheel must
be
cleaned).
Detailed
Disassembly,
Inspection,
Reassembly
and
Lubrication:
(All
activities
of
"Inspection
and
Lubrication"
above, with
the addition
of complete
"dis" and
re-assembly
and close
scrutiny of
each
component.)
Single Train
Action
$190**
Double Train
Action
$230**
Triple Train
Action
$260**
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Warranty
and Terms
Limited
Warranty
Overhauled
metal clock
movements
are
warranted to
perform for
a period of
one year
from date of
completion
of work
without
defects of
material or
workmanship
with the
following
exceptions:
-
Breakage
of any
springs,
weight
cables
or
chains,
and
damage
caused
thereby;
-
Evidence
of
tampering
or
alteration
to the
work
performed
by
Carriage
Hill
Wood
Crafters
Clock
Repair.
Partial
repairs are
warranted
for one year
only to the
extent of
the work
performed.
Exceptions
above apply.
No
performance
or
durability
warranty is
made for
wooden clock
movements or
parts.
Service
charges for
unauthorized
repairs will
not be paid
by Carriage
Hill Wood
Crafters
Clock
Repair.
Carriage
Hill Wood
Crafters
Clock Repair
cannot be
held liable
for damages
not directly
connected to
the work it
performs.
Terms
-
Anyone
submitting
a clock
to
Carriage
Hill
Woodcrafters
Clock
Repair
alleges
to be
the
owner or
authorized
agent of
the
owner of
the
clock
and
releases
Carriage
hill
wood
Crafters
Clock
Repair
from any
liability
for said
clock
except
as
agreed
by these
terms.
-
Cost
estimates
are good
faith
estimates
based on
initial
examination
of the
clock
upon
receipt,
and
Carriage
Hill
Wood
Crafters
Clock
Repair
standard
pricing
for
typical
services.
If
additional
work is
required
which
would
add 15%
or more
to the
original
estimate,
Carriage
Hill
wood
Crafters
Clock
Repair
will
obtain
approval
for the
additional
charges
before
the work
is done.
-
Delivery
estimates
are
good-faith
estimates
based on
the lead
times in
the shop
at the
time the
work is
submitted.
Carriage
Hill
Wood
Crafters
Clock
Repair
cannot
be
responsible
for
unforeseen
delays.
A 50%
rush
charge
may be
applied
to work
needed
sooner
than the
standard
turnaround
quoted
at the
time of
submission.
-
Unless
previous
arrangements
are
made,
full
payment
is due
upon
completion
of work.
The
clock
may be
retained
by
Carriage
Hill
Wood
Crafters
Clock
Repair
pending
full
payment.
-
Clocks
which
remain
unclaimed
longer
than 30
days
past the
notification
of
completion
of work
are
subject
to
storage
fees.
These
fees
are:
Mantel
or shelf
clocks
-- $6.00
per
month or
any
portion
of a
month;
Wall and
grandfather
clocks
-- $10
per
month or
any
portion
of a
month.
-
In
the
event
any
charges
remain
unpaid 1
year
following
the
completion
of the
work,
Carriage
Hill
Wood
Crafters
Clock
Repair
may, but
is not
obligated
to, sell
the
clock at
public
or
private
sale.
-
In
the even
of
non-payment,
the
customer
shall be
responsible
for all
costs of
collection,
including
reasonable
attorney’s
fees.
-
Carriage
Hill
Wood
Crafters
Clock
Repair
nor its
agents
accept
any
liability
for loss
or
damage
to the
receipted
clock or
articles
resulting
from
shipment,
transportation,
fire,
theft,
or any
other
cause
beyond
its
control.
In no
event
will
Carriage
Hill
Wood
Crafters
Clock
Repair's
liability
exceed
the
current
replacement
value of
the
item.
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Repair,
Refurbishing, Restoration,
and Conservancy of Antiques
There are
several ways to take care of
an antique clock.
-
Repair
implies simply fixing
what’s wrong without
significant
intervention.
-
Some collectors like
to refurbish a
clock, replacing a worn
dial with a new one,
replating metal pieces,
putting new veneer on
wooden cases.
-
Restoration
implies bringing a clock
to as close to its
original, but aged,
state as possible. This
might involve expert
repainting of a dial or
reverse-glass artwork,
or careful treatment of
an old, worn finish.
-
Conservancy
is maintaining the clock
in as close to as-found,
original condition, with
minimal intervention,
consisting typically of
conservative maintenance
of the finish, and as
near to invisible
movement repairs as
possible.
Whatever the
needs are for your clock’s
maintenance, Carriage Hill
Wood Crafters Clock Repair
will be happy to advise you
on the most suitable course
of action.
A Note
About Accuracy
In an age of
Global Positioning
Satellites broadcasting
atomically accurate time,
the variations in mechanical
timekeeping can be
surprising. Every effort is
made to adjust your clock
for its most accurate
timekeeping over the course
of its winding cycle (for
example, daily or weekly).
Many things can affect that
adjustment once the clock is
placed back in your home.
The most
important of these in a
pendulum-regulated clock is
leveling. Your clock will be
adjusted to run on a level
surface. It will be “in
beat,” meaning that the
“tick” and “tock” will be
evenly spaced. If your
pendulum clock is not level
at home, it will be out of
beat and timekeeping will be
affected.
Temperature
can affect timing by
lengthening or shortening
the pendulum, or affecting
the properties of balance
springs.
In a spring
driven clock, it is not
uncommon for there to be
variations in timekeeping.
Over the course of the
spring’s unwinding, the
amount of power delivered to
a movement can vary widely.
Nearly every
clock has an easy way to
adjust its timing. We will
go over adjustment with you
when the clock is delivered. |
Antique and customer built Clocks for Sale:
All
antique clocks have been fully repaired and
restored.
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