Moving the clock: Always remove the pendulum before transporting the clock to prevent damage.
Maintenance: Your clock, being a precision mechanism, needs perodic maintenance to keep it running reliably and to give it long life. We recommend the following:
Three Year Oiling and Inspection: After using it for three years, bring the clock in for oiling and inspection. We will check the condition of the movement, and check that the mainspring ratchets are secure. We will tell you if the clock needs an overhaul, or will be okay for several more years.
Overhaul: Windup clocks need ovehauling about every 3-7 years. The environment in which the clock is used plays a big role in how long it will run between overhauls.
Why your clock won't run forever: As dust get in the mechanism, the oil becomes an abrasive paste which cause wear. The longer the clock runs in this condition, the more repair it will need. Many American clocks have very strong mainsprings which will run the clock for years after the oil has gone bad, causing severe wear to pivots and pivot holes. 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 whole, even using an ultrasonic cleaner, cannot properly clean pivots, pivot holes and mainsprings. These techniques merely postpone the need for a proper overhaul
How we overhaul your clock: The movement is taken apart and cleaned, the pivots polished, worn pivot holes bushed, worn out pinion wires replaced, the mainspring ratchets checked and repaired, any other necessary repairs carried out, and the mainsprings checked. Then the parts are cleaned again, the pivot holes cleaned with pegwood, the pivots given final cleaning, and then the movement is assembled and lubricated. |
