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| LeCoultre Atmos Clock |
Early 19th century clock by Jn. Jackson, Boston; At the top of the
dial,
a woman’s eyes go back and forth
as the pendulum swings.
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What are your
qualifications?
I am a Certified Master Clockmaker with an engineering
background and over 30 years of experience repairing antique and modern clocks
and a lifetime member of the American Watchmakers and Clockmakers Institute (AWCI).
For 15 years I supervised the Mason &
Sullivan Clock Company's repair department, traveling to Switzerland and
Germany’s clock and music box factories for technical and business
meetings. Later, I owned two retail/repair shops on Cape Cod: Cape Clocks in
Yarmouth Port and Cape Clockwork, in Centerville.
What is a Certified Master
Clockmaker?
A Certified Master Clockmaker (CMC) is a technician who has
passed a series of rigorous exams through the AWCI. The clockmaker’s
skills are tested and evaluated in order to represent a "baseline of
performance" recognizable to other professionals and the general public.
Why does my clock
stop?
Clocks are mechanical devices which need to be cared for just
like your car or washing machine. Once the old oil in the clock has coagulated
and become gritty the bearings can wear out and an overhaul or a new
replacement movement may be needed. Most German grandmother and grandfather
clock movements sold by Howard Miller, Sligh, Ridgeway, Hermle, Kieninger,
Urgos, New England and others are still available for repair purposes. The old
“movement” is replaced, keeping the original weights, pendulum,
hands, and chime rods.
Do
you repair Cuckoo clocks?
Unfortunately, I do not repair watches,
anniversary clocks, battery clocks or cuckoo clocks.
Do you appraise antique clocks?
I can only hazard a guess. A
good auction gallery deals in many items and has much more current information.
Do you sell clocks?
I occasionally sell clocks on
Ebay but I’m no longer in the retail business. If you
want to buy a clock, I recommend Smith’s Time Shop on Rt 28 in West Dennis
on Cape Cod: 508-398-0848.
How and when do I wind my clock?
Most modern clocks
need winding once a week. A time-only clock has only one place to wind. An
hour-striking clock will have two . A quarter hour chime clock has three. Wind
each s-l-o-w-l-y until it feels fully wound, usually 4 to 6 full turns of the
key. The key is turned right or left depending on the type of clock.
How often should my clock be serviced?
I recommend that
modern era grandfather clocks be oiled and adjusted every 3 to 5 years
depending on local conditions. Older clocks may require more frequent
servicing.
Call or Email
for any Clock Repair Questions.
Yarmouth Port, Cape Cod, MA
02675
508-362-3800
clockmaster@me.com |
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