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Cuckoo
clocks
An outgrowth of the black forest clock industry
of the 19th century, this novelty clock was a reaction to the flood
of cheap clocks from Connecticut which destroyed the traditional markets
for cheap clocks. Badly made in the beginning, and considerably degraded
in the decades since, cuckoo clocks self-destruct as their open chains
lift dirt into the movements. They are almost never worth repairing. |
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400
day clocks
The torsion pendulum is a really bad idea to begin with, and even
when executed with the highest quality standards, as is the case with
the Atmos clock, it results in timekeeping standards which are far
below even domestic standards. In addition, the usual 400 day clock
is badly made and a real source of continual trouble. I know your
grandfather brought it home from the war, but throw it out! |
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Alarm
clocks
In this category are all novelty timepieces that run on pin pallet
lever escapements including a lot of desk clocks, the Waterbury carriage
and ship strike clocks, and similar pieces. They were cheaply made,
have seen hard service, and have by and large reached the end of their
lives when they stop working. |
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Swiss
8 days
With jeweled train wheels and escapements, this category includes
some very high grade clocks, some sold by the best jewelers. There
are no parts available for these clocks, and I do not work on them.
They should be referred to a good watchmaker. |
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Watches
Speaking of watches, good, bad, or indifferent, I don't work on them.
I'm not a watchmaker. It really is a very different trade from clockmaking,
and has been from the beginning. Watchmaking grew out of locksmithing
in the Middle Ages, and clockmaking was an outgrowth of the blacksmith
trade. |
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Modern
factory-made clocks
No matter what the dial says, most modern clocks are made by a handful
of companies in Germany. Like toaster ovens, they are good for about
fifteen years and then they are,well, toast. There are reasons for
this lack of longevity, which I am not going to go into here. Many
clockmakers make a good living replacing these movements with new
ones. I am not one of them. |
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Tower
Clocks
Don't get me wrong, I love tower clocks. I'd love to own one, but
I don't work on them. |
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Electric
Clocks
Here's the deal: if it plugs into the wall it's not a clock, it's
a cycle meter. What happens is that the part of the motor called the
rotor grinds itself into oblivion. They used to be replaceable, but
now only a few are available. Like old radios, electric clocks are
now a job for a specialist. |
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Quartz
(battery) Clocks
It's plastic junk. Throw it out. I mean it. No, the parts are not
interchangeable.
I will not replace the movement of your old clock with a quartz movememt.
NO! NO! NO! This procedure turns antiques into flea market garbage.
Even if your clock has little value now, it might someday. If you
must have a quartz clock go to Staples and buy one. |
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Barometers
You don't live next to a toxic waste dump if you can help it: maybe
nothing will go wrong, but why take the risk? The same with mercurial
barometers. Set it down on the floor, oops, run the vacuum, and all
of a sudden you gotta call the men in the white suits. It is no mistake
that all barometers that are imported or sold in auction are drained.
I don't repair aneroids either. |
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Trade
work wheel cutting
I don't make parts to be used in other people's repair work. At the
risk of seeming immodest, if it is in bad enough shape to need parts,
and a good enough clock to need parts by Munro, why not bring me the
job in the first place rather than have me clean up the mess afterwards? |
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Time
Recorders
I don't repair time recorders (punch clocks), new or old. |
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Clock
Dealing
I don't buy, sell, or appraise old clocks. I never speculate on the
monetary value of customer's clocks. |
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Refinishing
I don't repair or refinish wooden cases for clocks. |
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Domes
No, I don't know where to find a dome for your skeleton or figural
clock. |
