Clock Restoration Services
With over sixteen years of experience in clock conservation, I specialize in early-American wooden movement tall case and shelf clocks. With a personal collection of dozens of original 200-year old mechanisms, I pride myself in strictly using hand tools and traditional methods to make clocks and reproduce parts.
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Most of my tools are inspired by the workshop of Daniel Burnap (1759-1838), a clockmaker and silversmith who trained many industrialists including Eli Terry. Burnap's nearly complete collection of tools has survived, and I have replicated and sourced original period tools similar or identical to those used in his shop.
Left: My hand powered gear cutting engine is a replica of Daniel Burnap's, and is the centerpiece of my workshop.
Below: An 18th-century jewelers or clockmakers bench vice, with Eli Terry provenance.
Above: A variety of antique and reproduction clockmakers tools. Reproduction tools are crafted by myself on my forge, and are exact copies of existing period artifacts.
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Above Left: Blow torch, watchmakers lathe, screw plates, ring die, signature plate, compass, protractor, flux box, etc.
Above Right: A variety of pigments, cleaners, historical chemicals, etc.
Rates
My hourly rate for restoration work is $100 per hour.
Flat fees apply to materials and listed manufactured parts on the 'store' page. The hourly rate also covers house calls and commute outside of the state of Connecticut. An invoice and conservation report will be provided upon the completion of a job.
Wooden Movement Clocks
Wooden clocks are my specialty.
As a luthier's apprentice, I found significant joy in working with wooden instruments like the violin. With my interest in clocks, I found that the rudiments of instrument repair is transferrable to clocks.
With a collection of dozens of original wooden clock movements, I have little difficulty professionally repairing and replicating original parts. My collection of original mechanisms functions as a library, where I can pull measurements for precisely reproducing parts and whole mechanisms.
Wooden tall clock by Elias Roberts, Bristol CT. Ca. 1805
Wooden strap movement invented by Eli Terry and made by Seth Thomas, ca. 1818
Reproduction Clocks and Parts
Very few clock repairmen can claim the title of being an actual clockmaker! Using period tools, techniques and traditions, I can replicate original timepieces in an exacting manner. From shelf clocks, to 18th-century tall case clocks, my clocks are made entirely from Connecticut grown wood, and all of my fabricated parts are made entirely from scratch.
Right: A replica of Eli Terry's first clock. Every part of this clock including the wooden movement was copied from Terry's original.
The Cheney style movement (below) was made using only hand powered tools.
Gallery of Reproduction Clocks
Above: This looking glass clock is an exact replica of one made by Charles Stratton at Holden Massachusetts in 1838. The case and movement were precisely reproduced from an original owned by Emerson Bixby in the Old Sturbridge Village museum collection. This clock is now on display in Bixby's home.
Clock Case Conservation
With a background in woodworking, and training in finish work, I pride myself in my ability to restore the original appearance of early-American timepieces.
When understanding organic natural finishes [the finishes originally applied], I have the ability to save, and conserve the original finishes when possible. My finishing process uses mechanical and/or organic liquid solution techniques to save whatever original finish may be hiding underneath. With coordination with a client's request, I can restore a clock case to however the client wants. All of my finish work both makes the cases look new, while also maintaining its old-style look!
Brass Clocks
Weight-driven brass clocks are some of my favorites!
These weight-driven movements are commonly found in OG or experimental empire style cases made at the Bristol Connecticut area, and are made before the 1860s.
I have a trained background in properly restoring and conserving brass mechanisms. This includes the ability to re-bush worn bushings, straighten and polish pivots, arbors, etc.
Like wooden clocks, my repairs are non-invasive, functional, and reversible if needed.
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The above mechanism was made around 1845 for a triple decker Ives patent roller-pinion movement. A previous "repair" individual horridly soldiered the roller pinions in place, almost a death sentence for this rare mechanism. Through a tedious and time consuming process, all of the solder was properly removed from inside the pinion bushings. The main bushings were also redone in a non-invasive, nearly invisible manner.
Spring Clocks
My interests, training and background is focused on weight driven clocks. Because of this, I am able to focus in the specialty work I do in wooden and weight-driven brass clocks.
Because of this, I will not work on spring clocks.