Electric Mantle Clock Repair

[astonandy]

I know clocks are occasionally covered on TZ and theres's some enthusiasm for the more exotic and esoteric but I wonder if anyone has had any electric clock repair experience. I have a mantle clock presented to my Grandfather in 194e2 when he left his squadron. It's a mains electric movement in a traditional wooden mantle clock case and in need of complete refurbishment after languising in my uncle's attic for 40+ years.

I took it along to my local clock-repairer who worked on a traditional mantle clock of ours but although a new glass and case refurb were within his realm of expertise, the mechanism was not. It's a Smith's mains movement and when i asked if he knew anyone that worked on or replaced them he drew a complete blank. the only restorer I found online suggested throwing away all the internals and fitting a high-torque battery Seiko movement which seemed a little, I don't know, defeatist or unsatisfying.

Any suggestions from the collective experience? These mains electric movements were clearly (briefly) all the rage but, like a Morris Marina or Austin Maestro aren't financially worth restoring versus their meagre cash value so there aren't any specialists or at least none that are easily identified.

[Mick P]

I know clocks are occasionally covered on TZ and theres's some enthusiasm for the more exotic and esoteric but I wonder if anyone has had any electric clock repair experience. I have a mantle clock presented to my Grandfather in 194e2 when he left his squadron. It's a mains electric movement in a traditional wooden mantle clock case and in need of complete refurbishment after languising in my uncle's attic for 40+ years.

I took it along to my local clock-repairer who worked on a traditional mantle clock of ours but although a new glass and case refurb were within his realm of expertise, the mechanism was not. It's a Smith's mains movement and when i asked if he knew anyone that worked on or replaced them he drew a complete blank. the only restorer I found online suggested throwing away all the internals and fitting a high-torque battery Seiko movement which seemed a little, I don't know, defeatist or unsatisfying.

Any suggestions from the collective experience? These mains electric movements were clearly (briefly) all the rage but, like a Morris Marina or Austin Maestro aren't financially worth restoring versus their meagre cash value so there aren't any specialists or at least none that are easily identified.

I had a similar problem with my late parents everite mantle clock which they bought in 1952. About 10 years ago it started to play up and over a 2 year period I spent a small fortune on it and it spent more time being at the repairers than on my mantle piece.

In the end, I gave up flogging a dead horse, a local clock maker took out the movement and replaced it with a quartz motor. Externally it looks the same and it has quartz accuracy. The original movement is stored in a box but doing up mantle clock mechanisms is a fruitless task.

Just bite the bullet and do it.

[draftsmann]

There was a chap in Bristol called Patrick Knock who specialised in servicing and repairing Smiths electric clocks- he serviced my Sectric station clock. Sadly he died a few years ago but I understand someone took over his business. As it happens I have another Smiths clock in need of a service so I will do some research.

Mick’s suggestion is tongue in cheek I’m sure!