Some Other Types of Antique Clocks We Restore
We restore all types of antique clocks in addition to long case clocks (grandfather clocks) such as:
The antique English dial clock
The rather well known and loved timepieces known today as the act of Parliament clock was suitable for large rooms such as found in large halls and public buildings, but towards the end of the 18th-century it became fashionable to produce a slightly smaller clock with a light-coloured dial.
At first the dials were made of brass and silvered over and engraved. Later the painted iron dial was used as on contemporary long case clocks. Dials by this time were usually covered with a glass.
As a further stage of there development, these clocks were made smaller still and became spring driven. This eliminated the long trunk to contain the weight and the whole case was hidden behind the dial-hence the type became known as the office dial or often just the dial clock.
The movement's on the earlier clocks were based on those of the bracket clocks of the time. They had verge escapements and of course fusee escapements. Later, the verge escapement was replaced with the anchor escapement.
The cases of these clocks were usually made of a base wood which was sometimes grained or lacquered or Japanned and later on they were made from mahogany or later on still in oak .
Please contact us regarding any antique English dial clock restoration you may have and we will be pleased to answer any questions.
Lantern clock restoration
Up to the end of the Elizabethan era there was scarcely any English clock makers at all. Practically all the clocks and watches used in Britain were made abroad or by foreign workmen who had settled in this country. These people used the techniques and design of the countries from which may have originated, a lot of these people were French.
At the beginning of the 17th century the first truly English style began to emerge, it was a weight clock based on the Gothic wall clock found in Europe but included a large proportion of brass in the movement while the Gothic clocks were made of iron and the external finish consisted of brass instead of sheet iron decorated with paint.
This type is generally known as the lantern clock the reason for this name is not certain, though there are many ideas as to why they were called lantern clocks. These original clocks were shorter than the Gothic wall clocks and had brass frets that would make the movement accessible for adjustment purposes. These clocks were rope driven and often had a weight with a slight indent in the top where lead shot could be added to make the clock run faster or slower.
Around 1657 with the application of the pendulum to the clock work, lantern clocks were also made with pendulums. The early pendulums were very short and they were used with a verge escapement. After the invention of the anchor escapement long pendulums were used and these early clocks hung on the wall by a wooden bracket or two metal prongs.
Lantern clocks were originally meant to stand on a bracket on the wall. These clocks have nearly always been converted in some way, generally with the escapement being changed. We are more than willing to revert converted escapements to there original crown wheel verge escapements.
We are able in our antique clock restoration department to recast any missing parts including brass side frets etc.
French clock movements
French movements where fitted into all sorts of cases from particularly fine French porcelain case to a black slate clock case.
An Irish clock restorer once told me that when he was young in the 1920s there were so many worthless back slate clock cases that they were sold for hardcore for the roads!
That has of course changed and some of these black clocks now are highly sought-after with their fine French movements.
The picture below is of a French movement that has been converted by having a platform fitted. It is quite possible to have this clock movement returned its original condition, having a anchor escapement and pendulum.
Please contact us regarding any clock
restoration
project you might have. We would be quite pleased to receive
photographs of your damaged clock.
Looking for an experienced antique clock restorer - contact Malcolm Green on …
Tel : 01462 790646 or E-mail : Malcolm
Green