WATCHMAN CLOCKS
Gregory Bell, Antique clock repair and restoration specialist, Hereford.
Gregory Bell, Antique clock repair and restoration specialist, Hereford.
Tel 01432 272217. email watchmanclocks@talktalk.net
Tel 01432 272217 Mon - Fri 9.00pm - 4.30 pm At other times please leave a message and your contact details. I value your time and will return your call.
DESIGN © WATCHMAN CLOCKS 2010. WWW.WATCHMANCLOCKS.CO.UK
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There have been many articles written to explain the differences between antique clock repair, restoration, conservation and preservation. However after having read many of these articles I have found no one that explains it better than Chris McKay ( Guidelines for the repair, restoration, conservation, preservation and maintenance of Turret Clocks) and the extracts below have been used with his kind permission.
Clocks are different from other categories of historical artefacts or works of art in that they are working mechanisms with moving parts that wear out. The terms preservation, conservation and restoration can therefore have slightly different meanings from those applied to static works of art.
Restoration
There are two meanings to this word: the first, and unfortunately all too prevalent, is a vague term that
covers preservation, conservation and strict restoration;
The second more precise term describes the process of attempting to return a clock to its original state, or a state at a defined date in its history. Where an historical mechanism is reasonably complete, or missing parts are clear and obvious, this can be a valid process. However, it can mean the removal of parts later than the defined restoration date and in the past some restoration has seen the removal of, for example, early pendulum and anchor escapements in favour of the speculative reconstructions of foliot and verge. Use of the vague term restoration should be discouraged, while restoration in its stricter sense should be approached with caution.
Clocks are different from other categories of historical artefacts or works of art in that they are working mechanisms with moving parts that wear out. The terms preservation, conservation and restoration can therefore have slightly different meanings from those applied to static works of art.
Restoration
There are two meanings to this word: the first, and unfortunately all too prevalent, is a vague term that
covers preservation, conservation and strict restoration;
The second more precise term describes the process of attempting to return a clock to its original state, or a state at a defined date in its history. Where an historical mechanism is reasonably complete, or missing parts are clear and obvious, this can be a valid process. However, it can mean the removal of parts later than the defined restoration date and in the past some restoration has seen the removal of, for example, early pendulum and anchor escapements in favour of the speculative reconstructions of foliot and verge. Use of the vague term restoration should be discouraged, while restoration in its stricter sense should be approached with caution.
Repair
Repair is the replacement, mending or re-shaping of a worn, broken, or missing part or parts.
Repairs should be carried out in a workmanlike manner, following the style of the original and using appropriate materials.
Replacements should be carried out only when absolutely necessary e.g. a bell hammer lever that has broken and been repaired several times could be replaced since further repairs could be unreliable. Where appropriate, replacements must be in the style of the original part, say a part on the clock movement. In the example of the bell hammer, a complete modern replacement might well be acceptable.
Conservation
Conservation is the process that aims to arrest or delay the processes of wear and decay and maintain the historical integrity of a clock, while allowing it to continue as a working mechanism. The presumption is that the only alterations allowed are the replacement of worn out parts, with minimum intervention and reversibility, as long as this does not upset historical integrity. If it does, preservation might be the option.
Preservation
Preservation is the process that attempts to arrest or delay the processes of wear and decay in a clock
and leave it as found, with no parts added or taken away. The process retains all previous alterations as an historical record of the treatment the clock has received through the ages. As a clock is a working mechanism with moving parts prone to wear, preservation can in practice mean the clock being retained only as a static display.
Repair is the replacement, mending or re-shaping of a worn, broken, or missing part or parts.
Repairs should be carried out in a workmanlike manner, following the style of the original and using appropriate materials.
Replacements should be carried out only when absolutely necessary e.g. a bell hammer lever that has broken and been repaired several times could be replaced since further repairs could be unreliable. Where appropriate, replacements must be in the style of the original part, say a part on the clock movement. In the example of the bell hammer, a complete modern replacement might well be acceptable.
Conservation
Conservation is the process that aims to arrest or delay the processes of wear and decay and maintain the historical integrity of a clock, while allowing it to continue as a working mechanism. The presumption is that the only alterations allowed are the replacement of worn out parts, with minimum intervention and reversibility, as long as this does not upset historical integrity. If it does, preservation might be the option.
Preservation
Preservation is the process that attempts to arrest or delay the processes of wear and decay in a clock
and leave it as found, with no parts added or taken away. The process retains all previous alterations as an historical record of the treatment the clock has received through the ages. As a clock is a working mechanism with moving parts prone to wear, preservation can in practice mean the clock being retained only as a static display.
STRIKING SPRING CLOCK c 1820
BY
CARTER of LONDON
BY
CARTER of LONDON
Restoration of the pull repeat lever and spring
RESTORATION