Longcase clocks, are very commonly referred to as ‘grandfather clocks’ as a result of an 1875 song Henry Clay Work. Normally hour-striking, these clocks are often stalwarts of the family home with many owners having fond childhood memories looking up at the beautiful dial, and now sharing it with their own children or grandchildren. With beautifuly engraved spring-driven fusee movements, carefully constructed cases and clear, easy to read dial they are always high quality objects.
At Harris Horology, our fine technical ability means no clock is too worn out or too complex, and our fully equipped studio can tackle any kind of repair. From a routine service all the way up to a complete restoration, we draw on our museum experience and practice to keep as much character and charm as possible while ensuring all clocks are returned working reliably as they should. With a range of experience with recoil or verge escapements, striking or chiming and any type of complication such as repeat work or alarms, we are experts when it comes to taking care of these wonderful clocks.
A large percentage of our work is on heirloom items - those inherited from an earlier generation, and we work hard to bring them back to life while keeping the object's soul intact. No major visual changes or no over-polished cases, just the clock working as it used to decades ago. Read examples of our clock repairs on our blog here.
For more general clock repair information click here.
We also have the skills and expertise to take on any restoration work if it is required - longcase clocks often have damaged or worn cases from decades of living in busy living rooms or hallways as a central part of the family. We work with an expert furniture restorer who can lovingly bring wooden cases back to life and ensure they’re structurally sound while taking great care to keep the character that makes these objects so beautiful.
We are even able to replace hands, delicately shaped and polished before heat-treating to a rich blue colour, these can be made to replace damaged hands or designed from research when poor replacements have been fitted in the past.
We are experienced working with clocks from all ages and any complexity, from a 20th-century timepiece to a complicated grande sonnerie; get in touch with us as repair is almost always possible.
If you have a bracket clock and have ever been told that it isn’t worth repairing or that parts aren’t available, look no further. Don’t just look for ‘grandfather clock repair near me’, look for repair from a skilled business that cares. You can read more about our repair services here.
Normally during repair we only require the movement, weights and pendulum, so would leve the case in position unless it required repairs too. Due to the fact that the movements usually required some set-up on site we recommend for these clock we collect them, and then deliver and set them up once repairs are complete. The costs for this depend on travel time from our Brixton Studio.
Contact us here for a repair quote.
More about repairs
saving inherited treasures
Many of our customers have been told before that their clock can’t be fixed, parts are not available, or that poor repairs from the past are preventing a fix. We’ve seen it all before and parts can almost always be sourced or even made where required by our horologists in our fully equipped workshop.
Clocks worth repairing
We’ve serviced and repaired bracket clocks from all walks of life, ranging from retirement gifts to wedding presents or generations-old family heirlooms. We treat all clocks with the same care and attention no matter their value or history: they’re all worth caring for.
longcase Repairs Near Me
The closest isn’t always the best. Do you research and make sure you find a skilled horologist who cares about the work they do. We are committed to quality and offer a 24-month warranty after a service; we are trusted by both private customers and large institutions.
Contact us here for a repair quote.
Reviews
Don’t just take our word for it, trust our fantastic clients. These quotes are taken from our Google reviews:
“I inherited my grandfather clock over 50 years ago from my Uncle and due to multiple moves over this time it suffered loss of parts and breakages. I thought it was only useful as spare parts. James together with his cabinet restorer Arthur, however, worked their magic and now it has chimed and ticked its way back to life. The missing “new” parts have been seamlessly worked into the existing structure with great harmony.”
“Harris Horology has proved a wonderful discovery for me. My family’s long case clock is something that I want to work well and to look wonderful -James’ reliable, reasonable and effective work on it has made me very happy -it looks as good now -and works as well I expect as it did when first bought by a many greated grandfather in the late eighteenth century. I am very pleased with the work done on it and have already recommended Harris Horology to friends.”
“I am delighted to post 5 stars for the valuable service provided by Harris Horology. Our grandfather clock, after many years awaiting repair, now chimes in perfect time and the grandchildren can watch the weekly winding in amazement - so much for the digital generation!
Thank you especially to James who is friendly, professional and an excellent communicator.”
“James was very helpful and skilled in mending the winding and striking mechanisms of an old grandfather clock. He also gave the clock an outstanding service of the whole mechanism. All greatly appreciated and a complex job happily accomplished. A big thank you to James from well satisfied and grateful customers.”
FAQs: Learn More Here
Read on below to find information and get answers to common questions about longcase clocks, caring for them and their repair.
How often should a carriage clock be serviced?
A mechanical carriage clock should typically be serviced every 5 to 7 years. Over time, the specialised horological oils dry out. If the clock continues to run without lubrication, it causes severe friction and wear to the pivots and the delicate platform escapement. The clock may run for many years more than this, but longer periods between services can lead to severe wear or damage, leading to extra costs.
Can you replace broken or missing bevelled glass on a carriage clock?
Yes. We can custom-fabricate hand-cut bevelled glass panels to the exact dimensions of your original carriage clock case, ensuring a perfect fit and a historically accurate appearance. We are able to cut both standard square/rectangle pieces and more unusual shapes like ovals too."
What is a platform escapement, and do you repair them?
The platform escapement is the delicate regulating mechanism with a balance wheel that is visible at the top of most carriage clocks, containing the balance wheel and hairspring. It is highly susceptible to damage from drops or rough handling. As an FBHI-accredited horologist who works on both watches and clocks, James Harris specialises in the repair and restoration of complex platform escapements that other clockmakers may shy away from.