I've developed a new hobby - repairing dead battery powered clocks. It started when I discovered that the movements used in the clocks are all nearly identical and dirt cheap on Amazon.

First I fixed this one:



That was easy enough so I fixed this wall clock. Took a little research to find the right movement as it's larger than the other clocks and required a "High Torque" movement:



And this FLW style table clock that we picked up in an gift shop somewhere years ago. It's a bit different in that it has a pendulum:



When I ran out of dead clocks I decided to buy one. Stickley still sells this clock new for some $300. I picked it up for less than $100 via eBay "make an offer". It had the same style movement as the others but it had been supplied by SKP - Seiko Thailand. It's nearly identical to the "Youngtown" Chinese movements I had been buying but I opted to spend the extra $5 for a match to the original:



Next up is this Michael Graves looking mantle clock (Target?) I plan to take up to the lake. After that I am going to tackle converting a spring wound clock and see how that goes.

Interesting hobby. My former piano tech now runs a clock repair shop in an antiques based town, Waynesville.

Really cool, Steve!

quote:

Originally posted by Mikhailoh:
Interesting hobby. My former piano tech now runs a clock repair shop in an antiques based town, Waynesville.

My guess is that your friend does real clock repair on mechanical clocks. I can’t imagine the skills/patience required. I really admire people who can do things like that.

Recently watched a video where a guy restored a rusty old Tonka truck. I thought “that would be fun” until I saw the shop, skills, and tools that he used. Not sure I have time to learn it all.

That’s one of the painful things about getting older - knowing you won’t have time to learn all the things you’d love to.

But restoring something to its former glory is always satisfying.

True.

Very cool, Steve. I especially like the FLW inspired clock.

I've taken an online clock repair course. Took this route when I called my local clocksmith last May to have him look at one of my cuckoo clocks. The soonest he could have a look at it would have been in November! He's swamped. So I decided to see if I could learn to fix my clocks myself. It needs be mentioned that I have 3 cuckoos, a gingerbread, a steeple, a tambour, a grandmother, a German wallclock, and 3 mantel clocks. All are wind up with strikes, bells, cuckoos, and/or chimes, and all are oldish to old. When I get them all synchronized correctly it's a absolute riot, especially on the hour of 12! Anyway, there's a lot one can do with a minimum of special equipment and that's what I want to get comfortable with. I don't see myself getting into the more advanced repairs like turning new shafts, etc. For one thing, the equipment is more expensive. And since I don't plan to make any money on it, it would be a bit of a luxury.

So far I've only taken one clockwork apart and put it back together again for practice. First clock I'll actually fix needs a new spring and now that winter is here and I have more down time, I hope to get going on it.

FYI, the course is at https://online.ticktockproductions.com/

Sounds like fun!

Cool!