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Recommendations for book on clock repairs

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Recommendations for book on clock repairs

Home › Forums › Clocks and Scientific Instruments › Recommendations for book on clock repairs

Viewing 7 posts - 1 through 7 (of 7 total)
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  • 24 August 2025 at 20:25 #813752
    Andy Stopford
    Participant
      @andystopford50521

      This evening I was winding an eight day clock i own when there was a bang, the sound of something unravelling, and resistance to turning the key ceased. I guess the mainspring has broken (or maybe come undone somehow).

      Since a chap really should know how to mend a broken clock, does anyone have any suggestions for a book on the subject?

      Here are a couple of pics of the clock in question:

      20250824_18063920250824_180715

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      24 August 2025 at 20:36 #813754
      Martin Kyte
      Participant
        @martinkyte99762

        John Wilding wrote at least 2

        24 August 2025 at 20:46 #813755
        Peter Cook 6
        Participant
          @petercook6

          Join the US NAWCC forum it’s free and there is lots of great information in the Clock Repair sect.-

          24 August 2025 at 21:40 #813761
          Brian Merrifield
          Participant
            @brianmerrifield92050

            Yes it sounds like the spring has broken. A word of warning platform escapements need careful handling. I think you need to find a friendly clock repairer to advise you. If you live in Dorset I would be happy to look at it with you. There are lots of clock repair books and the one I like is “The Clock Repairers Manual” by Mick Waters.

            Good luck

            25 August 2025 at 07:07 #813779
            Dell
            Participant
              @dell

              Usually when a mainspring breaks or comes off its inner or outer hook it does a lot more damage IE stripped teeth, bent or broken pivots, bent arbors.

              As Peter said join NAWCC or WRT forum, latter being watch orientated but has a clock forum.

              25 August 2025 at 10:33 #813794
              John Haine
              Participant
                @johnhaine32865

                The NAWCC forum is excellent, answers are quick generally, and it’s very active.  More posts in a week than the BHI one in a year!  And you don’t have to be an NAWCC member to join.

                https://mb.nawcc.org/

                25 August 2025 at 11:20 #813804
                Andy Stopford
                Participant
                  @andystopford50521

                  Thanks, all. I’ll check out NAWCC and WRT this evening.

                  Brian – thanks for the offer, but I’m in Kent; ebay had a copy of the Waters book though, so I’ve ordered that.

                  On 25 August 2025 at 07:07 Dell Said:

                  Usually when a mainspring breaks or comes off its inner or outer hook it does a lot more damage IE stripped teeth, bent or broken pivots, bent arbors.

                  Oh dear, I did wonder if that might be the case – I’m hoping that because the failure occurred on the first turn of the key, the amount of energy released may not have been too disastrous. Still, I retire in November so I should (in theory) have a bit more time for extra projects.

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