Vintage Clock Cleaning and Repairs

vintage antique clock cleaningWe see a lot of neglected old clocks. Some of them are family heirlooms that have been forgotten. Some of them have not been serviced or worked on in any manner in more than a lifetime, and it really shows!

In truth, many people bring in a clock and state, “This clock belonged to my Dad, he had it for 50 years, I have owned it for twenty years, and it has actually never been touched!”

At this moment I normally ask how often they have their cars and truck serviced, and the reply is, “a minimum of a year” … A clock is a fragile mechanical instrument, this sort of neglect leads to severe wear on the moving parts, much of which need to be changed in order to get the clock running appropriately once again.

Of course, this is not as easily done as vehicle repair work, there are no spare parts available “off the shelf” for a clock which can be anywhere from 100 to 300 years of ages! This is reflected in the repair work cost, I can spend as long as 5 hours making a new wheel or other part, then the clock repair work and service is on top of that …

I have continued reading a number of websites that you can clean your very own clock by soaking the whole thing in petrol or Kerosene or whatever, PLEASE DO NOT DO THIS– you will just clean all the dust and dirt into the moving parts, where it forms a grinding paste and your clock will grind too– to a stop soon after this “cleaning”. Once again in the words of the old tune, “never to go again.”

So what I suggest to anybody who has the opportunity of owning and looking after among these charming old antique clocks is this: Have it serviced, cleaned and oiled every 5 years AT LEAST, every two years would be better.

That method you can pass the clock on to the next generation in great original condition and working order, rather of gifting somebody with a substantial repair expense!

It likewise needs to be thought about that in years to come there might not be anybody around with the needed abilities to carry out the repairs at any cost!

I was walking past a clock store a couple of years back, and two individuals were searching in the window, one said, “this is a clockmaker’s shop,” and the other said, “Oh, I thought they would all be dead by now!”

That true story is actually not far off the mark, so have your valuable old clock fixed while you still can!

How to Clean A Pocket Watch Correctly

Colibri pocket watch
Colibri pocket watch

Mechanical watch like your Colibri watch need proper maintenance, consisting of cleaning the tiny mechanical parts. After all, you depend on it and use it daily. You’ll know you have to have your watch cleaned if you have actually been utilizing it for 3 or 5 years currently and it is no longer as glossy as the very first day you purchased it. If cleaning up the watch is a problem since you do not have any idea ways to go about it, these suggestions will show you the way:

  • If the product manual provides reader-friendly directions, follow it to the letter. But if you feel you ‘d rather get professional service, do so. A professional should do the cleaning of the small mechanisms inside your Colibri pocket watch; they have the tools and the experience to do it.
  • Don’t try to use any cleaning or lubricating options unless suggested by the watch producer.
  • Do not attempt to clean the watch with a soft-bristled brush with soap and water, unless your pocket watch is water resistant as much as 10, 15, or 20 BAR. If your watch is simply marked water resistant it merely means it can hold up against splashes of water or raindrops only and shouldn’t be soaked at all.
  • If it’s waterproofed, utilize a soft-bristle brush and gently brush the surface of the watch. Instantly however thoroughly, dry it with a lint-free fabric.

Cleaning up a Pocket Watch Job Costs

If you take your watch to the “cleaners”, ask about their cleansing approaches. Proper cleaning includes disassembling the pocket watch, not just the dip and dry approach. They charge less than $50 for dismantled cleaning. This will not do good for your pocket watch, or for those antique engraved pocket watches.

An American watchmaker or cleaner will disassemble your watch – eliminate the pivots, bearings, pinions, gems, and teeth. These are carefully checked for any abnormalities prior to these are cleaned with an ultrasonic bath and passed through a three-stage rinse and heat dried. Sensitive parts are hand-cleaned with the correct solutions. After reassembly, the watch is oiled and adjusted to the existing time. This approach will cost you about $100, but worth it.

Caring for Your Pocket Watch

Understanding ways to secure your pocket watch from damage helps keep it going for years. Here’s how you can prolong the life of your pocket watch:

  • When winding your watch, pluck the knobs carefully.
  • Wind the clock at a routine recognized time.
  • When keeping it, wipe it with a clean dry fabric prior to encasing in its box.
  • Keep it away from humid conditions.
  • Keep it out of water.
  • Follow the watch handbook for proper care and maintenance.
  • When mailing your watch to an expert watch service, enclose it in a bubble wrap before stuffing it into a boxed padded with Styrofoam or paper.

Your pocket watch should not be sidelined just because you have no idea ways to clean it. Anyhow, it will take another 3 or 5 years elapsing until the next visit to the “watch cleaners“. Until then, take good care of it.