Quartz Clocks

Quartz clocks are clocks that run on batteries. The movements are usually very inexpensive. The wheels are made of plastic and wear out very easily. I have done many replacements. The advantages are that you can make a clock out of something that is not a clock. You could create a personalized gift for someone. If  you have an electric clock that no longer runs and can not find a new motor then you could have it converted to quartz and be able to enjoy it again. They make some very sophisticated quartz movements, with or without pendulums and with chimes.  You can get ones that play Westminster, Whittington, Bim Bam, and Ave Maria. There is also one movement that plays 6 different melodies, Ave Maria, Over the Rainbow, Try to Remember, Happy Birthday, Rudolph, and Westminster.
So if you have a clock that you  love and you have been told it can not be fixed, call me to see if I can put a quartz movement in it.
   

How Does My Clock Run?

Mechanical clocks have a series of wheels and they are called "trains". A clock that only tells time has one train. A clock that tells time and strikes at the hour, has two trains. And a clock that tells time, strikes at the hour, and chimes every quarter has three trains. For each train you need power.

Clocks that have weights are powered by them. Clocks that are wound with a key and have no weights are powered by strong springs. Weights provide a more even distribution of power than do mainsprings. Mainsprings have a tendency to lose running time due to their age and if they are dirty. The drawback of weights is their lack of portability. Use soft cotton gloves or a cloth to handle the weights. The oils in our hands can tarnish brass weights.

If your clock is running a few minutes too slow or two fast you can adjust the speed by moving the pendulum bob up or down.  If too slow you turn the pendulum adjuster(screw at bottom of pendulum) to the right(clockwise) to raise the bob and the clock will run faster. If the clock is running too fast then you want to lower the bob, turning the adjuster to the left(counter-clockwise). You want to do this in small increments and wait a day before adjusting again.

Some early clock makers were Seth Thomas, Waterbury, Ansonia, New Haven, Gilbert, Welch, Ingraham, and Sessions to name a few. Many people in the Atlanta area have these clocks. So dust off those clocks you have been wanting to get working again and give me a call. You can be enjoying it again in no time.  

Top 5 Tips to Keep Your Clock Running on Time

Thank you for visiting Clockmaker-Laura Shepherd's new blog! We are an Atlanta-based clock repair, and restoration business specializing in grandfather clocks, spring-wound clocks and quartz clocks.

Join us each week, as we bring you tips and tricks to better care for your most precious timepieces. Whether it's an heirloom or a new purchase, we care about the longevity and restoration of your clocks. Here are the top five tips to better care for the clock in your home or office and keep it running on time.

1.Check the level of your clock. Most often, when people make the big move to a new home, their antique or heirloom timepiece needs to be set-up properly. This includes finding a level place where you can proudly display your clock. Because clocks have moving parts, any shift or tipping will cause it not keep time properly.

2. Never turn the clock hands counterclockwise. There is a reason that they call it "counter clockwise." By turning the hands in the opposite direction, you could damage the internal workings.

3. Never use anything on your clock to clean it other than approved products. One mistake clock owners often make is to spray internal parts with a silicon-based product such as WD-40. Instead, use approved products such as clock oil.

4. Know how to properly wind your clock. One of the biggest myths is that you can over wind your clock. Always fully wind your clock until it stops. Broken springs have nothing to do with how tight its wound, but with the age of the spring itself.

5. Cover your clock if renovations are happening in your home. If you plan on having renovations or any kind of construction, be sure to either remove your clock from that area or wrap it so that dust and debris to not get inside the clock workings.