Master Clock Repair

The Birth of an Heirloom - Part 4

The following presents an example of one of the highest quality clock movements produced for the consumer market. The period spanning 1880 to approximately 1925 marked an era during which leading manufacturers focused on creating exceptional clock movements, guided by principles of excellence and durability. Notable companies from this era include Herschede, Winterhalder, Bawo and Dotter, and Elliott of London, England—the manufacturer of the clock under discussion. Initial photographs document the movement prior to restoration; subsequent images illustrate various stages during re-assembly. Accompanying descriptions highlight particular features and areas of interest when the images are viewed as a slide show.
Given the quality and unique characteristics of this very fine movement, the restoration process aimed to return both its mechanical functionality and its original visual condition, closely resembling its appearance upon leaving the manufacturing floor. While not required for mechanical operation, every component of the movement was polished to the highest practical standard. To me, such clock movements exemplify craftsmanship and artistry, as demonstrated in the accompanying photographs.
In Part 5, I will share photos of the completely assembled movement.

The Birth of an Heirloom - Part Three - The Dial
A clock dial like this one is very expensive to produce. The face of the dial has 29 individual parts. The rear of the dial has 20 parts. Each and every part of the dial was removed, cleaned and or polished and relacquered and then reassembled. Click on each individual photo to learn about the process.

The Birth of an Heirloom - Part Two
I hope I haven't confused anyone. My work on the "heirloom clock" is more or less complete. I just didn't want to lay it all out at once. It might be too boring to see a couple dozen photos in one post.

Here is more detail though on the case. Click on the photos for commentary.

More pictures to come on the dial and movement work.

Birth of an Heirloom. Part One
Approximately 15 years ago a man came into my shop who was representing the executor of an estate who lived outside of Ohio. He had brought with him a tall clock case that the executor wanted him to sell. I tried to get him to let me repair it for him, but he was determined to unload it. I knew it was a nice clock and was worthy of a full restoration. I began to look at the clock as a potential heirloom to leave to my son as a memory of our time together in our clock shop. The clock needed a great deal of work, it was missing one of the weights and a major piece of trim under the hood. We agreed on a price (if I remember it was about $500) and I bought it. The clock sat in my shop for many years before I had a chance to begin the restoration, being so busy with my customers clocks. Below you will see some of the photos of the clock before restoration began. I will continue to post some of my progress photos in the next few weeks for those interested in seeing the project.

Due to the holiday Christmas Season, we will be closed until Monday January 5th.

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Merry Christmas to all of my customers and followers. 2025 has been a good year for us as always. We have been busier than ever. Thank you to all those who have supported our small family business.

Our clock shop was featured recently on Spectrum News here in Columbus. Have a look.

Keeping time: A father-son duo preserves the art of clockmaking In a world where everything seems to move faster by the minute, one small workshop is hitting pause, preserving the art of time itself.

Merry Christmas from Master Clock Repair!

Happy Autumn from Master Clock Repair!

Here are some photos from my house call class I taught last week. It was a three-day class that delved deep into the world of modern grandfather clock movement repair in the home. The students seemed well pleased with all the information I shared and enjoyed "hanging out" with other clockmakers over lunch and dinner.

Although I am not a machinist there are a surprising number of things a clockmaker can do with just a lathe, a jeweler's saw and some files. Click on the link below to see some examples of unusual repairs that I have been required to perform in the process of repairing a clock. This type of work is not often necessary, but when it is, it is nice to have the tools and the skills to do so. A professional clockmaker is not only called on to perform a repair that is functional but, those who take pride in their work, should also do the repair artfully.

The Art of Clock Repair — Master Clock Repair Visit this page to see the work necessary to perform unusual repairs that often require making parts by hand. Master Clock Repair has been repairing clocks in Central-Ohio and beyond for 44 years. We are your trusted source, offering fine quality repair with a friendly, personal touch. Michael Ga