Talbot Clock Shop
Talbot Clock Shop
Sales and Service for Your Family Heirloom Timepieces
Sales and Service for Your Family Heirloom Timepieces
Work Types
RECONDITIONING / OVERHAULING
This is the large majority of the work I am contracted to preform. Basically to get the clock/music box reliably running. The movement is disassembled, cleaned of all remaining oils and greases, honest repairs/replacements are made to worn/broken parts, it is reassembled, oiled and tested for operation and timekeeping over a period of at least a week. No extraordinary effort is made to remove corrosion, etc. from the clock is not detrimental to its operation. Cases may be cleaned or light repairs made if needed to insure your clock is reliable. I avoid heavy case repairs (complete regluing, re-veneering, etc. if at all possible as it takes more space and time than most clients are willing to pay for.)
RESTORATION
This is when the clock movement is totally restored to its original operating condition. Brass is polished, steel is honed, bent parts (otherwise useable) are straightened. Basically the movement is made to appear and function as if new. This is costly, perhaps 2-4 times as expensive as Reconditioning, and most often the movement cannot be seen when mounted in the case anyway. If this is what you really desire, I can do that. But I have to be made aware up front that this is what you want so my estimates for time and cost are realistic. Most clients defer to Reconditioning.
OLDER RESTORATION
It was common in the 1970's-80's to completely restore a clock. Refinishing of the case, polishing of the viewable brass, replacement of paper dials, etc. If a clock is listed as such, this is what is meant.
CONSERVATIVE RESTORATION
This applies to casework for the most part. My mantra is, "Patina is OK, filth is not." When a clock or music box is listed as such, it means care has been taken to remove dirt and grime that obscures the original finishes and polishes. Loose case work is cleaned of old glues and reglued as needed to insure solidity as close to original manufacture as possible. I do not replace paper dials if they are still legible unless the client specifically requests it. (A recent client requested I replace a lovely French cartel clock movement with a battery quartz unit only because they didn't have a winding key! I talked them out of it as a key costs $15, less than replacing the movement, and that it would devalue the clock by hundreds of dollars!)
It DOES NOT mean the piece has had its finish removed and replaced. There are extreme cases where this is necessary in order for the true beauty to be seen, but again, I try to avoid doing that if at all possible as it takes far more room and time than I would like for a one-man shop.