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American Antique Clock Repair

We repair antique American clocks by Ansonia, Gilbert, Ingraham, Jerome, New Haven, Sessions, Seth Thomas, Waterbury, Welch, and other makers. We believe in keeping your heirloom clock as original as possible, and replace parts only when necessary.

The movement of your clock is disassembled, cleaned and carefully examined. Mainsprings which are too strong are replaced with thinner springs to give your clock long life. The pivots are polished and worn pivot holes are bushed. Other necessary repairs are made and the parts cleaned again. Then the movement is assembled, lubricated, adjusted and tested. We guarantee our work for two years.

Examples of our repair prices are shown below. At your request we will beautify your clock while keeping the finish original. For about $40 - $80 we will clean the case and touch up the finish. For $40 we will polish and lacquer the bezel of a mantel clock.

Due to our large repair backlog, we are currently placing only the following types of repair jobs on our waiting list: American antique time and strike pendulum mantel clocks, Schatz and Kundo 400 day clocks, and Schatz 1000 day clocks. Our repair backlog is about 2 - 3 months. Please contact us to be placed on our waiting list.

Example Prices for Complete Overhaul

Antique American Spring-Driven Shelf Clock Repair

$300 - $425 average price for complete movement overhaul for a one-day or eight-day time and strike American shelf clock. We give a two-year guarantee on our repair work. $50 Shipping & Insurance (continental US).

Antique American Black Mantel Clock Repair

$300 - $425 average price for complete movement overhaul for an eight-day time & strike "black" mantel clock. Two-year warranty. $45 Shipping & insurance (continental US).

Antique American Tambour Clock Repair

sessions tambour or hump back mantel clock

$300 - $425 average price for complete movement overhaul for eight-day time and strike clock.

Two-year warranty. $40 Shipping & insurance (continental US).

Antique American Schoolhouse Clock Repair

seth thomas drop octagon or schoolhouse clock with day of month calendar

$300 - $425 average price for complete movement overhaul for eight-day time & strike clock.

$225 - $275 for 8 day time only.

$55 Shipping & insurance (continental US).

Two year guarantee.

Proper Mainsprings for American Antique Clocks

See my Clock Information Blog for more information about mainsprings for American clocks.

Bill’s Clockworks repairs your clock properly so that it will have a long life. Some repair shops are using mainsprings that are too strong for your clock. Here is some information about the proper springs for American antique clocks.

Many antique American clocks have so-called standard mainsprings that are about 18 thousands of an inch (0.018") thick.
A 100 year old spring that is .018" thick is weaker than a new mainspring of the same thickness.
Some repairers are installing new 0.018" thick mainsprings in the American clocks they repair.
These new springs are too strong for the clock and are causing excessive wear.
Thinner new mainsprings 0.0165" thick are available.
To run reliably with a thinner spring, the clock must be properly repaired by having the pivots polished and worn pivot holes bushed.
Clock repair shops that don't charge enough, or don't have the experience, are installing the thicker mainsprings (0.018") to make sure their repaired clocks will run. Even an improperly repaired clock will run with a spring that is too strong, but it will be wearing itself out!
Bill's Clockworks keeps the original old mainsprings in the clock whenever possible.
Bill's Clockworks installs thin new springs when the old spring is bad, broken or too strong.
This gives your valued, heirloom clock long life so it may be enjoyed by generations to come.

Some American clocks originally had thinner springs

Seth Thomas Clocks:

The popular Seth Thomas #89 mantel clock movement originally used 0.017" thick mainsprings. Some repair shops actually take these out and put in stronger springs (even when the originals are good!) We keep the originals in the clock if they are good. If a spring needs replacing (or has a replacement that is too strong), we install a 0.0165" thick mainspring.

Waterbury and Ansonia Clocks:

Popular Waterbury and Ansonia movements made from the 1880's through the 1920's originally used mainsprings 0.0145" to 0.016" thick. All too often, repairers install 0.018" mainsprings in these clocks! This causes quick wear to the mainwheel teeth. Bill's Clockworks installs the proper springs, to give your clock long life.

See my Clock Information Blog for more information about mainsprings for American clocks.

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