Fixing an old clock - DIY job for a novice?
Discussion
I have an old mantlepiece clock that used to belong to my Grandparents. It's not at all valuable, except in the centimental sense, but it's broken and has been for years. I am guessing it was made around the 1920s / 1930s.
Since I have been following this forum I have been getting increasingly more interested in mechanical watches (though sadly without the available funds to buy anything really special). Anyway, I have had the idea of maybe trying to fix the thing. Is this a realistic prospect for somebody who has never attempted anything like it in the past? I am sure as clocks go it's a really simple one, though there looks to be LOTS of little cogs and wheels in the thing, am I going to end up with a box of bits and no hope of putting them back together or is it a fairly logical thing to get a simple clock working again?
I have had the movement out of the case and it looks to me like it's just the springs that have been over-wound or broken, they seem to be housed in little barrels, and I think I have seen similar things for sale on ebay. I can get it to chime with a bit of encouragement, so it's not totally lifeless.
Can anybody point me in the direction of a good website or book that might help me? I think my dear old Mum would be thrilled if i could fix it as I think one of her enduring memories is my Grandad winding the clock every night.
My other option would be to just buy a replacement movement (again I have seen similar looking ones on ebay), but I think I'd prefer to fix what's in there.
Anybody tried anything similar with success (or failure)?
Since I have been following this forum I have been getting increasingly more interested in mechanical watches (though sadly without the available funds to buy anything really special). Anyway, I have had the idea of maybe trying to fix the thing. Is this a realistic prospect for somebody who has never attempted anything like it in the past? I am sure as clocks go it's a really simple one, though there looks to be LOTS of little cogs and wheels in the thing, am I going to end up with a box of bits and no hope of putting them back together or is it a fairly logical thing to get a simple clock working again?
I have had the movement out of the case and it looks to me like it's just the springs that have been over-wound or broken, they seem to be housed in little barrels, and I think I have seen similar things for sale on ebay. I can get it to chime with a bit of encouragement, so it's not totally lifeless.
Can anybody point me in the direction of a good website or book that might help me? I think my dear old Mum would be thrilled if i could fix it as I think one of her enduring memories is my Grandad winding the clock every night.
My other option would be to just buy a replacement movement (again I have seen similar looking ones on ebay), but I think I'd prefer to fix what's in there.
Anybody tried anything similar with success (or failure)?
This would be a good place to start.
http://www.bhi.co.uk/
I imagine there will be someone in your area who can either help or do it for you.
http://www.bhi.co.uk/
I imagine there will be someone in your area who can either help or do it for you.
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