Smiths 8 day windup movement
Discussion
It's a very low quality movement so it may just be worn out. It's likely a pin pallet. If you wind it fully and move the balance wheel (the wheel with the fine spring) to one side and flick it back it should start running for a little while at least. If you can wind the clock up indefinitely without it stopping then it has a broken mainspring and will need a new one. Financially it's probably not worth professional repair if this is the case.
Needs a service, probably a few bushes, and possibly a new mainspring.
Expect to pay £150+.
Although I'll repair most types of clock, I won't do these cheap ones. The conical pivots/cups on the balance wear badly.
I don't say this very often, but the sensible option is a quartz conversion.
Expect to pay £150+.
Although I'll repair most types of clock, I won't do these cheap ones. The conical pivots/cups on the balance wear badly.
I don't say this very often, but the sensible option is a quartz conversion.
clockworks said:
Needs a service, probably a few bushes, and possibly a new mainspring.
Expect to pay £150+.
Although I'll repair most types of clock, I won't do these cheap ones. The conical pivots/cups on the balance wear badly.
I don't say this very often, but the sensible option is a quartz conversion.
Thank you for the reply!Expect to pay £150+.
Although I'll repair most types of clock, I won't do these cheap ones. The conical pivots/cups on the balance wear badly.
I don't say this very often, but the sensible option is a quartz conversion.
I had rather suspected it might not be economical to repair (I few years ago I spent £350 on a service & £600 on case repairs to my 1770’s longcase - which is probably worth about £200!)
How much would it cost to have converted to quartz? I’d only want to do this if I could retain the original hands - is that possible?
Thanks in advance
yellowtang said:
Thank you for the reply!
I had rather suspected it might not be economical to repair (I few years ago I spent £350 on a service & £600 on case repairs to my 1770’s longcase - which is probably worth about £200!)
How much would it cost to have converted to quartz? I’d only want to do this if I could retain the original hands - is that possible?
Thanks in advance
If you are OK with DIY, it's pretty straightforward and cheap to do yourself.I had rather suspected it might not be economical to repair (I few years ago I spent £350 on a service & £600 on case repairs to my 1770’s longcase - which is probably worth about £200!)
How much would it cost to have converted to quartz? I’d only want to do this if I could retain the original hands - is that possible?
Thanks in advance
Quartz movement costs less than a fiver. Make sure you get one that takes push-fit hands (non-euro-fitting), not the type that uses a knurled nut to hold the minute hand (euro-fitting).
Make sure the hand shaft is long enough to come through the case.
I prefer to use German movements, made by UTS.
I prefer to hide the central fixing nut inside the case, so I make a bracket from 2mm styrene sheet, fix the movement to that, then screw the bracket inside the case. Sometimes you can use the original mounting screws. Look at how the mechanical movement and dial/bezel are fitted, and design the mounting bracket to suit. I like to use styrene sheet (plasticard) because it's easy to cut and glue, will take self-tapping screws.
The original hands can nearly always be adapted to fit, by carefully enlarging the central holes with a cutting broach or round needle file.
I usually charge around £50 for a job like this.
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