Most people today will simply discard a clock after it stops working, unless the timepiece was an expensive investment. After several years, both antique and new clocks will require cleaning; during cleaning, their parts should also be inspected for proper functionality.
So when it comes to high quality clocks – you’re eventually going to need a clock repair person, whether you want to believe this or not !
And expensive and rare antique clocks should not be trusted to just any repair person in the phone book. There are several things to look for when searching for a good clock repair person.
In 1998, the United States Bureau of Labor and Statistics reported an estimated 70,000 specialists in the field of precision instrument repair. To put into perspective how few clock repair specialists there are, it is important to keep in mind that this number also includes musical instrument and other precision timing instrument repairmen. This statistical projection report also stated that because quartz timepieces work with very few or no moving parts, coupled with the fact that most purchased timepieces are so inexpensive, the need for clock repairmen has dwindled greatly. The need for these skilled professionals is limited strictly to expensive timepieces and antique clocks. With so few specialists available, finding good repairmen requires research, time and effort.
There are clock repair shops and advertisements for them everywhere, but careful – not every one is actually run by a credible – or even certified – repairman!
A good clock repair person will have credentials and certifications from professional associations. To be able to identify and verify credentials, it is important to understand not only the names of the established associations, but also exactly what certifications are offered by each one.
Logo of the American Watchmakers-Clockmakers Institute (AWCI)
The American Watchmakers-Clockmakers Institute, or AWCI, is a non-profit association and the publisher of Horological Times, based in the United States. Certifications in this association are heavily focused on watches, but also include modern clocks. This association does not offer training for antique clocks, so any repair person claiming to have earned their certification from this association has been certified only for modern timepiece repair and service.
Another important part of identifying a reputable repair person or company is to ensure their business credibility. Consumer reviews may be available online, but are often hard to find. Checking the Better Business Bureau‘s database online is one way to find out if the company is in good standing. If a repair business is listed under the BBB, their reputation is solid and their work has a history of being reliable.
Logo of the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors (NAWCC)
Another USA-based organization is the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors, founded in 1943. The NAWCC actually provides a helpful directory of professional and credible clock repairmen on their website, featuring a detailed filter search form. Their school of horology is the most elite in the USA, offering a complete and thorough timepiece-making program. Consumers can rest assured that repairmen who have certification from this association are well-informed and skilled. There are 175 different chapters of this organization, with locations all over the United States and in some areas of Canada and Australia. Certain chapters are devoted to a special focus, such as grandfather clocks or cuckoo clocks.
When considering specialty or antique clock repair in the USA, the NAWCC can be considered one of the best-kept secrets of helpful advice. Members of this organization include dedicated horologists and clock enthusiasts who are knowledgeable about various kinds of clocks. Consumers who own a rare antique clock or a specific type of clock requiring cleaning or repair should consult the message board on this website, signing in as a registered guest. By asking about recommended repairmen on the forum, consumers will receive answers and inside information from horologists and forum members.
Logos of the leading UK clock organizations: the Antiquarian Horological Society (AHS) and the British Horological Institute (BHI)
One of the most prestigious associations in the UK for clock enthusiasts and horologists is the Antiquarian Horological Society or AHS, formed in 1953. This organization holds meetings in London, discussing topics and news about horology; also foreign tours are taken yearly to study horology history and techniques in other countries. The British Horological Institute or BHI is the home of the UK’s prominent horology course. Those seeking a clock repair person in the UK should find a specialist with this certification; such a repairman also having a membership with the AHS would be an excellent choice. Contacting either of these associations, or reading their publications, will lead consumers searching for clock cleaning and repair in the right direction.
Germany’s Deutsche Gesellschaft für Chronometrie or DGC is an association for scholars, horologists and enthusiasts. This association has a forum where questions may be asked – this is the best place to start when searching for clock cleaning and repair. Germany was famous for its Black Forest cuckoo clocks, as well as many other types of high-quality timepieces made there in history. France’s authority is Association Française des Amateurs d’Horlogerie Ancienne, Switzerland’s is Chronometrophilia and Italy’s is HORA Associazione Italiana Cultori di Orologeria Antica.
English-speaking consumers who visit these pages should consider using the Google Chrome browser, which provides an automatic translation service. Clock repairmen who have connections or certifications from these associations will be the best choices in foreign repair. Whether local or international shipping is required for repair, forums of these sites may also be consulted for the safest and best packing, insuring and shipping tips.
Any person who knows – or thinks they know – how to fix clocks could simply advertise this and start a business with a simple business license, then proceed to draw customers through attractive advertisements.
In a marketing tip guide published in 2004, author and Marketing Coordinator Jane Hanson reported that people who see an advertisement repeatedly in a newspaper are most likely to respond to it.
In essence, humans respond to what is familiar to them, usually neglecting to research facts or check sources. It is important to avoid this trap when searching for a quality clock repair person!
Having a previous lengthy apprenticeship under another established repair person is an asset for a clock cleaning or clock repair specialist.
Ultimately a great clock repair person will have experience and proof of credible certification, such as from the associations and organizations listed above, and not simply have certificates from unfamiliar clock repair programs.
Related Alarm Clock Blog Posts: