This presentation covers the restoration of a heavily damaged woodworks movement, entailing fabrication, stabilization, and routine maintenance for this type of mechanism. Woodworks movements were popular in colonial America, when during our nation's early days the lack of heavy machinery operations, and sparse metal production, drove the market to bear the affordable wooden mechanisms to rule the horological scene. Woodworks movements were made of readily available hardwoods native to the eastern seaboard, and were cheap enough for the average family to afford a timepiece constructed in such a fashion. The only alternative at the time was to import expensive European clocks, and our country lacked the manufacturing capabilties necessary to produce the traditional metal constructed mechanism common for that era. Often times the plates of woodworks movements were made of quarter-sawn oak, and the gears/arbors were made of cherry, laurel, applewood, or various other fruitwoods. They utilized minimal amounts of brass and steel, mostly for the pivots, levers, escapements, and bells. They were weight driven, and many were 30 hour, or 1 day clocks, and were common in longcase, or floor clock cabinets. This mechanism in the video is a prime example of the technology at its heyday, and is over 200 years old. Unfortunately, like many antiques, some of it's components have been lost, including the original pendulum and weights. Even more unfortunate, is that someone had sold the owners of this clock replacements that were way too heavy for the wooden frame to support without issue. The replacement pendulum bob weighed nearly 5 pounds, and would appear to match the styling of a same-age English longcase clock, which would have been constructed of metal. The actual weight needed was less than 1 pound of mass for the pendulum bob, but the damage was already done. The suspension post, which holds the pendulum via the suspension spring, had cracked over the last couple decades, struggling to support a pendulum that was nearly 3-5 times heavier than necessary. In addition, the weight required to drive to gear trains was also originally 2-3 pounds, but had been replaced with 7-8 pound monsters also designed for a different clock. The stress of the extra weight on the gear trains had caused the timetrain mainwheel arbor/shaft to crack on the backplate, causing the clock to immediately stop running. The arbor shattered at the shoulder of the pivot, taking a significant amount of arbor through the crack as well. These problems needed attention to make the clock functional again, and also a bit of cleaning was well over-due. Unfortunately, there are no parts manufactured for woodworks movements anymore, and one could go through a couple dozen junk wood movements before anything close could be found to replace such parts, and any donor parts would need severe retrofitting to be made compatible thereafter. We have the technology, however, to fabricate such parts in-shop, and make any additional repairs/restoration. After a laborious reconstruction of a new gearshaft, and an innovative sleeve to regain stability on the suspension post, the clock was thoroughly cleaned, lubricated, and incorrect parts replaced. The clock was reassembled, test-run, and sent back home with a clean bill of health. Like any of our repairs requiring such work, it goes home with a 2 year warranty, and will live to see another 100 years if taken proper care of. If you have a woodworks movement, and it needs parts made (including teeth/arbors), or just a bit of cleaning and some new lubricant, call or email us @ GulfCoastClock.com, or stop by and visit our store in Pensacola, Florida for a free in-store estimate. We also stock thousands of parts (in store) for all types of clocks, new, antique, modern, quartz, electric, musical, novelty, or woodworks even. We even sell parts across the counter, if you like to make your own clocks or buy parts for an old timepiece you want to work on. At Gulf Coast Clock Co, we have the most qualified repair staff in the region, and friendly, knowledgeable, proactive customer service team to match! We also carry new, used, and vintage antique clocks in our showroom, our variety is unrivaled, whether you're looking for a $4 clock, or a $4000 heirloom timepiece. We also carry analog barometers, digital weather stations, and atomic clocks, as well as wall, grandfather, mantle, alarm, cuckoo or animated clocks. We offer layaway, consignment, or even consultation regarding any of your clock needs. You'll love to "wind up" at Gulf Coast Clock Co!

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