Service fees
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Single- and two-train (time and strike) clocks and two weight cuckoos. These clocks have one or two winding holes. $295. Add $32.50 for alarm mechanisms.
French clocks. French clocks are typically made to more precise tolerances and have finer components that require greater care in handling the than American made clocks of the same vintage. $340 Three-train wall and mantle clocks that play Westminster chimes on the quarter hours and three weight cuckoos. These clocks will have three winding holes or three weights. $395 Seth Thomas three-train mantel clocks. Model numbers 120 and 124 and New Haven Chiming clocks. These movements were first produced in 1921 and continued into the depression. They are among the most complicated clocks of their day. $525 Single-chime grandfather clocks. These clocks usually have three weights that hang on chains and play westminster chime on the quarter hours. $395 Triple-chime grandfather and mantel clocks. These clocks have three weights or three winding holes and allow for a selection of three different melodies to play on the quarter hours. $460 (auto-night shut-off add $75) Five-tube floor clocks. Tube clocks have two- or three weights and play westminster chime on the quarter hours on tubular bells instead of solid rods. $1495 Eight- or nine-tube floor clocks. Triple-chime, three-weight tubular bell clocks. $1995 Grandfather clock house call. A house call is when a floor clock needs evaluated, oiled, set-up, or adjusted, but not cleaned. This service is in place of cleaning and overhaul, not in addition to cleaning and overhaul. Cleaning and overhaul can only be accomplished in the shop. $120 Pick up or deliver a grandfather clock for service. You have the option to remove the movement from your clock and bring it to the shop along with the weights and pendulum for service. If I come to your house for pick up or delivery there will be a charge. $50 Pick up or deliver a wall or mantle clock. $25 Lubricate wall or mantle clock. Mechanical clocks need to be lubricated every two years. This may be done in the home, depending on the type of clock. $75 Airguide and ship's bell clocks. Typically time and strike clocks. Some with the unique ship's bell striking sequence. Includes disassembly and cleaning of platform escapement. Parts and shipping extra. $550 Platform Escapement Service. Complete disassembly and cleaning platform escapement. Parts extra. $150 Lubricate grandfather clock. Floor clock mechanisms need lubricated every two years. This is done in the home. $125 Move grandfather clock. Call for estimate. Casework, or fabrication of parts.$75/hr Appraisals.$75/clock. Cleaning solution disposal charge. Clocks that have been saturated with oil, sprayed with WD-40, sprayed with silicone, or exposed to smoke foul the cleaning solution and require disposal of the solution. $25.00 Rust removal. Badly rusted parts that need to have the oxidation removed in order for the part to function correctly will incur an additional fee for rust removal and waste disposal. Rebuild cuckoo music movement. Many of these old cuckoo musical movements get little or no attention until they quit functioning altogether- even when the main movement is serviced. We completely disassemble the music movement and treat it as another clockworks movement. Which, in fact, it really is. $65 *note: parts, shipping and tax (if applicable) not included in above pricing. The prices above are for most clocks of the types listed. Some clocks that require more than average work including extra cleaning because of spray lubricants will cost more to repair. Clocks that have had poor repair work in the past, and must have previous repair work corrected, will be charged my hourly rate for the remedial work, plus the normal price. All prices are subject to change without notification.
*A word about lubrication.
Proper lubricaton ensures that a mechanical clock will continue to perform well. There is no such thing as a universal lubricant. In fact, there is a whole field of scientific study called tribology which is dedicated to the study of friction and lubrication. Professional scientists have developed lubricants specifically for use in clock mechanisms. Household lubricants such as 3-in-1 oil and WD40 are the bane of clockmakers, as they are difficult to remove and cause damage to delicate clock parts and finishes. In addition, too much or too little of even the right kind of lubrication can cause problems for your clock. At the Cottage Clock Shop, I make sure your clock receives the proper amount and kind of lubrication exactly where needed. |
Is your clock like one of these?The slideshow above represents some of the many types of clocks I repair.
What's included in clock serviceSome clock repairers try to do the minimum possible when servicing a clock. I take a different approach.
I treat every clock that comes into my shop with the utmost care. Each clock that I service receives a complete service, sometimes referred to as an overhaul. The list below details what is included in a complete service.
Cleaning Grandfather Clocks
I never make any attempt to clean a grandfather clock in your home. It takes many hours to properly clean a grandfather clock movement - or any mechanical clock movement for that matter. Proper cleaning means complete disassembly of the movement and the use of bulky, noisy, specialized equipment. There is simply no way a proper job can be done in your home. It's kind of like asking the auto repair person to repair your car at your house. You're not going to get professional work done that way. So-called clock cleaning in the home is short-lived and does more harm than good-usually resulting in unnecessary wear. Considering replacing your clock movement?
I seldom replace clock movements. Just a few a year in fact. Why? The older clock movements up through the 1990's are simply made better than the new ones. If you've ever bought an updated appliance that you really loved and got great service from only to discover the new model was of inferior quality and had been cheapened to cut manufacturing costs, then you are getting the idea of what has happened in the clock manufacturing industry. I'll take a repaired movement from the 1960's any day over anything being made today. Why replace at all then? Sometimes I see a movement that has been so badly butchered by some other so-called clock-maker that it is simply not salvageable. In that case I'll recommend replacement. I know of clock repair people who do nothing but replace movements. Have you been told that the old movements are junk and that they have to be replaced every 15-20 years? I'm sorry you were told that. It's simply not true. Any well taken care of clock movement will outlast you and me. Clock movements that were made for less than a dollar a piece over a century ago still function perfectly so long as they were routinely maintained over the years. This despite being made by the hundreds of thousands with inferior materials and equipment to that of today. I have to scratch my head when I hear repair people insist on replacing vintage movements because they are supposedly junk and then complain about the inferior quality of the new movements privately. |
I accept the following forms of payment:
- Cash
- Check
- Major Credit/Debit Cards
I reserve the right to make photos of clocks in my shop for my own use. From time to time, I use these photos for illustration in a power point presentation or a web post. Of course, I never reveal the location of the clock or the name of the owner. If you would like to have credit for your clock, just let me know.
Steve
Steve
Payment is expected upon completion of work. A deposit may be required before ordering some parts. Parts ordered for specific clocks cannot be returned.
