The old clock maintenance

Most maintenance should be left to a specialist, although wooden cases can be carefully dusted and waxed occasionally. Brass and silvered dials are protected by lacquer and should never be polished or placed in contact with water or detergent.

Cleaning and oiling the clock's movement should be carried out with great care by specialist. After using your clock for three years take it for oiling and inspection. Clocks with spring-drive and short pendulums can be carried from one room to another, but should be held uptight. For long distance journeys the pendulum must be secured or removed. Longcase clocks should be dismantled before being moved.

As dust gets in the movement the oil becomes an abrasive paste which causes wear.The longer the clocks run in this condition the more repair it will need.Most antique clocks have heavy weights or springs which will run the clock for several years after the oil as gone bad, causing severe wear to the pivots and pivot holes.If your clock stop and you spray it oil to make it go again it will continue to wear badly because it is still dirty. Shortcuts like cleaning the movement whole, even when using an ultrasonic cleaner cannot properly clean pivots and pivot holes.These techniques merely postpone the need for a proper overhaul.