Some of the services we offer include brass restringing, decorative brass replacement,new seatboards, replacement finials etc. We are happy to offer advice on any aspect of restoration, please contact us for further information.

The pictures below show a beautiful longcase rescued from a shed, were it had lain in a very sorry state for many years. Originally the case featured a pagoda top, and this had been removed many years ago. The customer decided against reinstatment. As can be seen, the hood door arrived in pieces and it required extensive repairs and re-assembly. Please click on the thumbnails for a larger images.

Now restored and fully functioning once again.

This close up view of the base of a red Japanned longcase by Geo Baker of Dorchester, shows the damage and cracking to the case before restoration. The after view, shows how the gesso work has been built up and repaired.

This is the pagoda hood from a japanned London longcase by Jerre Jones. Sometime during its life, part of the hood had been sawn off so that it would fit in a room with a low beam. Many longcase clocks have suffered similar fates, to enable them to fit into rooms with limited headroom. Some were even lowered into holes dug into the ground, and suffered from infestation and damp.

New sections were fabricated and grafted back onto the hood top, and the gilt decoration re-applied once the ebonising was completed.

The fretwork pictured above is part of a large Gothic style bracket clock, and had sustained considerable damage. In the past it had been held together by glueing brown paper to the back and sellotape to the front. Some parts were missing, and these were carefully identified and replaced. The whole fretwork had to be carefully cleaned, repaired, re-waxed and new silk fitted to the back.

This drop dial wall clock was in an appalling condition when it arrived in the workshop. Years of neglect had left this once glorious timepiece in a rather sad state. The veneer had bubbled and blistered, it was missing its pendulum and case pegs, and covered in grime, from years in a damp environment. Fortunately, it looks as though it may well have ceased being used a long time ago, because the original movement is fitted and is pretty good order. Luckily no new veneer was needed, and the old splintered veneer has been retained. The dial has been restored and still captures the look of its age, without losing too much of the history of the dial. New case pegs have been acquired and polished to match the case, and the pendulum length was calculated before looking for a replacement.

This longcase restoration project was bought with several parts missing, and these have been made and fitted (in sympathy with the case) taking into account the ethics of any restoration. The case, made by Watson of Blackburn, was completed with a new base side, a complete set of 'Liverpool bricks' a new plinth and new mouldings. It is extremely fortunate to be able to determine exactly, the clockmaker for whom a case is made, but the odds must be very high to locate a dial and movement by the same clockmaker. The hood was without a door or masking frame and completely fell apart whilst an attempt was made to square things up. This in fact, made the work of fitting the dial and movement into the hood much easier.