Posts In: Heritage

Our apprentices to restore historic Harrison clock

December 15, 2017 Heritage, News, Public, Time, Traditional

Derby Museums and Smith of Derby are delighted to announce a partnership project that will see the historic Harrison clock, formerly of Derby Guildhall, removed from Derby Silk Mill and restored to working condition by apprentices at Smith of Derby. This exciting project has the dual benefit of training up future clockmakers and maintainers while safeguarding the future of one of the museum’s, and Derby’s, most significant treasures. The project will also see the nationally-significant Whitehurst I turret clock removed to Smith of Derby for safe keeping and display during the course of the Silk Mill’s £16.4m renovation to become…

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We’re changing our logo: About our redesign

September 21, 2017 Heritage, News, Public, Traditional

Written by Joe Smith, Director & 5th Generation Smith Family. Over the last year we have been designing a fresh “face” to the world. Actually four fresh faces – for our long standing clockmaking companies: J B Joyce of Whitchurch, James Ritchie of Edinburgh, William Potts of Leeds, and John Smith & Sons of Derby. Ours is a rich heritage that dates right back to the 1690’s and we are reflecting this through a common identity theme, perpetuating the individual company names as well as their traditional hand and dial designs. This means we’ll have new brand identities with the…

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Our investment in clockmaking apprentices with Chesterfield College

September 20, 2017 Heritage, News, Traditional

Over the Summer period Learning Unlimited, part of Chesterfield College Group, visited our clock company to take video footage of our clock making apprentices. Take a look at the video and many thanks to Lisa at Chesterfield College for sharing!      

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Archive Records Expanding

August 8, 2017 Heritage, News, Uncategorized

Clock manufacture and installation is no new thing and our large historic database at Smith of Derby would certainly testify to this. With an extensive back catalogue of clocks, manufactured and maintained across many decades, we have been keen to ensure our database is kept up to date and that no clock is left un-oiled for too long! Nicholas Smith, our Archivist and past Chairman, has been working hard to make contact with those who are aware of clocks and timepieces in their community and who might have historical information to share on these important public pieces. Since the first letters of enquiry went out…

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Sharing clock knowledge and skills

August 4, 2017 Heritage, News, Time, Traditional

The British Horological Institute are getting ‘Out and About’ participating at local roadshows and exhibitions, promoting clock knowledge and skills through taster days, clock training workshops and the Horological Journal. Their latest expeditions include The Heritage Skills Exhibition alongside the Worshipful Company of clockmakers (WCC) in Lincoln Cathedral, and they also had an active display at the Royal Norfolk Show in June. As a local clock company, we understand the importance of keeping traditional clock making alive and we’re proud to support the BHI. We wish them every success!                  

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Our Scottish Clock Company restores Edinburgh Morningside Clock

July 17, 2017 Heritage, News, Public, Traditional

Time takes its toll on even the best loved clocks. Though not so obvious at a glance, there were plenty of good reasons to restore the Edinburgh Morningside clock. With dials, case and decorative surround carefully removed and brought to our workshops, the extent of the task was all too clear. There’s no blueprint for clocks of this age. Many were individually built, making the nature of the repairs individual too. But our metal fabrication engineers are well used to this. We have a small workforce, but between them they have clocked up many years with our company and have…

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A Helping Hand for Handsworth

June 23, 2017 Heritage, News, Public, Time, Traditional

When our clockmaker Tim Reynolds began working on the restoration of the clock at Handsworth St. Mary’s Church, he quickly realised that he would need workshop help. The transmission to the external hands had seized completely, and required a workshop repair, so it was decided to send the affected parts to Derby. That meant that the hands could be re-gilded at Derby too.   The hands are an especially elegant design, and pre-date the clock drive unit which was renewed with an electric drive type in 1956. It’s likely that the hands and dial date from a Victorian refurbishment of…

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A beautiful dial restoration, St James Church, Goffs Oak, Hertfordshire

May 20, 2015 Heritage, News

Smith of Derby clock-makers have completed a beautiful dial restoration and provided the client with the opportunity to save funds for other projects in the process.Martin Butchers, Technical Sales Engineer for the South, was asked by St James’ Church in Goffs Oak, Hertfordshire, to visit and inspect the clock, with a view to repairing the movement and restoring the clock to good working order. On close inspection Martin saw that the clock dial had weathered badly and was in great need of restoration, and because there were other works taking place at the church which required scaffolding, he suggested that…

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Clock dials at Chetwynd, Shropshire restored to former glory

February 13, 2015 Heritage, News

“The difference between before and after is stark. We have been associated with the church for many years and the last time the clock dials were restored was in 1970, and therefore an extensive amount of work needed to be carried out.” – Keith Cotton, Technical Sales Engineer

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Helping you keep your clock working into the Spring

February 13, 2015 Creative, Heritage, News, Public, Traditional

A stopped or malfunctioning clock isn’t just about having the time wrong – it sends a negative message to the community. It concerns and frustrates people.

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