Posts In: News

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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Race for Life Donation for Cancer Research

July 6, 2017 News, Public

On Saturday 1st July, we took part in the Race for Life Pretty Muddy Challenge at Markeaton Park in Derby. The team, which consists of  Kirstie Davies, Lizzie Butler and Diane Davies have raised £700 for Cancer Research UK. Ant Davies, Clockmaker and Dad to Kirstie Davies, who works in our clock planning team, came to support the girls at the event. Cancer is happening right now – 1 in 2 people will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. To learn more about this great charity, please click on the link Cancer Research UK

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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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Learning Unlimited’s Employer of the Year

June 22, 2017 News, Public, Traditional

We’d like to offer a huge congratulations to our team at Smith of Derby for winning ‘Employer of the Year’, at the ‘Celebration of Achievement’ ceremony hosted by the Chesterfield College Group. Jane Arnold, Director at Smith of Derby was presented the award on Tuesday 14th June by Chesterfield College Group. She said: “It’s an outstanding achievement to be selected out of 1,300 employers. The award recognises our hard work and support we give to our apprentices, both in clock-making and business administration.   Our Clockmaking Company has worked with Learning Unlimited, part of Chesterfield College Group since February 2015. Mitchell Eaton, one of our apprentice clockmakers, featured to…

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Alan Wilson bids a final farewell to local Edinburgh clock repairer and restorer

April 7, 2017 News

Today we bid a final farewell to Alan Wilson of James Ritchie & Son Edinburgh local clock repairers. Here Alan, reflects on his time at the local Scottish clock company part of Smith of Derby Clock restorers. I’ve spent the majority of my working life caring for and conserving Scotland’s most prestigious and historically significant public clocks. My company, James Ritchie & Son of Edinburgh, became part of the Smith of Derby Group of clockmaking companies in November 2013 and was established over 200 years ago. I’ve experienced a wonderful time as Ritchie’s Managing Director, making sure accurate time is kept on…

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Derby Museums Arts & Heritage Programme

March 15, 2017 News

As part of a wider ‘Arts & Heritage in the Public Realm’ strategy, a series of arts proposals have been commissioned by Derby Silk Mill linked to its ongoing Re:imagine programme, to become a new Museum of Making. Artist and maker Andy Plant has recently been commissioned to undertake a short in-house residency to explore a potential time-based work, including links to Smith of Derby and related clock-making collections held within the Silk Mill.  As part of this initial micro commission, Andy and Arts Consultant Ian Banks visited our works on Friday 10th March to introduce the potential project concept….

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UK’s first clock makers’ training centre opens at Smith of Derby

March 6, 2017 News

We’ve opened the UK’s first training centre dedicated solely to helping secure future generations of clockmakers. Inspired by the desire to help train its apprentices and continue the traditions of our family-owned business, we’re also looking at ways of working with schools, colleges and education establishments to help provide a platform for clockmaking and engineering expertise.   The training centre, within our Smith of Derby clock works in Derby, features a full-scale turret clock with both traditional and technologically advanced operating equipment, creating a unique environment for skills development. Tony Charlesworth, Technical Sales Manager with responsibility for overseeing training, said:…

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Watch this touching short video of our clockmaker Jonathan Lee

March 6, 2017 News

Watch this touching short video as Jonathan Lee, one of our clockmakers takes you through a typical day. Jonathan has been with us for 47 years, he started in July 1970 for John Smith & Sons. A pleasure to watch a craftsmen at work. Go to videos page

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Royal Academician Cornelia Parker unveils installation at St Pancras Station

May 28, 2015 News, Public

London, 28 May 2015 – at 5:30am, St Pancras International station and the Royal Academy of Arts revealed this year’s highly anticipated Terrace Wires installation, One More Time, 2015, by leading British artist Cornelia Parker RA.

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