Posts In: News

Cancer Research Visit Smith of Derby

December 4, 2018 News

The Derbyshire community is at the heart of everything we do here at Smith of Derby. This may be working with local charities, getting involved in local projects or working with the University. As part of this we recently welcomed 20 members from the Derby committee of Cancer Research UK. Cancer Research UK is a charity close to the heart of many people. Following the original creation of Imperial Cancer in 1902, following this another cancer group was formed in 1923, known as The British Empire Cancer Campaign before subsequently being renamed as the Cancer Research Campaign in 1970. In…

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November News at Smith of Derby

November 29, 2018 News

As the nights draw in and the run up to Christmas gets into full swing, the team have been working hard on various things here at Smith of Derby to ensure everything is ready for a successful 2019! The start of November was a particularly busy period as the team worked on many projects across the UK ahead of remembrance Sunday services. Of course this year was a special year as it was the 100th anniversary of World War One, meaning there was even more projects than normal taking place. Several of the team attended the annual Celestial Ball which…

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Master Clock System and Skeleton Dial

November 22, 2018 Heritage, News

Victoria college, St Helier, is the island of Jersey’s oldest state school, dating back to 1853. A prominent feature of the campus is a black and white skeleton clock dial. However, this school boasts more than one clock dial as there are a number of other clocks across the site which are operated by a master clock and slave system. The first task for Smith of Derby was to convert the exterior skeleton dial to a T200 movement, along with fabricating new hands which would fit this movement. This will ensure that the eye-catching dial will keep extremely good time…

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Clocks provide school exam inspiration!

November 14, 2018 Creative, News, Personnel, Public

Earlier in the year Bruntcliffe Academy, Leeds, approached Potts of Leeds, part of the Smith of Derby group, to provide clock parts for students to use in their upcoming exam. Leeds based clockmaker Mike Tomlinson was delighted to help the school, supplying various parts for students to use in the exams. Following this we had a very kind letter from Richard Hall, the photography teacher at the school: “Each year, just after Christmas, the exam board publishes the final project theme for Britain’s GCSE Art, Design and Photography students. 16-year-old students the length and breadth of the country wait with…

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Craiginches Community Garden Clock

November 9, 2018 News, Public

HM Prison, Craiginches, Aberdeen is a historic site for a number of reasons and that history has not been forgotten in its recent development. As part of the development, James Ritchie & Son clockmakers were approached to prepare the original prison clock dial, so it could be apart of the community garden at the Scottish site. The former prison was the place where Henry John Burnett was hung in 1963, which happened to be the last hanging in Scotland. Following this, the prison faced many problems including over crowding and was closed for good in 2014 as the new HM…

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Company Announcement: Appointments to our Board

November 2, 2018 News

We are delighted to announce that we are strengthening our Smith of Derby Limited Board with two new appointments: Heather Whitworth: Director, Smith of Derby Limited – and Andy Burdon: Non-Executive Director, Smith of Derby Limited. Heather Whitworth, Mr Nick Smith’s daughter and Smith of Derby Group Director, joins the Limited Board to add Group and family depth to the Smith of Derby Limited senior management team. Heather is a member of the fifth-generation of the family that started and own the business, and hence has been involved in it since childhood. She brings valuable skills and commitment to the team….

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Clock Changing at Smith of Derby

October 31, 2018 Church, News, Public

As the majority of the nation enjoyed an extra hour in bed, there was no rest for our clockmakers as they began the monumental task of altering public clocks across the UK. Of course, it’s not all public clocks which have to be changed manually, there are more pendulum regulators being used thus meaning less work for our clockmakers when it comes to this time of year. However, it is still a major operation which involves accurate planning and a dedicated team of clockmakers. “The planning for this operation starts in the height of summer as routes are planned and…

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Local clock repair at St Georges Church, Ticknall

October 25, 2018 Church, Heritage, News, Public

We are very proud of the work we undertake and working with local Derbyshire communities will always be special to us because of our history within the local area. These works at Ticknall Village Church were no different, with the church located just 14 miles from our Alfreton Road premises in Derby. Our works at the Church started by removing the original Whitehurst clock and bringing it back to our local Derby workshop for repair. The clock repairs included fitting a new count wheel and pins to the clock which will ensure chiming accuracy on the hour. Along with this,…

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Supporting the AHS Turret Clock Group Database

October 19, 2018 Church, News

The Antiquarian Horological Society’s Turret Clock Group have been working for some years on a database. This will provide a unique research tool and make a huge contribution to the conservation of our turret clock heritage.    It already holds around 4000 records thanks to a few dedicated and generous souls. But the next big step requires the inputting of large amounts of existing data, covering thousands of clocks. This can only be done with some paid assistance, costing in the region of £3000, which is beyond the scope of the group’s resources. The Council of the Antiquarian Horological Society…

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In the News this Autumn at Smith of Derby

October 15, 2018 News

On Saturday 6th of October we welcomed over 50 visitors to our Derby works from the Turret Clock Group, of the Antiquarian Horological Society (AHS). The group promotes knowledge about turret clocks, with a wider role of encouraging the study in all matters relating to the art, history and measurement of time. The AHS also conduct important research, along with encouraging the preservation of both horological and associated arts across the county. The group visited several Derbyshire churches, before heading to Smith of Derby for lunch and a tour of our prestigious works. During the afternoon the AHS conducted their…

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