Posts In: News

Our Easter Message: a Moment in Time

March 29, 2018 News, Public, Seasons, Spring, Time

Lambs are a reminder of time, seasons and renewal of life. Our picture shows a first sign of spring amid the last of winter. A moment in time – to appreciate our wonderful world.

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Clocks all changed

March 29, 2018 Church, Heritage, News, Public, Time, Traditional

All has gone well with our clock altering visits. Matthew S finished the rounds in the South East at Richmond Town Hall: whilst at the other end of the UK (almost), Craig P moved time forward an hour at Leslie St. Marys Church in Fife.

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Clocks All Change This Weekend

March 22, 2018 Heritage, News, Public, Time, Traditional

With summer time changeover fast approaching, we are being kept very busy. This year we will be putting the time forward an hour on 155 tower clocks. That’s a small number compared to the 4,000 or so we look after altogether. Some of our clients do the clock altering themselves, and many of the modern electrically driven clocks have automatic changeover. On average it takes half an hour to change the time on each clock. The gears have to be released and moved to put the clock forward one hour in the spring. It takes a bit longer for the…

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Nick Smith: A life in time

March 16, 2018 News

In Memoriam John Nicholas Wilkins Smith 21st August 1935 – 12th February 2018 Nick Smith gave almost his entire professional life to supporting the turret clock making company founded by his great great grandfather, John Smith. In his school years he had regularly joined his father Howard when inspecting turret clocks in churches and public buildings around the country, or down at John Smith and Sons’ Queen Street clock works. This pattern was repeated with his own children many years later. After training as an accountant, and graduating as the top student in the region, Nick travelled to Canada to…

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Funeral of Mr Nicholas Smith

February 22, 2018 News, Public, Time, Traditional

John Nicholas Wilkins Smith born Derby, 21st August 1935 Died peacefully at Glenfield Hospital surrounded by family on 12th February 2018. Much loved husband, father and grandfather. Funeral to celebrate his life at St Paul’s Church, Quarndon, Derbyshire on Monday 26th February at 12 noon. No flowers, but donations welcome for The Padley Centre Derby or the Gurkha Welfare Trust sent to G E Simnett & Family Funeral Directors Ltd 65 High Street, Chellaston Derby DE73 6TB.

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Announcement to friends of Smith of Derby Limited

February 13, 2018 Heritage, News, Public, Traditional

Dear friends of Smith of Derby Limited We are writing to you today to share the sad news that John Nicholas Wilkins Smith, our President and active Archivist passed away late yesterday afternoon. Mr Nick, as he was affectionately known by all of us here at Smith of Derby, died peacefully following a short illness and a heart operation. His family was with him. There will be more to say and share with all our friends in due course, but it is enough for now to let you know that after his family, his (literally!) lifelong association with the Smith…

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Case Study: University of Leeds Faculty of Engineering

February 8, 2018 Creative, News, Public, Time, Uncategorized

Client: University of Leeds Location: Leeds, UK Size: 2.4m overall diameter Materials: Aluminum and LED illumination Date: 2017 Product code: 36381 We were commissioned to create a bespoke clock for the University of Leeds Faculty of Engineering as part of their renovation in 2017. Working with tones of white, brown and black, a design was developed that fitted seamlessly within the scheme. The raised illuminated ring markers on the clock responded to the main lighting which featured on the ceiling. This design device helps to bring coherence to the whole refurbished building. This 2.4 m diameter clock was created at…

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Training key priority for Smith of Derby Clockmakers

January 16, 2018 Heritage, News, Public, Time, Traditional

Our clockmakers were taken off the road last week for training at our Derby workshop. This included working with external specialists as well as experts from within the team on aspects of traditional turret clock history and care; health and safety; customer relations and electronics. They were also introduced to new products and some projects in development. Safety is a main priority for our company with our specialists receiving training and maintenance checks on their equipment and company vehicles ensuring we are a safe pair of hands. It is part of our ongoing commitment to enhance the knowledge and skills…

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Historic clock paves the way for future expertise

January 5, 2018 Heritage, News, Time, Traditional

Turret clock and Harrison specialist, Chris McKay, is today working alongside our apprentices to restore the James Harrison of Hulls clock which arrived at our Derby workshop on 22nd December. The preliminary analysis of the clock marks the first step towards a restoration which will see the piece reinstalled at the Derby Silk Mill as part of their renovation to become the Museum of Making 2020. Smith of Derby apprentice, Mitch, is excited to work on the restoration. He says, “This clock has not worked for a while and I look forward to being part of the process to see…

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See our apprentices dismantling the James Harrison of Hull’s clock @derbysilkmill

December 22, 2017 Heritage, News, Public, Time, Traditional

Check out our apprentice clockmakers Sam, Mitch and Tom dismantling the James Harrison of Hull’s Clock @derbysilkmill on Monday 18th December. James Harrison of Hull’s clock is now @smithofderby workshop waiting to be carefully restored under the guidance of turret clock and particularly Harrison specialist Chris McKay. For the latest updates please visit twitter pages @derbymuseums @smithofderby.

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