Posts In: Time

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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Keeping Public Time behind London’s mechanical clocks

December 14, 2017 News, Public, Time

Nick Whitworth, a filmmaker with an interest in clock making, approached our clockmaking company to see if we would be able to work together to highlight the mechanical clock work behind some of London’s most beautiful landmarks. The film follows Matthew Smith, one of Smith of Derby’s longest-serving clockmakers, as he carried out alterations on mechanical clocks across London, including clock mechanisms at St. Paul’s Knightsbridge and Westminster Abbey. Many of us know that the clocks change twice a year to account for Daylight Saving Time but few are probably aware of just what this entails. Behind the dials and hands visible from street level there are…

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The clock is ticking – ‘time to boost apprenticeships’ says The Guardian

November 20, 2017 News, Public, Time

Read The Guardian’s story about the importance of investing in skills and apprenticeships, featuring a recent visit to our clockmaking company and our commitment to apprenticeships. The article highlights our commitment to apprenticeships and a couple of nice quotes from our young clockmakers. If you are looking for a career in clockmaking and would like to learn on the job whilst getting paid, please contact us. We’d love to hear from you!              

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Luxury Interior Clock for Harrods Roast & Bake Hall

November 17, 2017 Creative, News, Public, Time

Here you might wish to linger a little longer than normal for a coffee break. The monumental transformation of the historic Harrods Food Halls is underway, and the first phase – the Roastery and Bake Hall – is now open. Aptly described as a taste revolution the new destination provides the ultimate sanctuary for food lovers to see and smell, touch and taste. And it is worth not being in too much of a hurry as the surroundings may be enjoyed as much as what is on offer. At the heart of the Art Deco inspired refurbishment is a new Smith…

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6th Generation of Family Clock Company learn the ropes…

September 11, 2017 News, Public, Time

We’re excited to welcome three members of our Smith Family, Nick, Claire and Stas, to our Derby clock company works this week. Here Nick reflects on the start of their week… Claire, Stas and I have donned our polo shirts and safety boots this week and have joined our regional clockmakers on the road and in the Derby factory to learn more about our family business. While the three of us are currently pursuing careers in Design, Geography and Filmmaking, we are keen to be more involved in the family business and learn as much as we can about what it takes to…

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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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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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Maxwell’s book marks time at city’s famous clock company

April 11, 2012 News, Time

‘The Smiths of Derby – A Journey Through Time’

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A world without time

September 29, 2010 News, Time

Imagine a world without time. We are lost without it. Understanding ‘time’ enabled places to work, people to communicate and trade to develop. It continues to this day. Time is fundamental to everything we do and see around us, every single moment of our lives. Time has been ‘lost’ in poor planning and architecture, but enlightened architects and planners are now integrating ‘time’ in the early stages of town and city planning. This is what we call ‘time and place’. The establishment of positive spaces where people can interact in their daily lives and a true sense of identity and…

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