Posts In: Public

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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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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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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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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Stunning Herefordshire bull weathervane restored along with the clock and turret it stands on

February 13, 2015 News, Public

Restored and re-gilded in gold leaf, the bull weathervane will stand proudly on the turret clock for years to come.

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Marks and Spencer Kirkgate Market

April 30, 2013 News, Public

Marks and Spencer’s are re-visiting their past; they have opened a Victorian stall in Kirkgate Market, Leeds where the brand first started out over 130 years ago. The Marks & Spencer stall is right besides the famous M&S clock in the 1904 building of Kirkgate Market. You will be able to enjoy a coffee, learn about the heritage of the M&S brand and buy branded merchandise. As the new stall launches an M&S Heritage trail will also be launched with Leeds City Council. The self guided walk will start at the market stall and finish at the company’s archive, taking…

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Theresa May MP opens new village clock in Sonning

November 26, 2012 News, Public

Theresa May MP opens new village clock in Sonning

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