Posts In: Uncategorized

Terry’s Chocolate Factory Clock Ticks Again After Search For Missing Parts

March 23, 2023 Uncategorized

Landmark clock at the Terry’s chocolate factory in York ticks for the first time since 2005 after search for its missing parts. The Clock at the Grade II-listed Terry’s Chocolate Factory has been dormant for the last 18 years after it stopped in 2005 when work around it fell silent and production of Terry’s chocolate was moved oversees. Abandoned and falling into disrepair, the listed factory was on English Heritage’s Buildings at Risk Register when it was bought by property developer HBD in 2013.  HBD partnered with the PJ Livesey Group and as part of their work together – converting the 1920s factory…

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British Summer Time Begins

March 22, 2023 Uncategorized

Clocks Go Forward It is that time of year again in the UK, when we shift to having one less hour in bed in the mornings, but much more time after work to make the most of increasingly lighter evenings. On Sunday the 26th March the clocks will go forward 1 hour at 1am. While most clocks will of course make this change automatically, for the many mechanically-driven public clocks around the country this alteration will have to be carried out manually in the few days around the change. Our team of clockmaker engineers play a key role in this process, undertaking clock-altering…

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Terharris Clock Comes Full Circle 

March 20, 2023 Uncategorized

Terharris Library Wall Clock Returns to Derby Works for Restoration Currently in the Finishing Room we have the War Memorial Clock for Treharris Library in Treharris, Merthyr Tydfil – a clock we first made and fitted in 1933 – which has come in for repair and restoration, see photos. (3rd photo taken prior to restoration).⁠ ⁠ In the ‘Smith of Derby: A Journey Through Time’ book of the company’s history, an anecdote is written conveying the difficulty of communication at the time in the 1930s, which references the very same Treharris clock.⁠ ⁠ Chapter Five: On The Road⁠ “Remarkably complete…

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Apprentice Training Continues

March 8, 2023 Uncategorized

“If you’ve got a problem with a clock one of the best things you can do is take a moment to sit and listen to it, to pay attention and listen closely to its tick. This way you can tell if it is out of beat.” – This Paul tells our Apprentice Clockmakers over coffee.⁠ ⁠ Paul Kilburn came up from Dorset, and the region of clocks he looks after in the South, last week to offer hands on tuition and impart his knowledge to our team of apprentices. Drawing on his extensive experience, Paul has been guiding them through…

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School of Jewellery Employability Fair 2023

March 1, 2023 Uncategorized

We speak with Birmingham BA Horology Students looking to take their next steps in the world of clockmaking Yesterday a couple of us from Smiths headed down to Birmingham for the annual School of Jewellery Employability Fair where we met with students from the BA Horology Course, headed up by Jeremy Hobbins, and heard from the students about the projects they are working on and the horological skills they’ve acquired in the last three years. It was great to experience the energy of the students in the room for various subjects relating to jewellery, and especially those studying horology who are…

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Three Years on from Elvaston Castle Clocktower Restoration

February 27, 2023 Uncategorized

The clocktower at Elvaston Castle in Derbyshire houses within it a Smith of Derby clock we made in 1868. As part of the restoration to the clocktower at Elvaston Castle, which we completed three years ago this week, we took the flatbed clock to our Clockworks for a complete overhaul. We also shot-blasted and restored the levers for the bell’s hammer, and removed the dial and the wind vane; repainting, gilding and refitting them to the newly repaired copper structure.⁠ The team at Elvaston Castle were looking for ways to hold on to the integrity of the clock and maintain its…

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A Passion for Time: Kelly Powers

February 27, 2023 Uncategorized

Following a Horology Degree at Birmingham University, Kelly has been working with us at Smith of Derby since July of last year. We asked Kelly about the last 6 months and her time in the turret clockmaking industry after completing her degree. “I’ve been with Smith of Derby for 6 months now. I heard about the role through a LinkedIn post which highlighted the company’s apprenticeship scheme, which I think was during National Apprenticeship week. I sent Jane an email describing the experience I’d acquired and then came for an interview following this. I think what appealed to me about…

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Historic Clock Restored at Hodge House in Cardiff

February 14, 2023 Uncategorized

Architects and Design Practice Stride Treglown, have completed the latest stage in their £17 million refurbishment for owner Legal & General. As part of this stage, which brings the 110,000 square foot eight-storey Hodge House office building into the 21st century, the clock and four dials adorning the clock tower have been repaired by our Smith of Derby team and restored to their former glory. Repairs to the clock, which has kept accurate public time in Cardiff city centre for over 100 years, comprised, “restoration of the clock dials and mechanism, reinstatement of the bell, structural repairs, cleaning of stonework and roof repairs,” says project lead…

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Thwaites & Reed Cage Clock Restoration

February 10, 2023 Uncategorized

The team here at the Derby Works have recently completed the restoration of the Thwaites & Reed Clock belonging to Turvey Abbey Monastery. Martin Butchers, our Sales and Complex Projects Manager describes how, ‘the arbors were out of alignment, so the teeth didn’t mesh properly on the wheels, which kept stopping the clock. The solution was to completely strip the clock, make new bushes, polish the pivots and rebuild the clock and ensure that all the wheels and teeth were in perfect alignment.” Martin continues: “The painting of the cage of the clock was requested by Sister Benedict as there was…

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“You Never Stop Learning” – Reflections on Horology

February 10, 2023 Uncategorized

With the final day of National Apprenticeship Week, we thought it would be great to hear from experienced Horologist Paul. We hear why he changed careers and entered into clockmaking, what he likes about the work he does and what he think makes a good clockmaker. “I joined Smith of Derby in 2006 after a career in hospitality and transitioned to studying Horology. I was first introduced to clocks by my Grandfather who used to repair them, and can remember fondly as a four or five year old staring into the back of a clock case for the first time….

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