Posts In: clock restoration

Rope Access Clock Projects

August 15, 2019 Church

Our latest recruit, Jason Budd, means we can complete clock dial restorations and rope access work even more efficiently than before! Jason is an IRATA level 3 supervisor, meaning he can lead our rope access work without the need for an external operator. This was recently put to test on a dial restoration in London, where team completed a dial restoration. Apprentice clockmaker Mitchell Eaten worked alongside Jason at St Lawrence Church in Morden to restore the 4ft copper dial from rope access equipment. Mitchell, who is IRATA level 1 qualified, led the restoration process whilst Jason ensured it was…

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Dials restored at one of Edinburgh’s landmarks

July 30, 2019 News

Clocks are at the heart of Edinburgh. The famous Balmoral Hotel is one of the City’s many tourist attractions, along with the timeball which marks one o’clock daily. Another clock which many visitors see is located on George Street and adorns the clocktower of St Andrew & St George’s Church. Following many years of operation, it was decided that the clocks should be restored back to their original glory. The three 5ft cast skeleton dials stand proudly above the bustling streets below where many shoppers, tourists and commuters are located. Our team removed the clock hands and then started to…

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Restoration of Clock Dials at a Historic Lincolnshire Building

January 3, 2019 News

The market town of Brigg, North Lincolnshire, has a very famous building situated in the town centre called the Buttercross. At the top of the building is a turret which houses two clock dials and a weathervane both of which form a prominent part of Brigg’s town centre. The historic building, which was built around 200 years ago, was the former home of the WH Smith until they left the town in the 1980’s and has now become tourist information for visitors. In the late Autumn, scaffold was erected around the prestigious building to carry out various repairs. It was…

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Proud to restore time on Memorial Clock Tower Coalville Leicestershire

October 8, 2018 Church, Heritage, Public, Traditional

A specialist restoration project of the Memorial Clock Tower in Coalville, which included the overhaul of the 4 5ft skeleton dials which occupy the Grade II listed tower on the High Street, Leicestershire. North West Leicestershire District Council approached Smith of Derby, British Clockmaker Tower specialists to inspect the clock and dial works whilst scaffolding was already in place for masonry, steelwork and roofing repairs. The clock tower is an important landmark for the Coalville community and it was an opportune moment to clean and repair the dials. Martin Butchers, Smith of Derby Technical Sales Engineer, carried out the inspection…

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Harrison Clock, Derby Silk Mill Museum

August 14, 2018 Uncategorized

In late 2017 Smith of Derby were tasked to remove the Harrison mechanical clock from the Derby Silk Mill Museum and complete a full restoration. Following this the clock dial and mechanism will be reinstated at the silk mill museum in 2020 when the buildings renovation is completed. The team tasked with the works are our apprentices, Tom and Sam, who are overseeing the project from start to finish. To help them with the project, clock advisor Chris McKay has been on site giving them both advise on various parts of the works, which will also help develop their knowledge…

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Clock restoration for new offices in Colchester

July 16, 2018 Heritage, Public

Smith of Derby were delighted to be approached by Aquatronic Group Management Plc to restore their clock to its former glory, using as many of the original materials as possible. Following this the clock will sit proudly at their new offices in Colchester, Essex. Once the clock came into our workshop our talented team of clockmakers at Smith of Derby set to work on stripping down the clocks rusty case and removing the clock movements. Following this the clock case was painted with various base layers and then a high quality black gloss finish. New synchronous movements have been added to…

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