| Public and Church Clock Restoration
by Edmund Czajkowski & Son Ltd.
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Restoration of church clock
movements (the correct name for the clock work) has always
been an important part of our business.
We have worked on many church and public clocks in the area
and maintain some on a regular basis. In many cases
the striking mechanism has been disconnected. We can either
reconnect this, making the missing parts, or overhaul the
clock so it now works as a timepiece only.
Since most tower clocks are of some age, all our work is
carried out to the guidelines laid down by the Council for
the Care of Churches to ensure the original mechanism
is not altered in any way.
Church clocks are often working in damp and dirty conditions
thus correct maintenance is essential if the clock is to
be preserved as a working item for future generations. Consequently
Edmund Czajkowski & Son Ltd. offer a maintenance agreement
to look after your clock on a regular basis.
Although many of these tower, or turret clocks are installed
in churches many are also found in stables, stately homes
and other public places. We also restore church and public
clock dials. We re-paint and re-gild as required using double
thickness genuine 23 ct gold leaf.
We can also supply electrical movements and corrector mechanisms.
Below are some illustrations of our work. |
Coningsby Church, Lincolnshire. One of the church clocks we
have repaired and regularly maintain. This church reputedly
has the largest clock face in Europe. |
The wooden framed, clock movement,
probably made locally
by a blacksmith, c. 1720. |
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Conningsby Church with scaffolding, ready for
the restoration work |
winding barrel and main wheel ,
after repairing damage to
ratchet |
Coningsby clock during work to the strike train. |
Coningsby clock strike train wheels.
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Broken winding square on the strike side of the Coningsby
church clock. The wheels for the strike side had to be dismantled,
the winding square repaired and the whole re-installed and
set up.
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Repaired winding square. Note reinforcing plate. |
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Repainting the clock face of Coningsby church clock. The dial
at 5 metres (16 feet 6 ins) is reputedly the largest clock
dial in Europe. |
Detail of new painting |
Partney church clock scaffolded so that hands could be removed
and the motion work (wheels behind the dial) repaired. The
dial was also repainted and gilded by us at the same time.
|
Three train clock, 1858 at Partney church in
Lincolnshire,
after rebuilding the going (time side) train.
This clock was built by the local squire and uses an interesting
version of the gravity escapement, then recently developed.
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reamering out new bearing bushes to replace worn ones on
the Partney clock.
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The Barton clock showing roller bearings, an unusual innovation
in a church clock. |
Barton on Humber Church clock movement. This is a clock
we maintain on a regular basis after repairing the bushes (bearings
on the chime (quarter) side and hammer linkages to the
bells. |
Public drum clock, Horncastle, Lincolnshire.
This clock was electrified in the 1950s and is maintained
by us. We have also repainted and regilded the bracket
and dials using 23 cwt gold leaf.
|
Horncastle drum clock after painting and regilding |
Guildhall,(Stonebow) clock Lincoln.
Rebuilt by Edmund Czajkowski & Son
Ltd.
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Movement (works) of the Lincoln Guildhall (Stonebow) clock,
after restoration. The movement, made 1887, was converted
to an autowind system in 1959.
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Behind the dial of the Stonebow clock,
during restoration.
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Large clock movement in Sibsey church, Lincolnshire, 1806.
The clock was totally rebuilt and the worn bearing bushes
replaced.
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Tattershall Church Clock, Lincolnshire. Overhaul
of motion work (the wheels behind the dial) and making and
fitting of new drive rod (painted blue) to existing clock
movement. |
Close up of new drive shaft engaging with existing wheels
on the Tattershall church clock
|
present clock movement. The going (timekeeping) wheel train,
the wheels in the centre were dismantled and worn bearing
bushes replaced. |
Tattershall clock hands after repairing and
treating the corrosion. |
Corrosion damage to clock hands before restoration.
The rivets holding the decorative face of the minute hand
wave corroded away so the hand fell apart. |
Conservation of original church clock movement (works) of
Tattershall church, made originally in about 1580.
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movement before conservation
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Tower clocks suffer from the effects of dirt and damp. These
are ancient items and to ensure many years of working it is
important that they are regularly maintained. This is particularly
so with clocks with autowind where the clock tends to be neglected.
Once restored a regular maintenance programme will help to
keep the clock in good condition.
See details of our tower
clock maintenance programme for further
details.
Please also see our other pages on restoration
of domestic clocks etc.
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Edmund Czajkowski & Son Ltd. 96 Tor
O' Moor Road, Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire. LN10 6SB
Tel. 01526 352895 ~ Email: enquiries@czajkowski-furniture.co.uk
Company Registration Number NL18225747
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