Repair Guide for Essential Clock Parts as Provided by Antiquevintageclock.com
Finding the Right Books for Clock Repair: A Guide for Beginners and Advanced Repairers
For those interested in clock repair, especially with a focus on American and Canadian clocks, there are several highly recommended books that can help both beginners and advanced repairers.
Books for Beginners:
“The Clock Repairer’s Handbook” by Laurie Penman is an excellent choice for beginners. It offers accessible guidance on basic mechanical clock repairs.
“American Clocks” by Brooks Palmer might be more focused on American clock history and styles, but it provides useful reference for understanding American clocks before repair.
Books for Advanced Repairers:
“Watch and Clock Encyclopedia” by Donald de Carle is a comprehensive, technical reference covering a wide range of horological topics, including detailed repair techniques for advanced practitioners.
“Miller’s Antique Clocks: Identification and Price Guide” by Roy Ehrhardt provides insights into American and Canadian clockmakers and mechanisms, supporting deeper repair knowledge.
“Practical Clock Repairing” by Donald de Carle is a detailed guide suited for more advanced clock repairers, covering complex movements and restoration techniques.
Special Focus on American and Canadian Clocks:
“Early American Wall Clocks” by George H. Evans and “Canadian Clocks and Clockmakers” by Dalgleish are specialized sources for regional clock styles and makers, which helps in repairing with historical accuracy.
Though some books may be hard to find as they have gone out of publication, some can still be found in the used books section on Amazon. For example, “Extreme Restoration” by T. E. Temple is a comprehensive guide on evaluating, refinishing, and restoring clocks.
Steven G. Conover's series offers detailed, hands-on instructions with plenty of diagrams and step-by-step repair guides. The series includes four books: "Clock Repair Basics", "Striking Clock Repair Guide", "Chime Clock Repair", and "Clock Repair Skills".
For those working with Anniversary or 400-day clocks, the Horolvar 400-day Clock Repair Guide and Mervyn Passmore's book, "Anniversary Clock Adjusting", are recommended.
Though not directly related to clock repair, “Home Machinist’s Handbook” by Doug Briney is recommended for its exploration of bench tools, home lathes, milling machines, and finishing techniques.
For those specifically interested in identifying various models and types of clocks from multiple makers over the years, books by Tran Duy Ly are worth looking for. However, these books are not specifically about clock repair.
Local horological societies or museums in the US and Canada often publish or recommend relevant repair manuals and historical references. For live or recorded educational content, horological institutes like the British Horological Institute offer courses and webinars that might complement these books.
Delving deeper into horology, the study of time measurement, one can explore books focusing on vintage clocks and their repair. "Horology for the Home Clock Repairer" by Jack M. Thompson, for instance, is a guide that bridges technology and lifestyle, providing insights into the repair and restoration of antique clocks.
For professionals seeking advanced knowledge in repairing American and Canadian clocks, "Understanding the Art of Vintage Clock Repair: Horological Masterpieces" by Mark S. Austen, offers extensive technical information along with historical context, making it a valuable resource for those in this field.
