Pendulum, Vintage & Antique Clock Polishing & Servicing
Regular preventative maintenance and sympathetic case restoration for vintage pendulum, mantel and bracket clocks — keeping their movement and finish in the condition they deserve.
Why pendulum & vintage clocks need regular servicing
Old lubricants gum up and turn abrasive over time, accelerating wear on pivots and bushings long before a clock actually stops. A minor service every 5–7 years catches this early, which is far gentler on the movement — and your wallet — than waiting for a clock to fail completely.
We fully strip the movement, ultrasonically clean every part, and closely inspect pivots and pinions under magnification before reassembly, oiling with five different grades of Swiss Mobius clock oil to match each wheel’s specific wear pattern.
Case polishing & French polishing
Vintage mantel and bracket clock cases are usually finished in shellac. Over decades this dulls, crazes or lifts. Our French polishing restores the original depth of finish by hand, without stripping away the patina that gives an antique case its character.
Brass and ormolu fittings are hand-cleaned and lacquered to match, rather than harshly buffed, to preserve original detailing.
What a full service includes
1. Strip & clean
Movement fully dismantled and ultrasonically cleaned, removing decades of old oil and grime.
2. Inspect & repair
Pivots, bushings and pinions examined under magnification; worn parts re-bushed or burnished on a Swiss Hauser machine.
3. Reassemble & bench test
Reassembled, oiled and put “in beat”, then bench tested for a minimum of two weeks before it comes home.