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3. What Function Does The Pendulum Perform?
The pendulum regulates the clock and allows the power to be released at a precise rate. Longer pendulums swing slower.
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4. Does TickTockTony Repair Clocks And Watches?
No we only repair clocks however see the NAWCC web site for a watch specialist in your area.
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5. Does TickTockTony Repair Clock Cases?
Yes we are experienced in shellac and Lacquer color matching, plus fabrication of missing pieces.
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6. Does TickTockTony Do House Calls?
Yes we can come to your home and often repair your clock within the hour.
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7. Does TickTockTony Repair Antique Grandfather Clocks?
Yes Tony was born and raised in Yorkshire England and has extensive knowledge and experience with English and Scottish Grandfather, Fusee and wall clocks.
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8. Does TickTockTony Repair English or Scottish Grandfather Clocks?
Yes Tony was born and raised in Yorkshire England and has extensive knowledge and experience with English and Scottish Grandfather, Fusee and wall clocks.
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9. Does TickTockTony Sell Clocks?
Yes Tony sells British clocks. We find we can offer you a better service if we specialize our knowledge in one particular area of clock sales. As Tony was born and raised in Yorkshire England and has extensive knowledge and experience with English and Scottish Grandfather, Fusee and wall clocks giving us the ability to identify the very best clocks we can offer to our customers.
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10. Does TickTockTony Work On Antique English, Scottish Round Dial And Fusee Clocks?
Yes Tony was born and raised in Yorkshire England and has extensive knowledge and experience with English and Scottish wall and grandfather clocks. Including Pub clocks, Post office clocks, Railway clocks, Act of parliament and Norwich clocks.
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11. If I Have A Grandfather Clock In Need Of Repair, Do You Take The Whole Clock Back To Your Workshop?
If you have a grandfather clock we only need to take the pendulum, weights, movement and dial back to our workshop. We have test stands and can repair you clock on such a stand.
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12. My Clock Does Not Have A Pendulum?
Some clocks have a regulation method called a balance wheel. This is a small wheel that oscillates against a spring similar to a watch
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13. Can I Over Wind My Clock?
Lots of people ask me this question. In general the answer is no you can not over wind your clock. as long as normal hand pressure is used.
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14. How Often Should I Wind My Clock?
Most clocks have an 8-day cycle. Set aside a specific time each week that way it becomes a habit and keeps your clocks ticking.
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15. How Accurate Should I Expect My Clock To Be?
Do not be concerned if your clock keeps to within two minutes per week. However I have weight driven clocks that keep time to within 10 seconds per week. Even greater accuracy can be achieved with a compensating pendulum or a pendulum constructed of special materials.
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16. What Determines The Rate Of My Clock?
The length of the pendulum determines the rate your clock runs at. Moving the pendulum bob up or down using the nut at the bottom will adjust the rate of your clock. Natural changes in the temperature will cause the pendulum to expand and contract and vary the clock rate.
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17. Can I Turn The Hands Backward?
The quick answer to this is no. However it would be safe to turn the clock hands back two or so minutes when adjusting the time. If we assume your clock has three winding points. Your clock should chime on the quarter hour. It would be safe to turn your clock hands back but not past the nearest chime point. For example if your clock reads 10 minutes past the hour you would be safe to turn the hands back to 1 min past the hour but no further.
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18. Why Are There Three Wind Up Points To My Clock?
If you have three winding points then you have a clock with three independent gear trains. The center is for the time, the left is for the hour and is known as the strike. The right is for the chime.
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19. Can I Spray WD40 In The Back Of My Clock To Get It Working?
WD40 is one of the worst things you can do to your clock. It will not fix the problem and causes more harm. It will attract a collection of dirt on everything. The repairman would have to give your clock an additional treatment to get rid of the WD40 before he can begin to clean the clock in the ultrasonic clock cleaner.
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20. What Is The Purpose Of The Weights Or Springs?
The weights or springs provide the power to drive the clock.
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21. What Is The Difference Between Weights And Springs?
weight gives an even pull throughout the entire period. A spring will give less power towards the end of its wind. A Fusee clock evens out the power of a clock spring.
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22. Can I Oil My Clock Myself?
It depends on your skill level but probably not. This is because you can see less than half the oiling points from the rear. You would need to remove the clock from the case and partially dismantle the mechanism to reach all the oiling points. In addition some clock movements require light grease on several locations. A modern strike and chime movement can have as many as 40 lubrications locations.
Most people would use too much oil. Less than one drop of oil is required. Too much oil and the surface tension will not hold the oil in place, causing it to run from the oil sink down the clock plate leaving the bearing dry.
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23. I Am Going On Vacation For More Than A Week What Do I Do With My Clock?
When going away for longer than a week your clock will run, it is best to stop your clock. If the clock stops by itself it could cause damage to the escapement.
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24. My Clock Only Needs Cleaning?
Merely removing dirt does not repair wear. Over time as dust gets in the clock mechanism, the oil becomes an abrasive paste, which causes wear. The longer the clock runs in this condition, the more expensive a repair will be. Many American clocks have very strong mainsprings keeping the clock running for many years after the oil has gone, causing severe wear. When the clock finally stops, it will take extra work to restore it back to proper condition so.
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25. Why Do Some Repair Shops Charge A Lot Less Than You Do?
They are not doing it for a living or are taking shortcuts in the repair process. Some shops dunk the whole movement in cleaning fluid, dry it and oil it, and call it done! This process takes less than an hour. They may use crude screw-on or screw-in bushings, or even worse, solder on the bushings or punch the pivot holes! These techniques are not accepted by shops doing high quality work, but unfortunately this happens all too often.
At TickTockTony, the movement is taken apart and cleaned, examined for wear and damage and checked for correct operation. The necessary repair work is carried out including repairing the pinions, polishing the pivots, bushing worn pivot holes, checking and repairing the mainspring ratchets, testing and correcting wheel meshing, and checking the mainsprings. The parts are cleaned again, the pivot holes cleaned with peg wood, the pivots given final cleaning, and the movement is assembled and lubricated.
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26. How Much Does It Cost To Repair My Clock?
A Service call to your house will cost $90. That will cover one hour at your home. Lots of times this can fix your clock. If your clock needs an overhaul then I can give you a price after I have looked at it. If you accept the overhaul cost then the $90 is credited to the cost of the overhaul.
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27. How Long Does Your Service Take?
We schedule house call the same week you call. Our present backlog for overhauls is about one month.
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28. Does TickTockTony Purchase Clocks?
Yes we purchase English and Scottish grandfathers and Fuse clocks, plus several other types of British wall clocks.
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29. How Was The Clock Big Ben in England Named?
The name Big Ben refers to the bell not the clock. Click here for live a web cam of Big Ben.
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30. Can I Move My Grandfather Clock To Paint The Wall?
Prior to moving all clocks should have the pendulum and weights removed. Be sure to put the weights back in the same locations, Sometimes the weight location may be indicated on the bottom of the weight. If you have an antique English or Scottish grandfather clock then the heaviest weight goes on the left.
Once the clock has its weights and pendulum removed then it is safe to move it.
If you have an antique English or Scottish grandfather clock then there will be a small spring attached to the top of the pendulum. This is the most fragile part of the clock and must be protected.
TickTockTony is always available to pack up your clock or just set it up in the new location.
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31. Does TickTockTony Repair Modern Grandfather Clocks?
Yes TickTockTony is an authorized service center for Howard Miller, Ridgeway and Sligh clocks.
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32. We Are Moving Within Orange County, What Should I Do About My Grandfather Clock?
Prior to moving all clocks should have the pendulum and weights removed. Be sure to put the weights back in the same locations, Sometimes the weight location may be indicated on the bottom of the weight. If you have an antique English or Scottish grandfather clock then the heaviest weight goes on the left.
Once the clock has its weights and pendulum removed, then it is safe to let the moving company move it.
If you have an antique English or Scottish grandfather clock then there will be a small spring attached to the top of the pendulum. This is the most fragile part of the clock and a good way to protect it is to tape the pendulum to a plank of wood to act as a splint.
TickTockTony is always available to pack up your clock or just set it up at your new location.
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33. Does TickTockTony Perform Service Calls In My Area?
We Service the Following Cities.
Mission Viejo, Lake Forest, El Toro, Rancho Santa Margarita, Coto De Caza, Irvine, Dove Canyon Tustin Costa Mesa, Aliso Viejo, Laguna Hills, Laguna Woods, Laguna Niguel, Trabuco Canyon, Dana Point, San Juan Capistrano, San Clemente, Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, Beverly Hills, and other parts of South Orange County Southern California CA
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34. What Makes Of Clocks Does TickTockTony Work On?
Hermle, Howard Miller Urgos, Seth Thomas, Sligh, Trend, Kienzle, Kuemple, Kroeber, Ridgeway, Kieninger, Herschede, Jaunch, English Scottish and Irish white dial grandfather, Lenzkirch, Gustave Becker, Ithaca, Sessions Howard Gilbert, Jerome, Waterbury, Welch, Terry, Enfield, Smiths, Ansonia, Royal Bonn, Chelsea, Jughans, Hamberg American Ingrahams, New Haven and all other British clocks.
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35. What Types Of Clocks Does TickTockTony Repair?
Antique and Modern Grandfather, Wall, Cuckoo, Mantle, Floor, Long case, Grandfather, 400 day, Anniversary, Carriage, Lantern, Skeleton, Fusee, Cuckoo, Black Forest, Morbier, Bracket, Gallery, Mercury pendulum, English, Scottish, British, Irish, French American European German Grandmother Grandfather, Hall, Biedermeier Vienna Regulator, Latendluhr, Grand Sonnerie, Calendar, Tambor, Camel Back, Crystal regulator, ship's, and all types of English Scottish or British clocks.
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