A LONGCASE CLOCK RESTORATION

Passing a closed antique shop last year, I spotted the side of an oak longcase clock through the window. I was afraid it would be a ‘30-hour’ clock. I have never liked the idea of winding a clock every day; once a week is usual! ‘Month’ and very rarely ‘year’ longcase clocks can be found but they are invariably high in quality and value.

When I was looking for a grandfather clock back around 1970, the better ‘eight-day’ ones were increasingly sought after and prices were rapidly escalating. The 30-hour clocks retained a more moderate and steady market and were often in a good-quality oak case; oak was common in England in the 1700s!

European and particularly English clocks are widely considered the pinnacle of quality and a London clock is considered the ideal. I was lucky enough in 1970 to find one such eight-day clock that I could afford. It needed some restoration — but that is another story.

A prompt visit to the antique shop next morning to investigate the oak case confirmed it housed an attractive eight-day movement that looked basically sound — but it did need attention (see Photo 1).

The owner was correct in saying that, when restored, it could be quite valuable — although prices have eased over the past 10–20 years, except for the exceptional examples; meantime, there is increasing recognition of the quality of ‘good’ provincial makers — some were very good.

A deal was quickly struck and I brought the clock home to assess restoration.

Should I restore?

There is endless debate about not restoring or polishing antiques, and so on. Should they look like new? Some of the changes are part of the antique’s history. Is it a sin to polish brass that