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All of the precise and delicate gears and levers in a clock can appear dizzying to the amateur, but this guide, with its wonderfully detailed diagrams, can clear things up. It covers the theory behind clock passage and design, together with the essentials of escapements, pendulums, balance wheels, and even the sheet music for well loved chimes. The American striking clock, the 400-day clock, and the alarm clock receive special attention. The in-depth in rank, together with explanations of clock repairing terminology and details on the tools, materials, and gear that are needed for accomplishment, will subsidy even skilled enthusiasts.
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 Fantastic BOOK FOR THE BEGINNIG HOBBYIST |
| Review Date: July 15, 2009 |
| Reviewer: D. Blankenship, The Ozarks |
The work being reviewed here is the 1972 Edition. There have been two or three reprints of this work right owing to the years but about all that has changed is the cover.
There are a couple of considerations that need to be addressed in reviewing this work. First, this is a work, as stated on the cover and in the preface, "....for the beginner." It does not take a rocket scientist to figure out that a complete course in clock repair and construction can not be covered in 124 pages, and that is 124 pages of a rather small book. Secondly, this book was first published in 1972 which makes it 37 years ancient at the time of this review. This is okay though due to the fact that most of the clocks embattled in this book are well over 100 years ancient and the principles and techniques that worked in 1972 still work just as well today. Hey folks, we are not talking about a book here that teaches you to change batteries in ten dollar digital watches. Excellent grief, throw the bloody thing away and buy a new one (after you properly dispose of the battery of course, and not just send it to the landfill where it will add to the poison that will haunt your fantastic, fantastic, fantastic grandchildren). Once again...this book is strictly for the beginner and concept and theory has not changed in well over 200 years, much less in thirty. The in rank here is not outdated. Now that being said:
I like this ancient book. I have been fascinated with clocks since I was a wee one and was the bane of my father's existence as I would dismantle every clock in the house as quick as he could chat them. The problem came in when it was found that I was unable to place them back together. I like niggle small work, fine work, and he use to take me to his office that he shared with my grandfather. It was a dental office and they use to let me do making dentures, partials, huge pulled teeth, and repairing such. Again, the problem came when I ongoing taking apart their pricey dental gear (I wanted to see how it worked), and again,I was not real excellent at putting in back together.
Over the years I have collected ancient clocks; you know the kind, the fantastic ancient windups that you found on your grandmothers mantel. I have only one condition when I buy these clocks...they must NOT be in working shape up! A working clock is a fantastic thing, it is like magic, but it is even more fantastic and wondrous if you know you are the one to make it so, i.e. work.
This small volume covers basic clock passage, both theory and design, and practical clock repairing. I found that the section addressing the pendulum and the immeasurable variations of particular use. The author uses simple and for the most part nontechnical language to clarify the complex workings of these machines, and clarifies them at the level that a beginner can easily be with you. Wonderfully simple schematic drawings are provided. In the section devoted to the chimes and chiming mechanisms the author has even provided the sheet music for several well loved (Whittington chime as an example) sounds. This, to be quite frank, is rather unique.
I like the section devoted to practical repairing. The author has given us a complete rundown on all of the tools needed for your leisure activity. We also provided with a very nice explanation as to what each tool us used for and how to use it. The author has even gone into quite a bit of detail as to the work bench which (and trust me here) is quite valuable. The book does discuss the lathe and grinding wheels, but to be honest with you, if the repair requires machining special parts I am way over my head in this area and I simply take that part of the task to a qualified.
Now most of what I have learned has been completely self-taught. The author has stressed the substance of cleaning and maintenance. I learned long, long ago that many fine ancient clock that do not work and have not worked for years upon years can be bought from the unwary for the price of a few cups of coffee, taken home and given a excellent cleaning, which takes very small time, and resold for enough to buy whole bunches of other ancient "broken" clocks! I know, I am a terrible person, but you know, affair is affair. If this book has one weak area for the beginner or hobbyist, it is the fact that is does not place enough accent on cleaning or cleaning techniques. There are other books out there that cover that and of course there is the thrill of simply learning it physically.
Is this the only book you will need to pursue this leisure activity? Heavens no! Will this work turn you into a master craftsman or woman overnight in the field of clock repair? Nope! Is this the best book out there for the beginner? I haven't a clue as I have not read all of them or used all of them. Did this book work for me? Yes. It has given me all the basic I needed and I have found that if I need more in rank I need to find "clock point" literature on the particular piece I am working on and in many cases have to go frankly to the manufacturer. Or I find that being a complete pest pays off huge time. When I get in distress I simply pester local professionals and wheedle in rank out of them a bit at a time.
Am I excellent at this leisure activity? Hardly, there is so much to know and learn, but I do delight in learning it and I do delight in fiddling with the things. It is a excellent thing though that I do not have to make a living working on clocks...there would be fantastic hunger and poverty in the family if I did. Anyway, this is a excellent book and I do urge it.
Don Blankenship
The Ozarks
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new book
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| Review Date: February 21, 2009 |
| Reviewer: John A. Meier, |
| i am sure this book will helpful just haven't got to it yet but sure it will do the trick thank you john |
Clock Repairing
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| Review Date: December 19, 2007 |
| Reviewer: Floyd Jackson, Oklahoma City, OK |
| Clock Repairing is a fun, delightful, relaxing leisure activity that more people should take part in, and this book is a fantastic introduction into the world of clock repair. It helps you get passed all the elaborate gears and levers, and into the fun of it. The diagrams in here are fantastic and really helpful. Pick this up if you are new to the clock world. |
Fantastic In rank
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| Review Date: January 14, 2008 |
| Reviewer: autumn wolf, san antonio, texas |
| This was a Christmas gift for my husband whom is interested in the repair of watches and clocks. He just needed additional in rank on repairing clocks, and he said this was the perfect book! He was very pleased. |
Not the whole tale
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| Review Date: February 6, 2010 |
| Reviewer: toughcrowd, |
Part of the way into Goodrich's "The Modern Clock," I realized I needed to start with a text that didn't assume the reader already works in a clock repair shop. There being several options, I chose to check a few out of the library before buying. Kelly's "Clock Repairing as a Leisure activity" was one of the ones that was unfilled. It is certainly better suited to the beginner than Goodrich. It defines many of the parts and describes the workings, and also gives basic advice on how to proceed in clock repairs. I'd rate it as useful, but uneven and insufficient. Some clock parts are mentioned in the text or appear in a representation (e.g., "cannon pinion") but are never defined. There are drawings of several escapements or striking mechanisms, but the reader is left to presume how the parts go relation to each other based on the class in the text. For a beginner's book like this one, a representation showing several states of the mechanism would be much more appropriate. Several basic concepts, like how the "lift" is distributed between the pallet faces and escape gear teeth, or what is meant by the "run of the lock" are never touched on at all! If I hadn't already seen an Internet-based vigor of the deadbeat escapement, I wouldn't have a clue how it worked based on the class in Kelly! So I'm going to keep looking for a better book.
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