Do you repair clocks?

Yes! We are a full-service shop for clock repair and restoration. We offer free estimates for any clock carried into the shop. Though we are currently unable to make house calls, we can take floor clocks carried into our shop by appointment. Call to discuss the specifics of your clock and we can give you a good idea over the phone what kind of repair or restoration your clock might need and what it’s likely to cost.

Do I need an appointment for a repair evaluation?

Generally speaking, no. We are available to take a look at most clocks any day we're open with the following exceptions: We do not do repair intake on Street Fair Sundays (there are five Street Fairs per year - check our events page for a list of dates). We also ask that you DO NOT bring any repair during the holiday season (between Thanksgiving and Christmas) as our clockmaker does not take new work after Thanksgiving. For the rest of the year, we require appointments only for floor clocks being brought to our shop.

However, if you wish to ensure a private appointment, you can call us to book an appointment in the mornings or evenings, outside of our open house hours.

How long does clock repair take?

The answer to this question depends entirely on what kind of repair your clock needs. We can speak more specifically about a timeframe for your repair in person or by phone. Work that goes to our clockmaker often takes longer than work that stays in-house.

Our in-house tech does mechanical/cuckoo clock oilings and adjustments, quartz movement installations, and mechanical movement installations here, in our shop. Our off-site clockmaker handles new cuckoo movements and mechanical clock overhauls. (An overhaul is a complete disassembly and cleaning of a clock movement, which includes re-bushing of pivots and necessary adjustments.) We deliver and pick up batches of work from our clockmaker approximately every five weeks. The length of the cycle can vary, depending on the size of the batch, time of year, and other factors. The minimum amount of time your clock will be away from you is five weeks, but it can be longer, depending on when you arrive in our shop. For example: If you bring us your clock the day after a batch drop-off, it will safely stay in our shop for the five-or-so weeks until the next exchange, and then return to our shop approximately five weeks later, making the total time away from you 10 weeks.

How long is your clock repair warranty?

Though all repaired clocks are thoroughly tested, either in our shop or that of our clockmaker, occasionally issues emerge once a clock has returned home, particularly with antiques. For this reason, overhauls and new movements come with a one-year warranty, beginning the date your repair is picked up. The warranty does not cover parts damaged or broken after repair, such as click springs, suspension springs, etc. or any other abuse suffered. New quartz movements are also under warranty for one year.

Do you sell clock parts? (hands/movements/suspension springs, etc)

No. Though we offer full-service clock repair, we do not sell individual parts by themselves. 30 years of experience tells us that selling individual parts opens the door to too many potential problems at home and/or down the road. The only way we can confidently and safely help customers repair their clocks is for us to see the repair and install process all the way through here.

How should I hang my clock?

Cuckoo clocks and box wall clocks need more than just a nail or screw. For sheet rock walls, we recommend a hollow wall anchor (molly screw). If you are hanging your clock on plaster walls, we recommend paying a visit to your local hardware store. (Herb Lack on Main Street is a great Nyack option.) The folks there will be able to council you on an appropriate piece of hardware.

Remember: the cabinet needs to be flush against the wall, and the head of the hardware should be flush inside the clock (so that the act of winding the clock will not cause your clock to wiggle off it's hanger over time). 

My mechanical clock is running fast or slow... how do I regulate it?

Sometimes a mechanical clock's inability to keep time can be indicative of a need for service. However, all mechanical clocks must be regulated at home over the course of their life.

The position of the bob on the pendulum determines the speed at which the clock runs. Lower is slower. If your clock is running fast, lower the bob (depending on your clock, you may do this by simply sliding the bob down the shaft, or by turning a nut that keeps the bob in place). Once you've made your adjustment, set the clock to the correct time, and come back to reevaluate in 24 hours. If the clock is still running fast, lower the bob a bit more. If it's running slow now, make a smaller adjustment in the opposite direction.

Regulating a clock can take a few days of fine-tuning. Just be sure to return to the clock at the same time each day. (Off by five minutes in one day is ten minutes in two days, fifteen minutes in three days, etc...)