essex clock repair service
 
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Cracked or broken glass in many clocks is very easily replaced and it makes such a difference to the clock's appearance. You'll find some specialist suppliers on my Links page - these sources tend to be a bit more expensive but the glass is already bevelled or ground to remove sharp edges.

Fitting glass to wooden cases and doors often involves nothing more than carefully prising out the wooden beading on the inside of the door, which is usually pinned in position rather than glued, and then pinning it back again to hold the new glass in position. Make sure it's fitted tightly or it will rattle every time the clock strikes. Circular glasses can be 'cemented' into the bezel with modern silicon adhesives or traditional plaster of Paris. You might need to experiment with the ratio of plaster to water as the 'standard' recommended mix tends to be too thin; you don't want to pour it into the bezel like you might into a rubber mould or it will seep past the glass - it needs to be stiffer. And you'll need to work fast as it can set pretty quickly. Also bear in mind that plaster is quite heavy so the hinge will bear more strain.

 

FLAT GLASS can be obtained locally but with any glass you buy, always ask the supplier to ground the edge to make it safe to handle. If you're a purist and want to use old glass taken from an old picture frame with its minor imperfections and slightly greyer appearance, you might find the local glazier reluctant to help because old glass is brittle and difficult to cut. but he might be persuaded to do it on a no-liability basis in case your piece of glass cracks while he's working on it.

Flat rectangular pieces to match the panels found in the doors and sides of Vienna regulators, German springers and square-dial bracket and longcase clocks can be sourced locally. Take the old pieces to match the thickness because clock glass is thin by modern safety standards so your dealer might not stock it. If he can't help, try a picture-framing shop instead but expect to pay a 'high street' premium and don't opt for the modern non-reflective type! If that also fails, then I can supply replacements by post up to 250mm square in 2, 3 or 4mm thickness from £15, or 6mm from £20.

Flat circular glass for mantle and dial clocks and barometers can usually be cut locally, too. Expect to pay extra if you need a centre hole drilled (for a barometer set hand). On dial clocks, it's even more important to match the thickness of the original glass because thicker glass means more weight and more strain on the bezel hinge. Again, I can alternatively supply one by post in 2, 3 or 4mm glass up to 350mm diameter starting from £10.

Irregular shaped glass for longcase clocks with broken arch dials can be difficult to source locally but I can supply these to order from £30.

 

CONVEX GLASS is commonly found in mass-produced 20C mantle and floor-standing clocks with an English or German movement, and in early dial clocks. The circular type is by far the most common and prices vary according to size, from £5 to £25. A typical 7 inch convex glass will be around £15. If you need it fitted to your bezel, it will cost another £15 to £25 according to size.

At the moment, I cannot supply the square convex glass found in some Art Deco clocks.

 

BEVELLED GLASS is normally used in carriage clocks, four glass clocks, ships clocks and some barographs.

Flat rectangular glasses can be handmade to your specification from £15 per piece up to 150mm in length - I just need to know the length and width, the glass thickness (2, 3, 4 or 6mm) AND the angle of the bevel (25°, 30°, 35°, 40° or 45°) if you want a good match. The top one in a carriage clock can be oval (from £20) but I'll need the original glass or your exact template of the glass (not the brass hole). And do bear in mind that these are hand-crafted by a skilled and experienced artisan just like the originals. Old glass tends to have a slightly grey hue, so if several glasses are chipped in the same clock, and you wish to replace all five for a perfect match, you'll get a discount - £60 for all five. Normally, the finished glasses are shipped within a week so this is a fast service with no premium surcharge. Bevelled glasses larger than 150mm, suitable for four-glass clocks and barographs can be made to special order from around £25 apiece.

Flat 6mm circular bevelled glass for, say, a ship's bulkhead clock, will cost around £30 to order plus another £20 if you would like it fitted to your bezel.

 

CURVED GLASS is found in oval carriage and four-glass clocks and can also be supplied to order but this is more specialised and therefore takes longer. It is also more costly from £35 apiece - email me with full details for a price.

 

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