We were asked to quote to remove and store the dial, whilst the stonemasons are working on the church tower. When our clockmaker took some pictures, we found the dial top fixing was missing and the cast iron skeleton dial had a large crack across the fixing hole.

We had to re-quote with the extra work to correctly fix the hole and crack, it was also decided with the process to correct the top fixing, the dial would need to be restored as well.

The dial was  taken to a company which specialises in cast iron work. The dial was shot blasted to remove all the paint and expose the area to be repaired. The dial is then heated up and special welding rods are used to weld the crack, a new piece of cast iron was also fitted into the dial.

The dial was then returned to Time Assured, the dial was then painted, the chapters etc were sized and gilded. Then refitted using stainless steel fixings.

In November Mike was again with Steve, installing two automatic winding units and a pendulum regulator on the Potts of Leeds flatbed clock in Conisborough. Sprockets were fitted to the main barrels and a hardwood seatboard installed underneath the clock movement. Two winding units were then installed onto the seatboard and connected to the clock barrels via chains.

The pendulum regulator was fitted at the back of the clock, this will keep the clock at the correct time and also change the clock at the BST and GMT time changes.

 

During July we removed the clock dial at St Mary and St Bartholomew’s church which needed to be restored back to its original condition.

 

 

 

 

 

The dial was then chemically dipped which removed all the flaking paint, back to the original copper dial. It was than painted BS 20D45, which was its original colour, we then sized and gilded the dial with 23½ Carat English Gold Leaf.

The dial was then refitted, with stainless steel fixings.

During October we were at Caldecote Hall in Warwickshire. The hall dates back to the Domesday survey of 1086, when its was owned by the Bishop of Chester. It has been through a lot in the intervening years, Owned by Henry VIII, Edward VI and   Charles II.

The hall and its stables have now been converted in luxurious apartments and flats.

We were asked to return the four dials on the turret on the stables to working order. Our customer needed a clock system which could be installed and apart from servicing did not need touching. we suggested a new four way stepper drive unit, which can be connected into the original dial motionworks, also a clock controller which will keep the clocks accurate and change the clocks at the BST and GMT time changes.