Take a look below at the two photographs of a German movement removed from a springer regulator - not a patch on the quality of a true Vienna but still a good wall clock if you want a talking piece in your hall and don't have the space for a Grandfather clock. This came to me in the condition you see it. It reeked of smoke and I reckon it must have had a hard life above the fireplace in a small pub somewhere. The beauty of this kind of restoration is twofold. First, the transformation that an inexpensive clean makes is visually stunning, especially where the movement can be seen working through glass panels in the clock case - so the owner gets really excited and I just love that reaction. But for me as an horologist, restoring a movement this dirty means that I also get to uncover a clock that's never been worked on since it left the maker's workshop a century ago. No chewed up screws, scratches, repairers' marks, dial chips, missing components, bodged repairs - this is simply one of the best bits of working with antique clocks.

This is just my hobby and my very low charges for repairing and servicing antique (and some modern) clocks just go towards funding my hobby costs and expenses such as equipment, materials, travelling time, diesel, books, running the website.... and perhaps the occasional clock purchase!

I've been a collector for 30 years and undertaken all my own repairs during that time. But my collection grew too big so I launched www.horologica.co.uk to sell some. Since then I have received countless enquiries to repair mid-range antique clocks and heirlooms that most shop repairers are reluctant to take on because of the disproportionate cost.. Perhaps I can help you with yours. See my website for more details of costs and for many tips and hints.

horologica - where only time will tell.