Hickory Dickory Docktor

01/23/2025

04/13/2024

Here’s a clock my son Clark picked from our collection. I think mainly because it’s silent and never needs winding. It’s an Atmos clock, entirely 24K gold plated. Made. in Switzerland , it has pivots that are firctionless jewels like a watch. It consumes such little energy, it’s powered by temperature change. Its operating system is unique as far as I know. Their claims are: a two degree change in temperature, will power this mechanical marvel for 48 hours. Incase of a total failure of the winding mechanism, it will run for about a year before it stops. I had a client who’s Dad received one as a retirement gift, he swears it’s run for over 45 years and never stopped. If it weren’t for the inevitable, eventual mechanical failure, and the fact that sometime in the distant future, there will be no temperature change here, this would be a perpetual motion machine. I do not repair these clocks, for it requires specialized tools and knowledge. Clark’s was returned to our shop recently due to a stoppage right after springing forward. It’s run flawlessly here. This sort of thing happens surprisingly frequently, when items repair themselves. I tell clients, their trouble most likely stemmed from operator error. Their first reaction is embarrassment. I then tell them, that kind of problem is the easiest thing to repair. Just a little education is all it takes. It will be headed back home where it belongs very shortly.

02/12/2024

We were approached by a news broadcaster who wanted to do a story on our shop. They said, due to the rarity of what we do, it would make a great human interest story. Heck, it isn’t rare to us, we do it every day.

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) — Hour after hour, it’s just Jeff Burris and his clocks, alone on a country road in a shop outside Holland-Patent. He’s been at it for nearly 35 years sin…

02/11/2024

Once upon a time, several decades ago in fact. Along with the first lot of antique clock parts we purchased, came hundreds of brass clock wheels. I managed to find enough identicals, to construct the dial and hands for this antique International time clock movement. That also came along with our pile of inventory. The movement was complete except for the missing dial and hands. It was quite an undertaking in those days. It was a great beginning in my development of many skills and bench practices, including soldering.

01/27/2024

I’m usually not much for digital clocks, however, i’ll make an exception in this case. It’s only a novelty, but I recomend staying away from sensitive areas with it. For example: I feel quite strongly, airport security would not look favorably opon it

05/05/2022

Took in my finest, heavy duty works yet. My most highly respected mechanism maker was Elliott of England. Until now that is. This mechanical marvel, suddenly makes all others I’ve seen look like tinker toys. The clock itself, was made circa 1900, by The Grand Rapids Clock and Mantel Company. I'm certain however, they did not manufacture the movement. It’s amazing that during the overhaul, I uncovered no name, logo of the maker or even markings that identify the country in which it was made.. Such a unique piece. It contains elements of many origins. i.e. working details that are normally exclusively, French, German, English and American. This combines the best of them all. Here's a tour of the process. I apologize for the repeat pix and the general lack of organization. I'd normally would blame my stupid computer, however I've come to accept the fact, I'm a better clock guy, than computer guy.

03/15/2021

E. Howard is one of our country's earliest, clock manufacturers. His timekeeping mechanisms are renowned for their quality and innovation. I restored a Howard movement recently, that has since displayed troubles in a very inconsistent way, earning this Howard, the nickname How-weird. I believe I've tracked down the problem to a pivot that had been replaced in the past, that ran slightly out of true. This is out of a clock from the, Howard and Davis Co.. circa 1842-1850. This was not a commercially available clock, but rather a rare "Watch Clock", only available to industry. It was placed in a central area of a complex, and wired to all other areas of the plant. The night watchman would check in from these different areas, and time and location of those checks, would be recorded by the Watch Clock. Anyway, during my last disassembly, I noticed the escape wheel was unfinished. The spokes that have been laid out and pierced, had never been cut out. This has no bearing on it's function, I believe it was done for aesthetics and to save brass. The material and workmanship appears to be consistent with the rest of the piece parts, so I therefore believe it to be original. Perhaps that step was never completed due to its strictly industrial application. Just another thing, that's fitting to its nickname.

03/03/2021

Seth Thomas is one of the most successful and recognized manufacturers of antique American clocks. During my 35+ years of servicing clocks, I've treated thousands of them, mostly wall and mantle clocks. The Seth Thomas tall clocks I have seen, were more modern playskool versions that were Seth Thomas in name only. I've never restored such a treasure as this chiming, striking, 1880's grandfather clock. In fact, the only similar one I've serviced, resides at the Utica, Masonic Home, in their Livingston Library/Museum. The movement was worn, nothing really difficult to remedy only time consuming. There is however, damage and extensive shoddy repairs to components of the movement. Many of which were done to relieve the symptoms of the wear, rather than repair the root of the problem.

02/21/2021

Came in to my shop. Excellent!!! This is truly a rarity! An 1880s Ansonia, needed a clean and mainspring. Outstanding condition. All screws are original. Even the different wires which get bent to be adjusted, that are always anything but straight after 100years of adjustments. appear as if they are new.