Humberside Clock Works

Clock Repair and Servicing in Lincolnshire. Specialising in antique, vintage, and reproduction mechanical clocks

Welcome to Humberside Clock Works

Clock Repair and Servicing in Lincolnshire

I'm Darren Bristow and I specialise in servicing, repairing and overhauling mechanical clocks, antique, vintage or reproduction.

My career in mechanical engineering begun as an apprentice toolmaker in the aviation industry, more years ago now than I care to remember, Tempus Fugit! From there I progressed into the research, development, design and manufacture of mechanical machinery, both of which gave me the ideal skills and understandings to transition a lifelong hobby of clock making into a dedicated profession.

Why Clocks Usually Stop Working

Most of the time clocks fail due to lack of servicing, oil can evaporate over long periods of time, becoming too thick and sticky, causing enough friction to stop the clock, also microscopic steel and brass wear particles form progressively during their operation, servicing removes these particles, in which case it will just need a small service, but when they're left too long, together with the oil, it acts like a grinding paste, causing the pivot holes to wear into an elongated shape, resulting in gears meshing incorrectly and then jamming. when this happens, it's time for an overhaul, with new bushings, restored pivots, ultrasonic cleaning, mainspring/line replacement, reassembly, testing and regulating.

Sometimes, clocks stop for other reasons, a broken mainspring, or a broken gear tooth, or maybe it's just out of beat.

Gallery

Burnishing the pivot on the strike wheel and pinion arbour of a 1700’s English Grandfather clock

Reassembling a 1800’s French 2 train clock movement

Preparing a mainspring for fitting into a barrel of a French 1800’s Japy Freres table clock

Broaching a taper on the pivot hole of a mainspring barrel

Full Gallery Here

What Our Customers Say

Customer

Excellent service on my 250 years old grandfather clock, which had been stopped for several years. Now in full working order c/w photos supplied of various stages of work completed. Highly recommended.

Great service from Darren who owns the company. My very old clock had not run for years but he took it apart and refurbished the workings and it now runs on time as good as my iphone! Many thanks. Well recommended

How lucky we are to have a professional clock service open up in Barton. Our clock stopped working 2 years ago, we took it to Darren who new the maker, cleaned it up beautifully and it has been working like clock work since. We are very pleased with his work.

Having a bought a large wall clock from an auction with a worn mechanism (clock is dated 1820) I was having a difficult time trying to find someone with the right skills to bring the clock back to working order. Glad I found Darren Bristow of Humberside Clock Works, a genuine Horologist who actually knows what he's doing. He did a complete renovation on the mechanism and guaranteed it for a year, I suspect it will be running for many years to come, he even came to my house to set it up for me, first class service indeed.

We left our Grandfather clock mechanism with Darren for repair, having been silent for nearly 2.5 years. Darren kept us upto date with progress. Darren returned our clock fully repaired with instructions on how to get it up and running. Darren would have come and done it himself but was confident of my practical abilities. We are so pleased with what Darren has done, it is so lovely hearing the tick-tock and chimes once again.

I've been and had another clock repaired. Another first class job. Would recommend Darren for any clock repairs.Very professional and certainly interested in giving a good service

Thank-you very much for getting my dad’s retirement clock, cleaned and all in working order again. I would highly recommend you.

Darren repaired & serviced my 100 year old Granddaughter clock this week. He has done a great job and I am happy to hear her chime and working again. Darren obviously took great care and attention with the task facing him. I can’t thank him enough and would highly recommend his services. Jeanette Wright

Everything I expected from a first class clock repairer. My old American clock had intermittent problems and had not worked properly for quite a number of years. Darren brought it back to life. I would recommend Darren everytime. Many thanks

Repaired our bracket clock, first class service and workmanship, would certainly highly recommend Darren, would definitely use again if I ever bought another antique clock. Thank you so much. Kind regards, John R. Clegg.

Delighted to have my dad's old clock back and in lovely working order thanks to the skill and care shown by Darren. So nice to have a striking clock in the house again. Thankyou Darren..it's appreciated a lot.

Darren repaired and serviced my mantle clock that used to belong to my late mother. It hadn't been in use for many years. I am delighted it is now on my mantlepiece working with a very lovely chime. Thank you so much for the care you have taken.

Darren at Humberside Clock Works really knows his stuff, we damaged a grandfather clock and he was able to help us and explain what needed to be done as well as what we shouldn’t do. He returned the clock and reinstalled it into the case and showed us how to adjust it safely. We are SOOOO happy!

Very pleased with the service. Darren responded to my enquiry about repairing my cuckoo clock very quickly and assured me he could repair it. In less than a week my clock has been repaired and is now back on my lounge wall cuckooing away to its heart's content. Darren is not only professional but a lovely person to talk to. Highly recommended.

Darren was very friendly. He made repairs to the clock and it has worked beautifully since. It has been an excellent service, especially as knowledgeable people regarding clocks are hard to come by.

I think he knows what he is doing. We took a 90 year old German wall clock for repair. It had stopped working after 5 of its supposed 8 days. Its now fixed and there is a years guarantee with the job which is more than can be said for other clock repairers. I am happy.

Our clock that Darren has overhauled, is keeping perfect time. I think it is keeping better time than the radio!! He also answered my query I had.

Really delighted to have my late husband's, father's clock working well and back in place having been expertly repaired. Thank you Darren.

Very happy with the work Darren did on my tall case clock. It Noe’s works and chimes lovely. Many thanks.

I took my grand mother’s Westminster chiming mantle clock to get repaired as it hadn’t worked for at least 20 yrs and what a fantastic job all working perfectly now. Would highly recommend

Did exactly what we asked.....had the clock back in 5 days....would highly recommend this clock specialist. He is certainly less expensive than similar technicians advertising on line

Quick Info

Clock Repair and Servicing in Lincolnshire

Humberside Clockworks,

Wilderspin National School Museum,

Queen Street,

Barton Upon Humber.

DN18 5QP

Opening Hours:

Monday to Thursday 10:00am – 3pm
Fridays 10:00am – 2pm

Parking:

Allocated parking can be found on the front door of Humberside Clock Works at the back of the school car park, entering from the double gates of the school.

Quick Contact:

humbersideclockworks@gmail.com

01652 634913

Serving
Barton upon Humber, Scunthorpe, Brigg, Grimsby, Immingham, Louth, Gainsborough, Market Rasen, Lincoln, Louth, Thorne, Goole, Mablethorpe, Hull, Beverley, Doncaster, North Lincolnshire, Northeast Lincolnshire and East Yorkshire