Historic Timekeepers is a full
service shop; if a part is out of
production, we make it. This includes watch and clock parts from
balance staffs to dead beat pallets. Serving Collectors and Professionals since 1981,
Historic Timekeepers has established its name in the restoration of fine
vintage timepieces and providing professional products that assist
others involved in the restoration of timepieces.
In 2010 I was invited to a training program in Neuchatel, Switzerland. This WOSTEP program, only offered in
Neuchatel, is considered to be a graduate school for watchmakers.
I graduated from both the refresher course and the turning course and am
certified in after sales service of current production watches
(chronographs, calendar, automatic and time only watches) and
micromechanics (making parts). This is why I was closed for 2010.
As partial repayment to those who
helped me, I am creating pages of value to younger watchmakers.
One very rarely discussed topic Measurement
in Watchmaking, is discussed in detail. And then there are my Notes
to Young Watchmakers.
It is easy to say I am qualified to
perform the restoration work on your watch or clock. This is one
reason I publish photoseries of the machining of various parts
(see Photoseries Index ). After looking at some of the examples of completed
parts, you can decide for
yourself if I am qualified to restore your timepiece. For a tour
of the shop with a discussion of my setups and equipment go to Shop
Tour. Here is a
discussion of my approach to servicing your timepiece.
We are proud to be an Omega Recognized Service
Provider. Many of our customers have asked us to provide after
sales service for their current production wrist watches. To this
end, we have completed Omega service center training covering products
that use the Co-Axial escapement. We have equipped the shop to correctly
open modern cases, replace crystals, service and time automatic watches,
and leak test cases.
We can service essentially any watch in current
production, from time only automatic watches to wrist chronographs
with day/date. If parts restrictions prevent us from ensuring
access to parts we may need to replace in the course of service, WE WILL
TELL YOU and return the watch with directions how to obtain factory
service. We WILL NOT attempt to "make do"; it is not our
way.
Historic Timekeepers is proud to serve aircraft owners and those
who maintain vintage military aircraft (Warbirds) in particular.
We service ALL mechanical aircraft clocks (Jaeger LeCoultre, Elgin,
Hamilton, Kienzle, Junghans, Seiko, Waltham, Longines, Wakmann,
Mathey Tissot) and we maintain an inventory of refurbished WWII aircraft
clocks
from US, British and German air forces. Whether
you use an aircraft clock as a desk clock or in your instrument panel,
we service it or likely can provide it. Service information can be
found at Aircraft Clock Restoration Services
and clocks for sale can be found at Warbird Clocks for Sale
.
Many people are under the
impression that replacement parts have to be made with trial and error methods
using hand tools. The simple fact is that such
"handmade" parts usually result in a devalued piece that fails
to function properly. With the proper equipment and knowledge any
part CAN be made to original dimensions and finish. I maintain a
section of photoseries documenting the machining of various parts in an effort
to dispel the belief that individual parts cannot be correctly and economically
made. All of my photoseries can be
accessed from the Photoseries Index
page.
That section is updated as I make something interesting and a partial
list of topics includes: making barrel arbors, winding
wheels, watch going barrels, pinions, wheels, etc.
Historic Timekeepers specializes in servicing
vintage timepieces in a fashion that retains their originality while
allowing their owners to enjoy their function. In
particular, we routinely service precision portable timekeepers such as:
Marine chronometers and deck
watches, Aircraft Clocks, American Railroad
watches, French
Carriage Clocks, Chelsea Clocks, Pocket Chronometers and
Chronographs.
Of course, we also service fine
vintage wrist watches, both manual and automatic wind.
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