Training for companies and individuals can be arranged on request.
I run a 5-day seminar on turret clock work at the BHI, Upton Hall, Upon, Newark, Nottinghamshire, on an annual basis, subject to demand. The target audience is the professional clock restorer who, from time to time, is asked to do work on turret clocks. The objective of the seminar is to make such a person familiar with turret clocks so they can undertake basic jobs, assess what is needed, and know their own capabilities so they take on, or decline work as necessary.
A set of notes, currently around 220 pages, is issued at the seminar.
Seminar contents is listed below. This may change from time to time. Teaching is a blend of presentation and practical exercises.
Look round museum
Health & safety intro, basic rules, how we will develop our rules and risk assessment.
History of TCs
Closer look round museum
Dial restoration, outline of exercises
Terminology: Virtual visit to a TC
Powerpoint presentation of 100 pictures taken in a typical tower.
The Turret Clock Keeper’s Handbook
Restoration philosophy
What are our obectives for a clock
What does the owner want
What should be repaired
What is of significant historical interest and should be preserved
Documentation / photos what do we do, how far do we go.
Objectives in cleaning TCs
Chemical cleaning
Abrasive cleaning
Video: Bells and bellringing.
Components of a bell.
Clock hammers and bell cranks.
Turret clock installation inspection
Inspecting a TC
Dials
Motionworks
Leading off work
Health & safety rules for a visit to a clock tower
Accident & locked in strategies.
Dial restoration: Painting chapters
Identification of common problems; fault finding chart
Disassembly & assembly of a TC
Visit to a Church to see turret clock
Exercise on site Practical use of inspection chart.
Review H&S issues for visit
Train calculations
Train counting and train calculation
Timing turret clocks with the Microset
Re-assembly of a TC
Dial restoration: Gilding first layer of leaf.
Tools needed for working on TCs
Hand, machine tools and other facilities needed.
Bushing
How to bush in various frame types.This depends a bit on what we can find that needs bushing...
Making and fitting a new suspension spring.
Lines and pulleys Fitting a new line
Making eyes, S hooks and straightening wire for bell work
Pulley & line fixing
Hands removal
Dial fixing
TC maintenance, What to lubricate, with what and when.
Electric turret clocks
Automatic winders
Night Silencing
Automatic correctors
Commercial issues.
Faculties
Quotations
Diocesan clocks advisors
Public liability insurance
Customer care - selling the company
How to decide when a job is beyond your capability or how to find someone who can do the job.
Sources of Information
AHS
BHI
Museums
Booklist
For details of seminars, dates and prices go to the BHI Web Site, and look for seminars. Seminars are only available to BHI members.