Expert: William J Perkins - 2/16/2008

Question
Hi, William,
23 years ago my father received a Howard Miller 612-429 mantle clock for 25 years of service with a company.  He recently gave it to me and it has not been run in years and does not seem to work.  I took it to a local clock shop and they said it needs a good cleaning and oiling. My question is.... They want $175 to clean it and look at it.  Is this reasonable?  Thanks much

Answer
Clock repair prices vary widely throughout the nation, even between neighborhoods.  Be that as it may the price given for basic cleaning and lubrication would be acceptable in my local.  That price would not include repair work such as installing bushings etc.  Were you to bring the clock to my shop I would urge that you replace the movement rather than to repair.  Movements of the genre you address were generally of very poor quality.  The ratchets were stamped, the pivots were of mild steel and relied upon nickle plating for hardness.  When that plating begins to wear, major repairs becomes commonplace.  Also the bushings were generally of soft brass and also susceptible to constant replacement.  The new "superior" replacement movements have machine rachets, hardened steel pivots and bronze bushings at high wear points.  Replacing a movement in a modern clock with a new one of the same specifications is an entirely acceptable procedure and should not be confused with the undesirable act of destroying an antique clock by substituting an improper movement.  In these instances I can assure you that it is far more cost effective to go the replacement route as opposed to repair.
If you wish to do a replacement, send me all the information stamped upon your clock movements backplate.  With that I can refer you to a source from whence you could acquire a new "superior" movement.  Again, if you do choose replacement, I caution you against acquiring a rebuilt movement, you would only be deferring major problems, literally pouring money down a rat hole.  Actually you would end up with a clock that is much better than when it was new, and could remain faithful through many generations.  Regards WJP