Expert: William J Perkins - 2/24/2008

Question
A few years ago I inherited a Welby wind up mantle clock with West. chimes from my grandparents. I'm guessing it's approximately 40-45 yrs. old. It just recently stopped working. I took it to 2 different shops to get an estimate, and was told it was in "excellent condition" but needed a cleaning to get it up and running again. I was quoted $250, and $300 to do this job. Needless to say, I was shocked. This is not a large city, so my options are few. Does this sound reasonable?? And any idea of how often cleaning is needed?

Answer
Costs for clock repair vary widely between regions and even within blocks of a community.  The price you quote would be constant to what certified clock repair persons in my area would charge.  As far as to the frequency for a major cleaning job is concerned, that too is highly variable, dependent upon many factors.  I would think yours would be a good solid English made clock, made to ridged standards and of the best materials.  Under normal conditions I would think the clock would need a quality and thorough cleaning, repair and adjustment every 12 years or so.  In between it should be examined and the lubricant refreshed every 2 or 3 years.  Routine inspection would most likely extend the time between major cleanings etc.  With proper care your clock should last for many generations.
Regards WJP