This sheet is a brief guide to churches concerning the care of turret clock dials.
An attractive working dial on a church is a good advert for the church. Dials are exposed to the weather all year round and suffer deterioration. There are some problems commonly encountered.
Paint fading and lifting
Gold markings going patchy
Hands not working
Fixings failing or suspect
A dial re-paint and gilding should last at least 50 years in normal conditions. Location by the sea or close proximity to trees can affect the dial. Fixings for dials that are now 100 years old or more are likely to be in poor condition. A dial falling off the tower is of course very dangerous and an expensive repair job.
Behind each dial is the motionwork that provides the 12:1 reduction to drive the hour hand. To service these the hands have to be removed, a peculiarity of the English turret clock that requires accessing from the outside. Scaffolding or rope access is required for this.
Where dials need attention the parish should contact a clockmaker for the following information. Sometime a parish wants to use a local signwriter or decorator to do the work. In this case a clockmaker should be employed to overhaul the motionwork.
What information a clockmaker should supply
A condition report on the dial, its fixings and the motionwork
A quotation for repair and restoration work.
A clear statement as to who supplies and pays for any scaffolding
A statement about warranty and public liability insurance
Comparing Quotations
Price is of course the first comparison, but there are other issues. Check warranty statement and who pays for the scaffolding / steeplejack.
Replacing Old Wooden Dials
Where an old dial has suffered with decay it may have to be replaced. In this case a new wooden dial should be made. Reproduction GRP dials look very plastic and are not vert authentic.
When an old wooden dial is replaced then keep the old one on display in the church.
Faculty
A faculty is required for all dial restoration work.
A list B application can be made for repairs only, e.g. a damaged hand.
Musts and Must Nots
Musts
Get a steeplejack to inspect the dial, or if scaffolding is up, your clockmaker can do this.
If there is scaffolding up round the dial get a clockmaker to service the motionworks.
Ensure that any suspect dial fixings are replaced with stainless steel fixings
Annual maintenance for the clock is still a requirement.
Always have a designated clock carer and an assistant
Must Nots
Do not use gold paint. This fades quickly and looks very bad.
Advice
The DAC clock adviser will be able to help in more detail. Contact the DAC secretary and ask for informal advice.
Sources of Information
The Turret Clock Keeper’s Handbook by Chris McKay
Free version http://www.turretclock.force9.co.uk
The Turret Clock Keeper’s Handbook New Revised Edition available from Amazon
Church Buildings Council https://www.churchofengland.org/more/church-resources/churchcare/church-buildings-council
Turret Clock Code of Practice http://www.clocksadvisersforum.uk/info.html
Salisbury DAC sarah.baines@salisbury.anglican.org or dan.cooke@salisbury.anglican.org 01722 438654