This sheet is a brief guide to churches concerning the maintenance of turret clocks.
Turret clocks are expected to work 365 days a year, keep good time and usually strike on a bell. With correct care and maintenance this is quite achievable. Having a designated clock carer and assistant will help with any day-to-day issues but having a regular annual maintenance contract with a specialist clockmaker is the best plan.
What should take place in a regular maintenance visit
A condition report on the complete clock installation is supplied giving notes about any safety issues.
The clock is wiped clean and wheel teeth and pinions brushed out.
All parts are lubricated as necessary.
Leading off work and motionwork behind the dials are all cleaned and lubricated
Bell cranks all cleaned and lubricated and clock bell hammers checked and lubricated
(This latter activity can be carried out by the tower keeper)
What the parish can do to help maintain the clock
Make sure the clock room and inside the clock case is vacuumed at least once a year.
Make sure that the tower is weatherproof so water, sand and dust does not blow in.
Make sure that tower walls are cleaned and do not exude dust
If there is no case round the clock, then have one made.
If there are no protective boxes over bevel gears and motionwork, then have some made.
Comparing Quotations
Price is of course the first comparison, but there are other issues. Make sure that the quotations are for the same thing. A supplier may give a list of different options, make sure you understand what these are and if they are necessary. Warranty details need to be carefully studied and call-out charges in the case of a clock stopping identified.
Faculty
A faculty is not required for regular maintenance.
Musts and Must Nots
Musts
The supplier should state that all work will be carried out in accordance with the Turret Clock Code of Practice issued by the Clocks Advisers Forum and approved by the Church Buildings Council (CBC)
All work to be carried out in a conservation-minded manner
Clock Carer
The parish should have a designated clock carer and an assistant. These people can deal with day-today issues such as regulation, setting to time and striking correction. They can also be the interface between the parish and the maintainer of the clock.
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