Arkwright Repairshop

22/05/2026

After a day of fine repair… the Georgian Pocket watch is alive again having been in a drawer and not working for over 60 years!

22/05/2026

Ey up! Now then that was a bit of a challenging watch repair for the day.. the Georgian pocket watch needed quite a bit of attention… broken mainspring, hairspring snapped at the end support, bushes and rust.! as will these early watches, when the mainspring snaps it tends to pull the barrel hook out along with the end of the spring… I thought I would show you the typical day to day repairs needed on theseuy early watches. First, find a suitable steel stock and turn down a taper on the lathe… form the hook shape on the large end of the taper and using a No12 screwplate tap the remaining length. Insert the new hook from the inside and when “home” cut off the excess and file flush to the outside face of the barrel.. I forgot to photograph that bit! 😂 so included a page from a book to give the idea. I make the bushes on the lathe and hide them in the chamfer when inserted so they are unseen. I will post a video of the finished watch to show the action… enjoy! 🤓

22/05/2026

Ey up! An early start this morning before the heat arrives! It’s Georgian Pocket watch Day today… it’s dismantled ready for a good clean, repair and restoration. That should keep me occupied for the day! Enjoy the sunshine 🌞

21/04/2026

Ey up! Just a quick job to start the week.. a customer came in with a broken pivot on their French clock strike wheel. As you will probably know the steel used to make these are very hard. After careful tempering the pinnion was first drilled using a 0.29mm drill, it was then followed by a 1mm. A new pivot made and inserted.. the steel carefully re-hardened and polished. Ready to go back to the customer now for re-fitting

18/04/2026

07/04/2026

Morning…. Thought I would share the view from the rear window of the Repairshop here in Cromford.. what a lovely atmospheric scene to distract me from repairing clocks! Enjoy

01/04/2026

Ey up! As an equal opportunity employer we now have a new member of staff! Please welcome Steve “fast finger” Webster.. obviously eight legs will ensure this Grand sonnerie striking carriage clock is done in no time at all! We all have that tricky job when you wish you had a spare hand!

05/03/2026

Ooooo…. Must be pocket watch day!

04/03/2026

Ey up.! CHUF’s official first drive to work.. what a lovely car to drive.. very “mechanical”.. cruises along beautifully at 40mph.. a few little cosmetic jobs to finish and you know me.. I might end up selling it for the next project 😂