For grandfather clocks, the story is strikingly similar too:

Repairs for future generations

If you have a special grandfather clock that you plan to keep as a family heirloom, then it is absolutely vital that you keep plans for the clock.

As even the finest Howard Miller or Ridgeway grandfather clock ages, the wear and tear starts to affect major parts of the clock. These will only show up two or three decades later, and the manufacturer of the clock may not be existing anymore. Once that happens, you will be hard-pressed to find a professional that will be able to effectively repair antique models. The plans for the grandfather clock will make life a whole lot easier for its inheritors, as well as the clocksmith responsible for servicing it.

On the other hand, a repairman without plans will find himself groping in the dark. Without any definitive plans to guide him in his work, the best he can do is a patch job on the problems, and this will definitely bring down the value of an antique grandfather clock. Even more problems will begin to pop up in the long run, as ill-fitting parts begin to take their toll on the other components of the clock.

Troubleshooting small problems

For the short term, having a set of plans is handy for identifying and handling smaller problems with the grandfather clock.

With these plans in hand, you can even fix smaller problems yourself. That is, if you are willing to tinker with a thousand-dollar heirloom that needs to be perfect for its value to appreciate. If you have confidence in your dexterity and delicacy with fine parts, then repairing simple problems like imbalanced weights or out-of-sync chimes is relatively easy. Just make sure you go over the plans carefully before opening up your grandfather clock.

However, it is still recommended that you seek the professional aid of a clocksmith to guarantee the integrity of your grandfather clock. This is especially true if you plan to ‘antiquate’ your grandfather clock, hoping to gain a profit as the years pass. Best case scenario is you spend a little to guarantee the safety of the clock. Worst case scenario is you can hold someone liable for wrecking your clock. While the latter option is unfavorable, it is still a better alternative than wrecking the clock yourself.

One last word of advice: once you secure a set of grandfather clock plans, place them somewhere future generations will easily find them. Mix them in with other important documents to preserve, or you could even seal them in an envelope and tape them under the clock. This way, you and your descendants will have absolutely no problem keeping the family heirloom in tip-top shape!