A typical service on a Floor Clock (Grandfather,
Grandmother, Hall Clock) consists of removing the movement
and dial
from the case and removing as much of the dried oil and grease as possible
without disassembly. The parts are then re-installed and adjusted.
This takes approximately 1 1/2 to 2 hours. The total charge
in the local Reno/Sparks area is $150 - $160. Most movements should
be serviced
at least every 5 years. This is done in your home and is not considered
a "cleaning". We either service a clock or overhaul it.
The word cleaning is too ambiguous.
If the clock will not run or the chiming has stopped, there is the likelihood
the movement may require additional work. If the clock is between
15-20 years old and has not been serviced during that time, the movement
is typically too worn and dirty for a service to revive it. These
newer movements are usually manufactured by either Hermle, Urgos
or Kieninger even though the name on the clock may be different.
These movements are still being made, and in many cases, it is more cost effective
to replace the movement than to pay the labor to overhaul it. (This
does not apply to antiques !)
The time required to order, test-run and deliver a replacement movement
is approximately 4-6 weeks compared to 2-3 months for an overhaul because of our back-log. In
this case, the house call charge would be incorporated into the
total replacement/overhaul amount. Depending on movement, the total
part and labor cost with a 1 year warranty usually runs between $450 -
$650.