Hermoglyph

Thank you. That sounds eminently sensible. I won't bother this learned forum with any more grumbling about my carriage clock. I suspected its running so fast wasn't doing it any good, so it's been sitting around just being ornamental for some months now, and so it will remain for the time being. I won't exercise my amateur skills on it because it's too valuable and not really mine (if it were I'd sell the blessed thing).

Plan A wasn't serious. Just annoyed at this clock's seemingly endless, frequent, need for professional attention. Are all clocks of this type so demanding?

Thanks for all good advice. The sensible thing of course would be to hand the clock over to a pro. But I know the only chap within easy reach (11 miles away) would want to do a full (£200!) overhaul, and, judging by past experience, would hang onto it for two or three months and need constant badgering. My present Plan A is to remove the platform, swill it about in alcohol, re-lubricate, and stand by for perfect operation. Plan B is just to keep the b thing as an ornament.

Thanks to all who have taken the trouble to reply. The clock was professionally overhauled I think about 5 years ago. I was charged £200 for the job, and thought well, all right, as long as this isn't going to be required too often! I'm not willing or competent to interfere with the most delicate parts (the escapement mechanism) of quite a valuable clock, but I'm not too keen to fork out another £200 — and another in 5 years' time! - to have it properly cleaned again. So I suppose I just don't deserve this beautiful timepiece! It's a bit of an heirloom - a wedding-present to my grandparents, I think - my parents liked it enough to have the case re-gilded, but got tired of its pernicketiness, and I'm afraid so have I. (The curved glass panels, by the way, are all intact.)

Pics herewith.

Hi, possibly again! I haven't quite got the hang of this website and my posts seem to disappear before finished. Anyway, thanks for your interest. A 'good' French c1890 carriage clock, which goes well, inasmuch that it ticks healthily and does its 8 days, but gains more than a minute in 24 hours. I admit, at first I thought it just needed relubricating, and I did that myself - very carefully, I promise you, following all the expert Internet advice. I didn't touch the balance. If you are kind enough to be interested, I'll send pics tomorrow when the light's better.

Hi Can anyone offer advice? I have a French carriage clock, c1890, I believe a 'good' clock, but never been known to be much use as a timepiece, though very pretty, because it seems so pernickety I had it professionally overhauled 3 or 4 years