Clock-making
This modern long-case clock, Grace, has an elegant case by renowned furniture designer Tom Kealy, and a movement designed and made by Julius Schoonhoven. It was awarded a gilt mark and is now in a private collection. The movement from Grace is shown. It is an eight-day timepiece with a main-spring and fusee, and is regulated with a seconds (or Royal) pendulum, i.e. a pendulum with period of precisely one second. Featured on www.tomkealy.com. |
Testimonials
A good conservator with a great knowledge of clocks and locks.” |
"Just watching Julius protecting the floor before setting his beautifully organised tools down on his first visit, and I knew that my two year search for a conservator to look after the locks at Hampton Court was over.
Looking after a historic house of the importance of Hampton Court requires an understanding that even small changes can have repercussions. Julius is a good conservator with a great knowledge of locks and clocks. He is practical and pragmatic, he has been known to rush across London in case of emergency as most of our 18th century locks are used on a daily basis, he is also very knowledgeable, self motivated, organised and a pleasure to work with. I think we could also say that without you, we would have never found out that some of our locks showed evidence of gilding on the inside." Laurie, conservator at Hampton Court Palace |
Delighted with immaculate restoration.” |
"Delighted with immaculate restoration of a 19th century French lyre clock to full working order."
Caroline M-H, West London |
Restorations
Late 17th century clock movement
This movement was brought to Julius with a view to restore or rebuild its missing hour- and quarter-repeat work, which had been removed at some point in its life. Being a time-piece (i.e., not hourly striking), the correct name for it would be a silent pull quarter. Work involved redesigning all parts in line with the original holes, markings, cut-outs, etc. present in the plates. Several clocks of this maker are known, and with some research a very similarly-made one was located in the collection of the National Trust, on which the restoration was then based. All new parts were made by hand and in the traditional way, using correct materials like cast brass, iron and steel. Bells were cast to correct dimensions and pitch by one of the last remaining bell casters in Europe! (Sadly, Whitechapel Bell Foundry - the oldest manufacturing company in Great Britain - closed in 2017.) The restored clock is now in a private collection and in use every day. |
Hampton Court Palace door locks
Julius's clock-making training, and expertise in the restoration and conservation of clocks, can equally be deployed on other mechanical antiques - in this case an original door-lock from one of the State Rooms at Hampton Court. Though dating from around 1680-90, the lock is still in everyday use. Well-made and of solid construction, these locks have passed the test of time well, but nevertheless need constant monitoring and conservative remediation to keep damage and wear to a minimum. The palace has seen a great deal of change, and along the way several original doors have disappeared, together with their metalwork and locks! The lower image shows a fully-functioning replica to fit a later door, which Julius constructed using cast brass and steel to ensure equivalent fine quality. For accuracy, castings were taken of original fittings and ormolu. Even some of the internals were replicated using this technique. Its internals were designed to be operated by the same modern key as used elsewhere in the palace. Similar locks were made for Kew Palace and the handling collections at Hampton Court. |
Antique Lyre clock
The image shows the movement of a French Lyre clock dating from the 19th century. The name derives from the stringed musical instrument in the harp family, on whose shape the case is loosely based. The piece features a spring-driven striking movement, with Brocot escapement and regulation. The antique was sympathetically restored, and damaged parts repaired. |
Get In Touch
To find out options for the restoration of your antique, simply fill out the contact form with full details of the piece and your requirements.