How often do you wind them?

Most nineteenth-century movements run for eight days on a full wind. You should wind both the time and strike mainsprings once a week. Pick a specific day to build a routine. Turn the key steadily. Stop turning the moment you feel firm resistance.

I have a heavy slate clock set with two matching urns but I am worried the mantelpiece won't take the weight safely. What should I do?

Architectural slate and marble sets are heavy. You must ensure your shelf is bolted directly into the masonry wall behind the plaster. Keep the heavier central clock directly over the chimney breast structural supports. Spread the side garnitures wider towards the shelf brackets. This helps distribute the load evenly.

Do they need a level surface?

Yes. The pendulum needs to swing evenly to keep reliable time. Listen to the tick. An uneven beat means the shelf isn't level.

We want to move our bronze suite from the dining room to the upstairs study but the main unit has a swinging part at the back. Can we just carry it up?

Never carry a mechanical clock with the pendulum attached. The swinging weight will damage the delicate suspension spring holding it at the top. Open the back door and carefully unhook the pendulum first. Carry the empty case and the pendulum separately to the new room. You can rehang the weight once the heavy case is safely in position.

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Antique Clock Sets

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An antique clock set comprises a central mantel timepiece flanked by a matching pair of garnitures, built to dress the wide chimney pieces of nineteenth-century drawing rooms.