Can you overwind the mainspring?

You will feel a definite resistance when the mainspring is fully coiled inside its barrel. Stop turning the key once you meet that hard stop. Most modern damage happens when someone tries to force just one more click out of the ratchet. The steel spring itself rarely snaps from being fully wound, but the sudden release of tension if a click fails can shear teeth off the main barrel.

I have inherited a rather heavy marble clock from my late grandfather, but it seems to stop ticking after running for just a few minutes on my study desk.

A clock stopping after a few minutes often indicates it is out of beat. The tick and tock need to be even. If one is longer than the other, the pendulum loses momentum and stops swinging. Try adjusting the levelling screws under the base, or simply slip a thin wedge of cardboard under one side. Listen closely as you make tiny adjustments. When the sound becomes a steady rhythm, the movement should run continuously.

How often does it need oiling?

Most movements need a basic service every five years. Old oil dries out and turns into an abrasive paste. Running it dry accelerates wear. Have a horologist re-oil the mechanism before the brass plates get damaged.

When setting the time in the morning, is it safe to turn the hands backwards if I only need to adjust it by ten or fifteen minutes?

Moving the hands backwards on a simple timepiece without a strike mechanism is generally safe. The internal friction clutch allows the hands to slip independently of the main gear train. However, if the clock chimes or strikes the hour, turning the minute hand backwards can jam the lifting levers. Always move a striking clock forwards, pausing to let it sound at the hour and half-hour marks.

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Antique Desk Clocks

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Designed for close-quarter timekeeping on a writing table or library desk, an antique desk clock is a compact, self-contained movement typically housed in a wooden, brass, or silver case.