Do these clocks run for a week?

Most standard antique travel clocks run for eight days on a full wind. You wind both the time and strike mainsprings using a double-ended key kept in the back door. Smaller miniature carriage clocks sometimes only run for thirty hours. Winding them at the same time each week maintains even power to the escapement.

My grandfather left me a heavy brass carriage clock but the key is missing so I cannot wind it up or set the time, can I buy a replacement?

Replacement keys are readily available from horological suppliers. You just need to measure the square winding arbors on the backplate to ensure a proper fit. Antique travel clocks use a specific double-ended key. The larger end winds the mainsprings, while the smaller end fits the separate squares used for setting the hands. Using pliers or an ill-fitting key will round off the brass squares. Wait until you have the correct size before attempting to wind the mechanism.

Why does it strike twice?

This is a feature known as striking 'en passant'. The clock strikes the hours normally, then sounds a single blow at the half-hour mark. Some complex movements strike every quarter-hour instead. These keep you fully aware of the time in the dark.

The glass panel on the side of my clock is chipped in the corner and slightly loose in the brass frame, does it need fixing immediately?

Loose glass panels require attention because they allow dust to enter the movement. Dust mixes with the clock oil to create an abrasive paste that wears down the steel pivots and brass pivot holes. The bevelled glass panels sit in grooves within the brass case uprights. Clockmakers secure them using a mixture of plaster and glue, which dries out and crumbles over a century of temperature changes. A professional can clean out the old compound and reseat the existing glass. Small chips in the corners are often hidden by the brass framework once properly secured.

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Victorian Travel Clocks

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An antique travel clock is a compact, robust timepiece typically housed in a brass and glass case with a sturdy carrying handle, designed to withstand the jolts of carriage journeys while keeping accurate time away from home.