Cates Antique Clock Repair

Let me answer the first part of the question by admitting I am not a clock appraiser, so I do not know the correct answer. I could tell you what I think the clock would be worth to me, but that doesn't tell you what it is worth on the open market, or for insurance purposes, so you will have to go to a qualified clock appraiser to find the answer.

The second part of that question is easy. If the clock means something to you personnally, then yes it is worth fixing. If it was given to you by your late husband or wife, or as a gift from a family member, or if when it rings or strikes a bell it reminds you of someone dear and close to you, then yes, it is worth fixing.

If on the other hand, you picked it up for $1.00 at a garage sell, and it is going to cost you $150.00 to get a it running again, then you might want to sleep on it before deciding.

Right now, it is taking 6-8 weeks to get a repaired clock back to its owner. Many factors come into play here. How long it takes to get a new part in, or if I have a make the part, how long will that take. It depends on how many clocks I have ahead of yours. And of course, when the repair is finished, what happens while the clock is on the testing stand. I've had clocks run fine for 3 days, and then on the 4th, they stop. So obviously something else is wrong.

No money exchanges hands until the job is done.

You will find many opinions for the correct answer of this question, and from many different repairmen. Some will tell you once a year, others say very two years. For me, if your clock has not been serviced in the last ten years, then yes, most definitely, it needs to be. When you hit year 5, then start looking for a qualitified repairman

Putting a clock into proper beat is when you adjust it so the "ticks and tocks" are evenly spaced. You want the clock to have an even sounding tick and tock. You do not what one to be faster sounding then the other. It all has to do with pendulum theory, so just take my word for it, If your clock is not in proper beat, it will eventually stop working. You can get the clock in beat (ticks and tocks even) by either tilting the cabinet or case slightly to the left or right, or by adjusting the pallets of the escape wheel.