Wall Clocks
How a nondescript service shop in Bombay became a cocoon for some of the world's most stunning vintage timepieces | Latest News & Updates at Daily News & Analysis
How a nondescript service shop in Bombay became a cocoon for some of the world's most stunning vintage timepieces - The most reputed manufacturers of cuckoo clocks have been family-owned for generations and so is Mumbai's Well Known Watch House, one of India's only two cuckoo clock service stations, writes Roshni Nair
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Daylight Savings Time 2015 around the world: When will your clock turn back?
Daylight Savings Time 2015, or also seen as " Daylight Saving Time 2015," takes place on different dates around the world, and many people are wondering when the time will change in their country. Being aware of the time change in different countries might help some international travelers from being woken up too soon.
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Arachnophobia, a Clock With Legs
Forget the big hand and the little hand. This clock has eight legs. Arachnophobia, a 15-inch-wide timepiece that can stand on its own or be mounted on the wall, was inspired by the famous 30-foot-high sculpture "Maman," or "Mom," by the French sculptor Louise Bourgeois, versions of which have been displayed around the world.
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Mix clocks and bike parts

Combining old clock parts and worn bicycle parts, Bonnie Krueger has been designing her own decorative, custom clocks.

The unique clocks are available at Bonnie's Home Decor & More in Sauk Rapids, but the do-it-yourselfer has tips for those who want to try their hand at a creation all their own.

"I love this because you can really do anything you want," Krueger said.

She began by scouring thrift stores for clock parts. Any old clock with a still-working mechanism will do, she said. She also visited some local stores to obtain old bicycle rims to use as the base for the clock.

Here are her tips:

• Look for a clock with hands, the longer, the better. Disassemble the clock and remove the small black box that holds the clock mechanism. You will need the clock hands and the black box for your project.

• Choose a bicycle rim and remove everything from the hub at the center, leaving a clean rim as your starting point.

• Begin by extending the clock hands as most thrift store clocks won't have hands long enough or large enough to reach the outer rim. To create hands, Krueger said, grab an aluminum can and carefully cut off the top and the bottom, leaving just the rolled center of the can. Flatten the aluminum and use a marker to draw the hands you want to create. Be sure to create one long hand (typically 8 inches) and one short (typically 6 inches). Cut them out with a scissor. You can spray paint the hands to match the clock you want to create.

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This clock is made from bicycle parts.
This clock is made from bicycle parts. (Photo: Submitted photo)
• Glue the newly created clock hands to the original clock hands. Krueger used a hot glue gun.

• Pick up the clock mechanism and place it post-up on the table. Choose a flat piece of metal to cover the black box, Krueger chose a saw blade. She recommends a saw blade or gear for the center but said anything will work as long as it's flat and has a hole in the center.

• Put fresh batteries in the clock mechanism and place the decorative piece over the main post of the clock mechanism, creating the first layer of the clock. Attach the decorative piece to the top of the clock mechanism box with hot glue. Note, once the batteries die, you'll have to unglue these pieces and glue them back together.

• Now place the clock hands on top of the clock mechanism post.

• Now it's time to cover the back of the clock mechanism. Krueger chose to sandwich the clock mechanism between a metal saw blade and a plastic charger plate with a hole drilled in the middle. Glue the charger plate or other decorative layer to the opposite side of the mechanism box.

• Glue the charger to the bicycle rim.


• Choose your clock numbers. They could be wooden, chip board, cardboard or metal. Affix them to the clock and hang on the wall.

September 24, 2015 7:21 pm 

Robert Tubbs, of Streator, owns and operates Tick Tock Time, a clock repair shop. He moved to Streator in 1992 from Aurora and started his collection one year later.

"Clock repair is my passion and I take great pride in the work I do," Tubbs said. "I enjoy every aspect of fixing a clock and hearing that chime when I'm done or the sound of a bird's cuckoo knowing I just fixed another piece of history."

Q. What kinds of repairs do you do with clocks and what kinds of clocks are your specialty?

A. I can fix any kind of clock, mantle, grandfather, wall clock and cuckoo clocks. I specialize in cuckoo clocks, and as for repairs I can do anything, plus cleaning and oiling.

Q. How did you get interested in this type of work and how long have you been doing it?

A. I got interested in clocks when I saw the collection Dean Carlson had, they were amazing. So I started collecting and repairing clocks on my own in 1993. I have been at it for 22 years, and I have acquired quite a collection myself. But as with any type of work there is always something else to learn.

Q. How did you learn how to repair clocks?

A. I took an Internet course and a lot of hands-on work. Hands on is always the best experience.

Q. How long does a typical repair take and what does it involve?

A. A typical repair will always require me to remove the movement and place it on the test stand, but each repair is different because no one clock is the same as the other. Repairs can take anywhere from 30 minutes to multiple days. The only thing that is the same is the cleaning and oiling process.

Q. What qualities do you think it takes to do this kind of work and why?

A. It takes a lot of patience and a steady hand to do this job. There are a lot of small moving parts and one little mistake could turn a simple job into a very long, complicated job. The tools to do most jobs are just general tools, but some are specific to just clock repair.

Q. Can you tell us about any particular project you are most proud of and the details of it?

A. My favorite project would have to be Cogsworth! My roommate was watching "Beauty and the Beast" and I saw Cogsworth, so I decided since I had extra wood laying around I would make a Cogsworth clock of my own. I cut all the pieces individually then glued and nailed them together. Step two was to draw a face and paint it. After all that was done I bought a special movement for it, so instead of normal clock chimes every hour I was able to record the "Beauty and the Beast" theme song. So now on every hour you hear the movie's theme song. It took me about a month or so to get it completed. Cogsworth is on display in the children's department at the Streator Public Library.

That will drive you cuckoo! Curators of Swiss clock museum begin onerous task of winding them forward an hour in preparation for British Summer Time
But one man cannot afford to forget the date because he has the unenviable task of changing the times on more than 600 clocks. Roman Piekarski, who runs the Cuckooland Museum in Tabley, Cheshire, has already made a start to change the clocks.
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