Sonoma Clock Repair

06/29/2025

To all my current and future customers, please be aware that I will be away from the shop for a few weeks. I had hip replacement surgery on Monday, the 23rd, home on Tuesday, back in hospital on Thursday because of pneumonia. I am currently home and recuperating. I hope to be back to work in three or four weeks. Sooner if my healing allows me.

05/23/2025

One of my first restorations from 12 years ago.

01/24/2025

I don’t like working on anniversary clocks, otherwise known as 400 day clocks. This one was gifted to me by a customer who said they were never able to get it to work. After replacing the badly twisted suspension spring, and scraping out all the old dried up oil, setting it up and putting it in beat, it runs perfectly. Ready for whoever wants to buy it.

01/12/2025

Before and after photos of a black marble French clock I just finished. The black finish was re-done, with the gold filagree redone. The time only movement was cleaned and lubricated. Pretty nice little clock from the late 1800’s.

01/07/2025

Yesterday Sonoma Clock Repair said goodbye to our partner, greeter, confidant, and dearest friend. Fiona took her last breath after a valiant fight with congestive heart failure. She passed with me scratching her head and telling her what a good girl she was. At 16 years old she had had a full and loving life. She especially relished greeting new people as they came to our shop. She was my constant companion in the last year and a half with the passing of her partner Iggy.

She was a constant in the shop and will be dearly missed. To all the folks that got to meet her during their visit, she was more important to them than seeing me. She will remain in our hearts forever, and her ashes will have a special place in our shop.

12/24/2024

Just finished servicing this beautiful example of an 1891 Gustav Becker box clock. The movement was ultrasonically cleaned and lubricated. There were two things wrong with it, the reason it wouldn’t run being a bent suspension spring which was replaced. The second thing WRONG was it was drenched in WD40. Folks, let me be very clear. WD40 is a terrible lubricant. It is great for displacing moisture and preventing rust. You can’t fix a clock by spraying it with WD40. I charge extra for cleaning a clock with dripping WD40 because it ruins my cleaning solution. For the record.

12/20/2024

Because of the current Political climate, and the current unrest in our country, I have decided it's time to take a stand. I am a lifelong Democrat. History has shown that all the prosperous and stressfree years for this country have been under Democratic leadership. Not to mention the recent COVID years where the then President failed miserably, only to be bailed out by a Democrat as he took office in 2021.

Today, as we get ready for another four years of the repeated failures of the past, the current looming shutdown of the Federal Government brought on by our President-elect, who appears to be controlled by a billionaire contributor, Musk, I find it necessary to take a stand.

Beginning in January I will no longer accept clock repair services from those professing their support for Donald Trump. I will not ask directly whether you support the man, but will find out through comments made during our first meeting. If it is determined that you support the idiot, you will be handed your clock, and told to have a nice day.

This is a radical step for any business to take, but one I feel is necessary to retain my sanity in these uncertain times. I am confident there are enough rational people in this world with heirloom clocks that need some TLC, that I will remain very busy.

Thank you for understanding.

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06/29/2024

As the clocks strike 6.

06/29/2024

04/12/2024

My latest restoration. This is an 1870’s vintage Gilbert clock. The owner is 88 years old, and he inherited it from his Grandfather, so it’s likely been in the family since new. The movement was rebuilt, and runs great. The worn out paper dial was replaced. The original glass in the door was cracked, so it got a new period style glass to complete this spiffy gem. The case is all original, not needing anything done to it except cleaning.

07/20/2023

This is a recent restoration. It is a French marble clock. It was presented to Sergeant Wm. Archibald from the 1st L.R.V. 9th Company by Lieutenant Wemyss for Assiduous Attention To Drill and Musketry Instruction During 1863. That would be the Civil War.

The movement was restored and the black marble refinished. I acquired this clock from the Ig Vella collection.

06/30/2023

My latest restoration. I recently rebuilt the movement in this 1926 Seth Thomas chime clock. The owner grew up with this clock, it having been in her family for generations. I was so impressed with the beauty of the original case I convinced her to have the dial and bezel restored by The Dial House in Dallas, GA at considerable expense. This is the final result.