Shipping:

   I'm asked many times "Who pays for shipping", mainly return shipping? My discounted rates reflect the fact, that for the out of state customer to ship their items to and from, does cost money. Many times the repair costs are inexpensive and I would actually be paying "out of pocket" to cover the return shipping costs as well. I don't charge a packing and handling fee for the packing supplies that seem to be costing more and more unless you buy in bulk and then the issue of storage comes into play, I never cut corners on packing an item. To ready a standard 8 day black mantle clock for shipping from start to finish takes close to an hour to carefully protect the movement and it's moving parts, the dial glass and hands, then to secure the clock as a whole with bubble wrap and packing peanuts and/or air pillows and an adequate container. I get the rates of all the major carriers, USPS, UPS, Fed Ex and DHL and go with the most cost effective carrier. With all of this in mind, the customer is responsible to cover the shipping costs of their items to and from. 

   One day per week (Sat.) has now been scheduled to attend to the actual packing and preparing the shipping labels of the repaired items. Shipping of clocks on a daily basis, as in the past, has become time consuming from that time spent at the work bench, creating a more lengthy turn around period. All repaired items are shipped on Sat. (USPS), Tues. (UPS, DHL, Fed Ex) of each week as to help offset shop repair time to that of packing and shipping on a daily basis. Any item paid for by immediate payment, credit cards, Pay-Pal, M.O.'s, etc. to which payment was received early in the week, that item will ship only on the designated shipping days of each week, unless special "prior" arrangements were agreed upon by Motion Works.

Packing & Shipping Protocol:

   One question that has been frequently asked......."How do I pack my clock for shipment?" If the clock is being shipped, case and all, my suggestions are to protect the dial glass as best you can by placing the small 3/8 bubble wrap or something of equal cushioning between the dial glass and the dial. This helps protect the clock hands from bending and helps fill the void between the glass and dial...........fill the clock case interior void with the same small bubble wrap, using caution as to not bind the movement or it's moving parts. Wrap the case securely with bubble wrap, myself, I use the 3/8 bubble as the first layer then to wrap the clock again with the 1 inch (large) bubble. The box or container should have ample room on all sides to accommodate the clock, fill the container with packing peanuts, air pillows or something adequate to cushion the clock during it's journey here. Always remove the pendulum bob prior to packing, a free swinging pendulum bob act's like a small wrecking ball if left attached during transit.

   If sending just the movement............make sure the hands, pendulum, weights and/or key (s) are packaged separate and not left on the movement during the wrapping process. Place the additional hardware in a small plastic bag or separate to their own protective container, place the hardware in the same container as the movement..........

   Lastly required is that a printed copy of the "Repair Order Form" completed by the customer prior to sending a mail in repair, must contain a current call back phone number, a brief description of the problems you're having with the clock along with an valid e-mail address. The preferred method of communications, is through e-mail. This to help keep the long distance charges at bay and also to have a visual reference of all communications.

Clock value and worth:

   One question customers frequently ask "Is my clock worth fixing"? My answer to that is usually "INDEED". If the clock has sentimental value or has been in the family for many years or the clock holds many memories of times past, then YES, the clock is worth repairing regardless if it falls into the "collectible" or "high end" category. Regardless of the clocks value or how highly sought after a clock might be, each and every clock was designed to do one thing, register the passing of time. I put the same amount of care and time, quality replacement parts and quality craftsmanship into each and every clock. I have many within my collection that would fall into my listing of "having to pay someone to take it", nonetheless, the clock or watch has a value to myself, maybe a value not listed within the price guides or found in the collectors editions, but it holds a value just the same, just in a different fashion.

   Please Note: Motion Works and/or any of it's representatives are not accredited or licensed antique clock appraisers. We'll help you find a basis or general reference to your items value by means available to us or to the general public. Value guides, E-Bay, clock smith specific sources/forums are the means to which we can find a general value for your item or that of a clock similar that has been recently sold either through private sales or public auctions.

Pricing:

   You will find my pricing to be more than competitive and often less than the average store front repair shop. Operating from an home based facility, my overhead is that of much less than a store front. The average repair shop charges around $195.00 - $250.00 to rebuild an 8 day time/strike movement. Most who charge this fee will indeed disassemble the entire movement, make repairs if needed, assemble the movement and make the needed adjustments to insure proper time keeping and operation. I do the same, I never dip the movement as a whole and call it good. Some repairman do this to lower costs and save time. For myself, each and every movement is disassembled and rebuilt with attention to detail and care, no short cuts are allowed or accepted in any aspect of my services. Across the board, my pricing is much lower. I oversee all the repair work, as I perform all the repairs myself as well as all the other tasks to keeping a small business going and up front. Many times I find myself off the clock sort of speak, making the fine tune adjustments to a customers clock, many times this little extra is never invoiced, but satisfaction that the clock was repaired to the best of my ability, is often payment enough.

Payment Options:

   We accept payment is most forms, money orders, cashiers checks, Pay-Pal, Western Union, credit cards (Visa, Master Card, Discover and American Express). Personal checks received from out of state mail in orders, the repaired item is NOT shipped until the banks gives notification that the personal check has cleared. Recently, we received bad checks to where in the past, we've never held the repaired items. Recovering payment from the customer, bank fees, etc. has forced us to enforce this policy.

Shop Protocol:

   Motion Works strives to attend each clock or request in a timely and orderly fashion. All items received for repair, estimates, value, etc. are placed in an "order as received" process. This means that estimates may take several days as to where prior arrivals requesting the same service are tended to as the order in which they were received. Repairs are based on the same method, depending on which category they are placed, quick repair, moderate or heavy and those clocks that were here prior awaiting the same services. If a clock requires the services of manufacturing the part on site, this can prolong the return or completion date as most all specialty repairs are performed at a specific time when multiple items are needing manufactured parts.

  Communications between Motion Works and our long distance customers is usually e-mail based. We strive to answer all inquiries either by e-mail or that of responding to voice mail messages in a timely manner. If you do not receive a reply within 24 hours of your inquiry, we may not have received your message.

  Common that when sending an e-mail to either update, FYI, etc. We receive no acknowledgement of the sent letter. We take it on assumption that the response was delivered along with the "read receipt" request we place on most all outgoing messages.

Repair Order Forms:

   Repair order forms available to print on the web site and that of a link placed on the e-mail auto responder MUST accompany the item sent or personally delivered for repair. If the order form is not found within the container, filled out and signed by the customer, the clock will be returned as "return to sender" with no services rendered. Too many times, clocks arrive based on past e-mail communications that may have been erased during a PC system clean, mail server crash, web site maintenance. With a constant back log of waiting repair orders, we cannot afford the time to track down the customer and to which many times, if a professional packing company has sent the clock, this will be the only return address, name and place of origin.

Turn Around Time:

   Turn around times can vary depending on what type of repairs are needed, the availability of the needed part, the work load pending prior to your clocks arrival and that if any back logged items pending. With replacement parts becoming more scarce, acquiring these items can take some time to locate and then that of having them shipped out or that of having to machine new parts that are needed here in the shop. With clocks arriving daily, many times, multiple items within deliveries from Fed Ex, UPS, DHL, and USPS, the work load is heavy and the turn around time can vary on the fore-mentioned. I perform all the repairs myself, I will NEVER rush a job, make or take short cuts to where attention to detail is compromised. A target return time for a standard 8 day, time/strike clock movement overhaul is about 12 to 16 weeks, it cannot be assumed or used as a "guaranteed" return period. Not all repairs fall into this time line, those clocks needing only a new suspension spring, beat set, light servicing of the movement, etc. naturally are turned around quickly. The turn around can be extended well past the target time frame, that to be influenced by clocks on the test stands that develop issues during the testing period that need to be addressed, clocks here prior and the repair needed to those clocks. Those clocks on my repair bench receive my total attention, as will your clock when it's being repaired. When a clock is requested to be fully restored.......the case being stripped and refinished, all brass works being cleaned and coated, any glass or dial work that may be involved and lastly, rebuilding the movement and components thereof. Completion time can vary from that of 8 - 10 months, sometimes this time frame will exceed that as to many variables that can arise during the restoration process.

Clock Repair Estimates:

   My "no fee" repair estimate is based on what I can see by removing the clock movement and visually inspecting the movement in it's assembled state. To physically disassemble and assemble a movement for estimate purposes only, requires much time and a estimate fee would have to be applied for this service. Most antique clock movements can be viewed in great detail without total disassembly of the movement. If a worn pivot hole in the movement plate raises questions as to the condition of the arbor pivot, capturing the power of the movement allows the plates to be slightly separated enough to expose the arbor pivot and to check for wear. A movement does not have to be totally disassembled to give a fairly accurate assumption of what the repairs needed will be. Once the formal estimate delivered is given the okay by the customer, when the movement is disassembled for cleaning, if additional issues are noticed, the customer is contacted and these issues are discussed before any additional work is performed.

  We perform estimates at the end of each business day. A clock arriving on Tues. for example, it may take several days to unpack the clock and schedule it for evaluation, build the estimate, check for the availability of parts needed if any and that to enter the estimate into accounting and sending out the formal estimate. This clock arriving on Tues. the formal estimate will likely be delivered no later than 5 to 7 days of it's arrival. With estimates as the same with repairs, this frame is based on prior items awaiting estimates and approvals.

  Delivered estimates are not the final invoice. Many times we receive payment based on the estimated cost of repair. Many instances, the estimated costs were actually higher than the final invoice total, vise-versa, the final cost could exceed the estimated costs. This due to customer add-on work, the actual price of parts at the time of ordering may have increased over that of what is listed in the vendor catalog used to build the estimate. Payment will only be accepted to that of the final invoice total and at the completion of the job and related testing times.

Movement Cleaning:

   With my pricing to rebuild a mechanical movement, many times I'm asked do I disassemble the movement for cleaning? INDEED!

   When rebuilding any and all movements, the movement is completely disassembled, then placed in an Ultrasonic cleaner, then through a rinse and finally warm air dried. Each and every piece of the movement is carefully inspected, each gear, gear tooth, gear arbor, pinion and pivot. Each gear pivot is polished and lapped, the arbor checked for true and corrected if needed. Pinion pins and leafs are inspected as well as the lifting levers in the strike train, star cams and all cams that are found on a three train movement (Westminster Chime). The movement plates are inspected, each and every pivot hole is cleaned with peg wood and then I lap each pivot hole to provide a mirror finish. at this point, any pivot hole that shows wear, new bushings are installed, sized and polished. The hammer lift pins, stop and warning pins are inspected, the motion works carefully examined and tested. The mainsprings are also serviced, checking for any "set" condition of the spring, replacing the mainspring if need be. All mainsprings are cleaned, polished and a high quality spring grease is applied.

  Next the movement is assembled, all gear mesh checked, the function of each lever and pin tested, the strike train to be tested and adjusted. Next the movement is oiled with a high grade synthetic clock oil and placed on the the test stand for a minimum of 7 to 14 days to make any adjustments and to insure the movement is performing at 100%.

  *We DO NOT perform partial cleanings*

   Quality of Craftsmanship:

   Each and every timepiece I service receives the same amount of attention as I would give my own clocks. I'm often called a "perfectionist", until I'm satisfied 100% that the repair I just performed has been completed the best possible way, I won't release the item knowing that it could be done better. A little more time consuming indeed, but to do it once and not have to worry about it returning because the repair failed is truly worth the extra time. A customer will always associate a company for bad repair work if they receive an item back in non-running order or the repairs fail shortly there after. Repairing 197 clocks in the year 2005, several issues did come forth, mainly those items shipped back that encountered a rough ride in transit. Those that were returned, were at no cost to the customer even though I cannot control the methods practiced by the carriers. 

Clock Restoration:

   Complete clock restoration is a process that is very time consuming. Most restorations on pieces such as a black mantle clock, pressed oak cases, brass/crystal regulators can take the better part of 8 to 10 months to complete. Being that not only is the case given great attention, the movement is also completely overhauled. The dial, pan and bezel are restored and many times the dial itself needs to be coated with a new coating of silver powder to erase the staining, spots that have worn down to the base metal, or the all to common, rubbing of the clock hands against the dial surface. (All dial restorations that require silvering, other than a light touch up, will be sent to our dial restorer outside of Motion Works). Frequently the dial glass needs to be replaced. Most glass cutting is done here at the shop, occasionally I'll receive a clock, like that of a Gilbert Tambour that has the oval dial. Being much more cost efficient to order a ready cut piece of glass in an oval shape than to try to cut that myself, the delivery time can sometimes be lengthy. All capitols, bases, and columns if need be are restored to the original appearance whenever possible...............I have in the past recreated the marble effect found on many columns that have faded, torn paper and some that are not present due to loss. Also common is that the clock hands have one or both hands missing, bent, broken or painted over. Most often, new replacement hands can be installed..........when the hands or hand is not a commonly offered replacement, I'll have to fabricate a new set of, or matching hand (s). Another area I focus on that goes overlooked many times over is that of the chime sound quality. Using a common Chromatic Tuner used for tuning musical instruments, the chime coil, gong, rods, bells and tubes can all be tuned to sound much clearer and more pleasing to the ear. Most chime rods being either that of copper or steel are cut in lengths to be within the tone range needed, but often not truly tuned to that note and will give a flat or dull sound when struck. Tuning the rods to the closet possible true sound will offer a noticeable difference.

  Please Note: Motion Works will no longer be performing case finish restoration on grandfather, grandmother or granddaughter floor style clocks. Due to the amount of space these tall case clocks require and the amount of time required to strip, sand, seal and clear coat, we have set forth a contract with a very respectable antique furniture restorer here locally that will provide that service for us. The fees accessed are that solely of the restorer themselves. The restorers pricing, warranty and policies will be strictly adhered to. We will process a fee for delivery and pick up of the completed item or that of the restorers pick-up and delivery fees.

Servicing the vintage electric clock:

   Many antique and vintage mantle clocks that are powered by electricity, the electric 110v motor will eventually need servicing or replaced. The most common "B" field, "S" field and "H" field electric motors/rotors. The most common rotor is "B" rotor, also the most difficult of the 3 rotors to locate a replacement. In most cases, we can rebuild the original rotor back to the original condition. The brass movement itself within these clocks do not differ that much as to it's older brother, the spring driven or weight driven movement. The electric clock movement requires new bushings over time, the movement deep cleaned, gear teeth or gears repaired or replaced, all of that the antique mechanical movement requires. Many times I receive clocks to where the customer has purchased a new motor and needs it to be installed when in fact, the original motor shows no signs of failure, but that of old clock oil in the pivots that has hardened to a gum like substance and this alone is enough to stop the clock from running. Today's synthetic oils do not break down or gum as the oils used in past years. A thicker clock oil is needed for the antique electric clock, with the heat factor being produced by the rotor and field, standard clock oils have a tendency to break down quickly under these conditions. We use a clock oil especially designed to handle the warmer conditions found within the electrical clock movement.

Service and house calls:

   Often the need to attend to a service/house call arises. I do apply a service call fee to help offset the time away from the work shop and to cover fuel costs. This service call charge includes the initial travel time, fuel and wear and tear. Additional charges are based on our hourly shop rate and the amount of time spent on location of the service call. For calls outside of a 15 mile one way trip, the service call charge and that of each additional mile up to 50 miles are adjusted to the distance required to travel. If the clock cannot be serviced or repaired on site and has to be transported back to the shop, the return trip with the repaired item is at no cost to my customer. Most house calls are scheduled within two weeks of the initial request.

Warranty:

  To view Motion Work's "limited 1 year warranty" and shop "policies",  Warranty & Shop Policy