Rupert Parsons, Horologist

29/04/2026

An unusual under dial layout on this lovely clock by John Pepys of London. Note the clever configuration of the single click spring for the barrel clicks. Also, the double tail on the rack for the quarters. Lastly, that interesting warning and stop lever interaction. Satisfyingly, this all works beautifully, or it will after I have repaired the broken tooth on the rack- a leftover of a poor previous repair.

05/04/2026

30/03/2026

Just doing a mini French carriage clock and found this cute little fella stamped on the underneath of the gong....

19/03/2026

This longcase clock may have had a particularly heavy weight, causing the winding arbour to drag down. To "overcome" this issue, somebody in the past attempted to close the hole by punching several holes on the inside of the plate to bulge the metal. This actually served to weaken the edge of the hole and considerably exacerbated the problem. So, to repair properly, I turned a nice big bush in the lathe and fitted it to the plate. Like a good beer, this is a Proper Job!

03/10/2025

I've often heard it said that horologists are excellent recyclers. Here's some proof, on the underneath of a bracket clock rack spring by "Nathaniel Style, London" from around 1755. The brass appears to have been engraved with a "40" and may have been reclaimed from an old dial or used for engraving practice. Nath Style joined the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers in 1725 and was a prominent London cl9ckmaker in the 18th century.

08/09/2025

A particularly beautifully engraved backplate on a William Graham, London, bracket clock.

05/04/2025

WANTED: going side stopwork to match this beautiful one with a superb, rounded arm, around 5cm long.
This is from an absolutely beautiful verge fusee bracket clock where every piece has been lovingly created. Bridges with chamfered edges, levers with rounded arms and detail at the ends. It deserves a matching fusee stop but, sadly, it is missing. Can you help?

28/03/2025

Well, feedback like this really does make a difference as we so often see on . This was for a tricky little oval carriage clock, which is now going great 😀

18/03/2025

"It used to go fine and kept perfect time, but now only seems to go for a few seconds..."

07/01/2025

Now here's an interesting one....
A fine "Wm. Kipling, London" bracket clock from around 1730. The pull repeat cord was removed many years ago and a whole new chime train was fitted (note the winding hole up by the 10 marker on the chapter ring). Presumably, at the same time, the original verge escapement was changed to anchor, the strike train levers were adapted (lendthened) and there was consequently no space left for the strike/silent leve, which is missing. Most bizarre, though, is the hole in the dial above the calendar aperture. Was there once a name plate here?

25/11/2024

After a few days away, back in my happy place with this exceptional moon roller bracket clock which has been badly butchered in the past. There should be a centre sweep seconds hand, but that has been removed. And that snail has endured some "hacking." Let's see how we go...