There's something about owning an old item, old technology, an item that's seen a bit of history. That's not knocking modern equipment, it's horses for courses and you could argue that the older functional clock just looks good in the right location. Some of our designs incorporate modular USB chargers and all sorts so look out for them as they appear. Have a look in the gallery and see what you think.
You can commision us to produce something for you and we can mock it up so you can see what it will look like before we start.
Some might say it is terrible to turn a sacred Comic in to a clock but then again, it's keeping that Comic alive (or parts of it) alive and in a robust representative form, maybe on a theme (one for Nanny, or a junior footballer or something) or a particularly loved Comic from your youth.
Because the vintage items are old, they could fail at any time, they have been going for well over 60 years so they should be fine and we test each one rigorously, and one won't go out the door with a fault. If we are both unlucky enough to suffer a fault within six months we can offer a return and your money back, anything else and we'll try to repair it for you at cost up to a year or after that send it back and we will repair it at cost.
For the battery clocks, send it back and we will replace the movement free of charge (you pay postage) up to a year with the same type.
Any really but we tend to stick to the brands that were quality brands in their day, so from about 100 years ago from this year (2021) most common brands are those like Ferranti, Smiths and Westclox would be favourite but none are excluded.
We could, it's not something we would normally do and we would have to agree a cost before we started and obviously it depends on the condition and what you wanted to do to it, you might want to convert it to a Quartz or MSF Movement or just give it a clean and brush up, drop us a line and we would be happy to quote you.
Essentially, there is a transmitter in Rugby that sends a radio signal to synchronise time on the second but also a check on the minute and the hour. It also send date and BST/GMT information as well. When your MSF movement receives the signal, it sets itself to the right time as the National Physics Laboratory, which is pretty accurate.
There's no way we can say for sure because we don't know your location but most locations will work because the frequency used is 60kHz and the power is very high and it easily covers the UK and beyond. If it doesn't work you will notice the time running out of synch fairly quickly as the MSF movements aren't too accurate when free running, the alternative is to use a Quartz movement, which are much more accurate when free running. Talk to us if you are unsure or want to swap movements, we would have to charge for postage and any difference in movement costs if applicable.
Yes, if you move the hands manually (most of the 'Art' models don't have a glass or cover) then it might be that the hands need to be rehomed. This is a bit of a faff but instructions on how to do this are supplied with each MSF Movement.
Unpacking needs a bit of care to make sure that you don't move the hands, however, the process is all in the instructions and how to check if the hands need to be re-registered. And all that means is taking the hands off and lining them up with the 12 hour, it's fiddly but straightforward. We have instructions on the site for you.
No, you just point the hands where you want and away you go, but you do lose a bit of accuracy however, you might never notice!
If you want plug and play, just go for a Quartz and correct it once a month or so, if you want to be either a nerd or don't want to access the clock too often (or hate the twice yearly time change) go for the MSF. The MSF Movement will likely be around £10 or so more than the the Quartz unit.
Your radio clock movement receives waves that it uses to continually set the correct time. The movement will only work in the UK it receives signals from Rugby.
Buttons
M.SET - Used to set the hands manually
RESET - Returns the system to default, all hands to 12 (if yours doesn't line up, put the locating pin back in, remove the hands and set them again now)
REC - Used to set the movement to receive signals
Out of the box you need to ensure the small locating pin is still secured at the back of the movement. While the pin is secured you need to check hands all align with the 12 on the clock face. When hands are aligned with 12 on the clock face, the battery can then be installed and the small locating pin can be removed set the movement running.
With the pin removed the battery installed the hands will start to sweep rapidly and after 3 sweeps of the power hand the system should set the correct time.
If the correct time isn't displayed between 3 and and 15 minutes it might not be able to receive time signal, put the clock in a window for a short time to make sure it receives the signal.
To set the time manually simply use the M.Set button more than 3 seconds their hands will move and you can remove your hand the button when the hands reach the correct time.
Your radio movement will receive time signals throughout the day and will set the time automatically when it receives signal