Any hope for broken porcelain clock case?

[Patricia Jones]

Hello all:
I received a broken Kroeber clock from Canada. There are about six large pieces, not chips. Have not been able to recoup my investment from the seller.
Is there a repairperson/process that could reassemble the case? I know the value is lost but at least, maybe it could be viewed from a distance.
Any ideas?
Pattye

[Patricia Jones]

Hello all:
I received a broken Kroeber clock from Canada. There are about six large pieces, not chips. Have not been able to recoup my investment from the seller.
Is there a repairperson/process that could reassemble the case? I know the value is lost but at least, maybe it could be viewed from a distance.
Any ideas?
Pattye

[Joe Collins]

Pattye,

I have a friend in the Atlanta area that has done restorations in the past. He did some work for my sister that was quite good. One project was a porcelain dog that had fallen off a mantle. It was not perfect but as you say it looks good from a distance.
I have sent him an email to see if it is ok to have you contact him. Should have an answer soon.
I will let you know.

Joe

[jacks61fd]

Found this site on the internet, I have no connection to them but thier work looks great
http://kellerchina.rapidnet.com

[Patricia Jones]

Thanks Joe and Jack,
I will contact both parties. I will let you know if it turns out.
Pattye

[lylepete]

HI
Contact Kerry's clock shop www.kerrysclocks.com (http://www.kerrysclocks.com) his sister is very good and I have seen several cases in worse condition then what you have discribed come out quite nice. She is a bit slow though. To much of a perfectionist. She did very nice job on a dial I gave her.
William

[Weight Driven]

The best work I've seen on porcelain is HcHugh's in Richmond, Va. They replaced a missing piece of porcelain from a German regimental stein of mine and you can't tell, even with an eye loupe, but they are not cheap.

[RobertG]

Weight Driven:

Could you post contact info on HcHugh's (sp?), please?

Thank you.

RobertG

[Ed Patnode]

Patricia,

I don't know where you are located but I have used a shop near Buffalo, NY with great success. The gentleman who runs the shop and does all of the repairs is a little slow but the results were beyond anything that I expected. I had an Ansonia clock case that was split in three pieces. When I got it back I couldn't see any of the repair; even close up. If your interested let me know and I will get you a phone number.

[Patricia Jones]

Thanks to all who have responded. I live 90 miles north of Atlanta so will contact the repairperson there first. Keller does not estimate charges, even from pictures.
I am hoping for a successful repair, at least for aesthetic purposes.
PWJ

[Weight Driven]

Hi Robert,
Sorry it took me so long to respond, I've been away from the computer. The phone number is 804-353-9596. Hope this helps. Regards,
Dennis

[Bill Ward]

Yes, there are techniques for repairing porcelain which do a very good job, almost impossible to detect by eye. The only question is whether the object is worth the expense; it probably is for a nice clock. I could give you some names in my area, but you'd have to ship it again (though shipping isn't a deterrant for everyone: on my last visit, my guy had a 16thC porcelain statue in for repair- from the Vatican Museum!)
Call your local auction house for advice on the best local repairers. They run into broken porcelain all the time. And see if you can get the auction house's rate!

[Patricia Jones]

Thanks, Bill for the auction house suggestion. We have Clements Antiques here (they are also in Texas and Florida). I bet they would know of a repair person. I will keep you posted.
Tran's book value for that clock is $450 so it might be tempting.

[Denis O Jahn]

There is a gal here in Ca. that does impecable repair work. Once Bitten Restoration Service 800-543-3630, Kate Kirby

[Patricia Jones]

For all of you fine folks who have offered advice;

I am going to try to post before and after pictures of my clock. Hopefully, that will stimulate more interest.

Thanks,
Pattye

[Patricia Jones]

Here is the before picture

[lpbp]

I'm assuming that means it's repaired. Are you happy with the results and can you tell us, if you are who did the work? Seems like quick results.

Larry Pearson, *FNAWCC #35863

[Patricia Jones]

No, Larry, I am sorry to say that the before and after pictures were reversed when I transmitted them. Unfortunately, the intact version was before I purchased it. I am still considering having it repaired but don't want to overspend the value of the clock. I am afraid the movement could never function due to the damage to the case. What do you think?
Pattye

[lpbp]

Pattye, I was hoping that it had been repaired. I would think having the case repaired wouldn't affect the ability for the clock to run. The only problem might be will it be strong enough when the movement is mounted back in. If it's held by a back plate with a screw through to the front and tightened, to hold it in, it might be too much.

Larry Pearson, *FNAWCC #35863

[Patricia Jones]

Thanks, Larry,
As you see from the picture of the damaged clock,
the screws have pulled out of the front of the case. The strength of a repair to mount the movement has been a major concern. It would be a shame to pay for the repair and still have a non-functional clock. I will not be buying any more porcelain clocks through the mail!
Pattye