Your Journal needs you!

1 October 2025

The Horological Journal – posted to every BHI member in the UK (click on www.bhi.co.uk/about-us/individual-members) to join) – is the oldest technical publication in the world, revered by watch and clockmakers, repairers, collectors and innovators. It has been educating horologists since the 1850s, and today it is looking for new authors to share their expertise, ideas and creations with other Institute members.

If you have an idea for an article – whether it’s a report on one of the BHI courses you’ve enjoyed at Upton Hall or a detailed research paper – Helen and the friendly editorial team at the Journal would love to hear from you.

Email production@bhi.co.uk to find out more, and read on to hear from one of the Journal’s writers, Stephen Nelson (pictured here), whose article on a month-duration Comtois clock will appear in an edition of the HJ.

 

Stephen writes: ‘Years ago, when I was a very new to the whole clock thing, I met an older gent who clearly had been there; who knew the tools and the techniques used to restore clocks and watches. It turned out he was a retired railroad watch inspector or, perhaps more specifically, a crusty old curmudgeon. As I got to know him I discovered at least a part of why he was so crusty: his grandson (aka ‘little snot’) was learning watch repair at a local school and was pretty sure the old man knew nothing worth knowing.

‘Ray steadfastly refused to train me until I volunteered to buy out his clock, watch and machine shop. Danged, 50 years of stuff. But he agreed to teach me. And he did. Much like the Viennese clockmakers in the late 1700s who learned their skills from Swiss watchmakers, I learned my skills by driving a 120-mile round trip, weekend after weekend, until I was able to properly restore a railroad grade pocket watch or, for that matter, a years-running Viennese regulator.

‘Over the ensuing years I spent quite a bit of time in Vienna as part of my Viennese regulator buying, and I had the chance to learn from several clock restorers who were willing to take the time to talk to an American who recognised the value of their knowledge. Memories of those visits, over tea or sherry, in the back of their shops, are among my most treasured.

‘The thing is, Ray – and those old masters – didn’t write anything down. They didn’t publish. They left this world a poorer place.

‘Now, I am the old guy – 71, with a lot of miles on the clock. Over the years I have written more than 50 articles focused on the techniques I use to restore Viennese mechanisms. Most of my scribbling was for the NAWCC – if interested, check out https://www.snclocks.com/TechnicalInformation/Tid-Bits

‘I feel I am repaying those who taught me by sharing this information. So why write articles for The Horological Journal? Because you know a heck of a lot and it will be tragic if you die without sharing. ’Nuff said.’