Some businesses are built to grow fast. Others are built to last.
In a world of disposable gadgets and screens that tell time without a sound, a family clock shop is something rare. It is a place where the air hums with ticking, where chimes drift in from the back room, and where someone still takes the time to ask about the story behind the clock you carried in.
This is the story of a Chicagoland shop that has been doing that work for more than a century. Chicago Clock Company’s 109-year family history is a story of craftsmanship passed from one generation to the next, of a city that changed around it, and of a simple belief that a well-made clock deserves to keep running.
How It All Began
The shop opened in 1917, when Chicago was a booming city of factories, railroads, and neighborhoods full of new arrivals building new lives. Time mattered in a very practical way. Shifts started on the whistle, trains ran on schedules, and nearly every household depended on a mantel clock, a wall clock, or a pocket watch.
The founder was a skilled craftsman who believed that a clock was more than a machine. It was a household companion. He started with a small bench, a modest set of hand tools, and a reputation built one repair at a time.
In those early years, the shop focused on:
- Repairing mantel and wall clocks
- Servicing pocket watches
- Restoring antique timepieces for families who treated them as keepsakes
- Training young apprentices in the fundamentals of the trade
Word of mouth did the advertising. A neighbor would bring in a clock that had stopped, pick it up running smoothly, and tell three friends.
The Founder’s Principles
From the beginning, a few simple principles guided the work. They were rarely written down, but every person who has worked at the shop since can recite them.
- Fix it right, or do not fix it at all. A quick patch was never good enough.
- Respect the original. A clock’s age and character are part of its value.
- Explain everything. Customers should understand what was wrong and what was done.
- Treat every clock like it matters. To somebody, it always does.
Those principles have outlasted trends, recessions, and technology shifts. They are the thread running through Chicago Clock Company’s 109-year family history.
The Second Generation: Steadying the Shop Through Hard Times
The second generation took over the bench during a period of enormous change. The Great Depression, wartime shortages, and the rise of mass-produced consumer goods all tested small businesses across Chicago.
Money was tight, and many families could not afford to replace a broken clock. Repair became a necessity rather than a luxury. The shop kept its doors open by doing what it always did, making things work again with care and ingenuity.
Parts were hard to come by, so watchmakers learned to fabricate them by hand. A worn gear might be recut. A broken pivot might be rebuilt. These skills, born of necessity, became a hallmark of the shop and a point of pride that continues today.
This generation also deepened the shop’s ties to the community. Customers were not just customers. They were neighbors whose families the shop had served for years.
The Third Generation: Adapting to a Changing World
By the time the third generation stepped in, the world of timekeeping looked very different. Quartz movements arrived, electric clocks were everywhere, and digital displays seemed ready to replace the old mechanical ways.
Many shops closed. This one adapted.
The third generation understood something important. While technology changed how most people told time, it did not erase the love of fine mechanical clocks. If anything, it made people value them more. As mass-produced items filled homes, antique and heirloom clocks became even more meaningful.
During this era, the shop:
- Expanded its services to include quartz and electric clock repair
- Grew its restoration work for grandfather clocks, cuckoo clocks, and antique wall clocks
- Welcomed collectors and enthusiasts from across the region
- Began documenting the history of the clocks it repaired
That last step turned the shop into something of an informal archive. Each clock that came through the door had a story, and the family took care to listen.
The Fourth Generation: Honoring Tradition, Welcoming the Future
Today, the fourth generation carries the shop forward. They grew up in the showroom, learned to recognize a clock by its chime before they could read, and watched their parents and grandparents turn broken pieces into working treasures.
The fourth generation faces a new challenge. Younger customers discover vintage clocks through online marketplaces and estate sales, and many have never owned a mechanical timepiece. They need guidance, and the shop is happy to give it.
Modern tools now sit alongside traditional ones. Online scheduling, digital photography for documenting restorations, and clearer communication with customers make the experience easier. But the heart of the work has not changed. A clock is still disassembled, cleaned, repaired, and reassembled by skilled hands.
What Makes a Family Clock Shop Different
A family-run shop offers something that larger operations often cannot. The difference shows up in small ways that add up.
- Continuity of knowledge: Techniques are passed down directly, not learned from a manual
- Personal accountability: The family name is on the door, so quality matters deeply
- Patience: Restoration cannot be rushed, and no one is pressured to hurry
- Relationships: Many customers are third- or fourth-generation clients themselves
- Honesty: If a clock is not worth restoring, the shop will say so
There is also a quiet comfort in handing a cherished clock to someone who understands why it matters.
The Clocks That Come Through the Door
Over more than a century, the shop has seen nearly everything. Some pieces are valuable antiques. Others are simple kitchen clocks with immense sentimental weight.
Common arrivals include:
- Grandfather and longcase clocks inherited from relatives
- Mantel clocks that once belonged to a grandparent’s home
- Cuckoo clocks that have lost their voice
- Wall clocks from schools, banks, and offices
- Anniversary clocks with delicate rotating pendulums
- Carriage clocks brought home as souvenirs
A family once brought in a clock that had not run in forty years. It had been a wedding gift to their grandparents. When it chimed again for the first time, several people in the shop wiped their eyes. Moments like that remind the family why the work matters.
Lessons From 109 Years in the Trade
A century behind the bench teaches a few things that apply to anyone who owns a clock.
- Clocks want to run. Most problems come from neglect, not defects.
- Cleaning and oiling matter more than people think. Old oil turns to gum and causes wear.
- Moving a clock carelessly is a common cause of damage. Pendulums, weights, and chains need to be secured.
- Cheap fixes cost more later. A proper repair almost always saves money over time.
- Every clock has a personality. Learning it takes time and attention.
Preserving Heritage in the Chicago Area
A family shop is also a piece of local history. It has watched neighborhoods transform, businesses come and go, and generations of Chicagoans build their lives. The clocks that arrive carry fragments of that history, from old downtown offices to family homes in the suburbs.
Preserving a clock is a way of preserving a bit of that story. It keeps a grandparent’s presence alive in the home, and it keeps craftsmanship from vanishing. As fewer people learn the traditional trade, shops like this one become guardians of knowledge that might otherwise be lost.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is the shop?
The shop opened in 1917, and Chicago Clock Company’s 109-year family history spans four generations of the same family.
What types of clocks do you repair?
Most types, including grandfather clocks, mantel clocks, wall clocks, cuckoo clocks, anniversary clocks, carriage clocks, and quartz or electric clocks.
How do I know if my clock needs service?
Common signs include stopping, running too fast or slow, uneven ticking, silent or irregular chimes, and visible dirt or sticky residue. Most mechanical clocks benefit from service every few years.
Can an antique clock be repaired if parts are missing?
Often, yes. Skilled clockmakers can restore or fabricate missing components by hand. The feasibility depends on the clock’s condition and design.
How long does a repair take?
Simple repairs may take a few weeks. Full restorations can take several months, especially if parts must be made from scratch.
Is it worth repairing an inexpensive clock?
If it has sentimental value, absolutely. Many of the most meaningful clocks are not the most valuable on paper.
How should I transport a large clock?
Remove the pendulum, weights, and chains if you can, and secure moving parts. If you are unsure, ask the shop for guidance before moving it.
Do you provide written estimates?
A good shop explains the needed work and cost before starting, so you can decide with confidence.
Final Thoughts
Four generations is a remarkable run for any business. It takes more than skill. It takes a shared belief that some things are worth keeping and that craftsmanship deserves a future.
Chicago Clock Company’s 109-year family history is proof that tradition and relevance can live together. The ticking has not stopped, and the family behind it has no plans to let it.
If you have a clock waiting in a closet, a hallway, or a box in the attic, consider giving it a chance to run again. Somewhere in its gears is a story worth hearing, and a family of watchmakers is ready to help you hear it.
