Mechanical wall clocks and aging owners

[HectorLooi]

Sigh.... I guess that aging is inevitable.

Last year I was called to look at 2 non-working clocks belonging to my sister-in-law's eldest sister. I had serviced one of them a couple of years ago, so I was a bit doubtful.

I checked the clocks. They have not been wound at all. When I wound them up, they worked perfectly.

As the clocks were mounted quite high, a step ladder or chair was needed to reach them. I asked if they would like me to re-hang the clocks at arms length, so that they could reach them without climbing. They happily agreed.

Since then, my SIL's eldest sister has developed a rapid progressing form of dementia. She can remember things from long ago and can still hold a casual conversation but can't remember anything for more than 5 minutes.

Her husband has a milder form of dementia but his legs are weak and cannot stand on his own.

After both of them suffered falls early this year, both of them have been placed in a nursing home.

My question is, how do we age gracefully with our clocks? Do we only wind the low hanging ones and abandon the high ones?

Get someone to come in once a week to wind our clocks? 

Sell off some of our clocks when the time comes?

Sad. 

[watchweasol]

Hi Hector,  I recently did a couple of regulators that thad been abandoned in tha attic for some years. Luckily they were brought back into the daylight, one is back on the wall the other was being passed down to her Son , so they live on.   Modern housing does not bode well for old clocks they don’t match the decor and hence are side lined .  A crying shame but that’s the reality..

[MikeEll]

I agree @watchweasol.  I regularly buy and restore clocks to sell.  There is a definite shift in fashion, with some clocks being in demand and others not.  I do come across people wanting to buy a nice nostalgic peice that reminds them of their childhood, or matching the decor on a restored period house, but there arent many.

I did visit an old lady recently who found she couldnt reach her clock to wind it properly.  I refitted it lower down the wall.

[watchweasol]

Hi Mike. It’s sad but true . What sort of clocks do you get to do up. I have a collection that were in that category un5ill the mighty Covid hit me not once but twice Hospitalised both times.  Are you in the UK. 
one of the regulators is back on the wall but the old lady uses a step up to wind it up, brave soul and it at the back ov the TV.

[MikeEll]

I work on all sorts really.  Mostly mantel clocks, but plenty of carriage clocks, 400 day, grandfather etc.  I'm based in Chester, North West UK.

[watchweasol]

Long time since I was in Chester, used to visit Astra Zenica In Macclesfield to doo some work .