Epping Forest Horology Club

This is a hands-on clock and watch workshop club located in West Essex.

Our growing venture is supported by
The British Horological Institute and is an approved BHI examination centre.
The Worshipful Company of Clockmakers who have assisted with equipment.
The Club is an honorary member of The British Watch and Clock Makers Guild .

Site last updated on 1 November 2012.

CLUB FACILITIES

Facilities include specialist tools and equipment as detailed below and the weekly workshop sessions are suitable for those interested in the practical side of horology whether they be expert enthusiasts or complete beginners.

In addition to Club equipment we also recommend that members provide themselves with a basic toolkit for clock and/or watchmaking. This can be obtained over a period of time and we can suggest a suitable list of tools to consider.

Clockmaking

Epping Forest Horology Club (EFHC) has a 59 sq metre (640 sq ft) fully equipped clockmaking workshop with 12 work benches, 6 clockmaking lathes, 3 milling machines, 3 pillar drills, a wheel cutting engine, pantograph engraving machine, clock cleaning equipment and a wide range of hand and specialist tools.

Watchmaking

Our new 50 sq metre (540 sq ft) workshop for watchmaking, with its 20 seat lecture room, is now in full use for our watchmaking sessions. It is equipped with 12 watchmakers' benches, watch cleaning and timing equipment and a range of specialist watchmaking tools. Electronic visual aids have been provided to enhance the learning experience.

CONTACT

Please note our email addresses are now at efhc.org.uk . Please change your contact list

Telephone: 08442 510345 (Calls cost 5p per minute from a BT landline. Calls from other suppliers and mobiles may vary.)
E-mail: membership.secretary(at)efhc.org.uk

Please type in the @ symbol without any spaces in place of (at). Please note that this address is NEVER used for messages or replies and anything purporting to come from the Club this way is fraudulent. If you do not get at least an acknowledgement of e-mail within a couple of days please telephone or try again, the spam filtering may be too aggressive.

LOCATION

-BY ROAD: The workshop is located near Epping in Essex (just North East of London, England) approximately 10 km (7 miles) from M25 Junction 26 or 8km (5 miles) from M11 either Junction 7 (southbound) or Junction 5 (northbound)

-BY TRAIN: London Underground Central Line to Epping then take a taxi approximately 5km (3 miles)

ACTIVITIES

An instructor is present at the workshop sessions to provide help on any aspect of making or repairing clocks or watches. The format of each session is 'hands-on' rather than formal lectures which are organised separately.

The majority of members learn practical skills on clocks or watches of their own which need servicing, repair or restoration while some make clocks.

Members taking the British Horological Institute Distance Learning Course can work through the practical exercises in the weekday sessions. Those working for formal BHI qualifications can use the Club facilities to make test pieces or generate records of repairs. They can sit the BHI examinations locally since we are an approved BHI examination centre.

Additional short duration courses of one, two or three days are organised from time to time on special topics, e.g. platform escapement overhaul, hand engraving, watchmakers' lathe work with hand gravers. These courses are open to members and are at substantially lower rates than others available.

PROGRAMME

CLOCKMAKING Monday afternoon. 1.00pm to 5.00pm

CLOCKMAKING Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. 2.00pm to 6.00pm

CLOCKMAKING Tuesday evenings. 6.30pm to 9.00pm

WATCHMAKING Monday evenings. 6.30pm to 9.00pm

WATCHMAKING Tuesday evenings. 6.30pm to 9.00pm

WATCHMAKING Thursday evenings. 6.30pm to 9.00pm

The club has 12 workbenches in each workshop so we have to limit the number of members subscribed for each session.

The 'year' is divided into three terms and now totals 40 weeks. The dates for the 2011/2012 year are:-

Autumn Term
Start week commencing Monday
Finish week ending Friday
Spring Term
Start week commencing Tuesday
Finish week ending Friday
Summer Term
Start week commencing Monday
Finish week ending Friday

The workshop is closed from mid July to mid September.

ACCESS

Potential members with disabilities are invited to contact the Club to discuss their needs.

*BHI THEORY COURSES*

If you are interested in undertaking study of the BHI Theory syllabus with us in the future let us know and we'll keep you advised of developments at the Club. Demand is a major factor in deciding whether, or not, to run these courses.

LINKS

We believe these websites may be helpful to others with similar interests to ourselves but we do not necessarily support all of the views expressed on them. The Club cannot be held liable for any viruses somebody might pick up if they take the links.

The Antiquarian Horological Society Promotes the study of clocks and watches and the history of time measurement

The British Horological Institute The Examining Body for Horologists including a wealth of information available to members

The British Watch and Clock Makers' Guild Promote the welfare of the horological trade generally

The Clockmakers' Company An active City of London craft guild promoting horological education and training

The St Albans Clock Club A club for both amateur and professional clockmakers which organises monthly lectures and other activities.

Horology - The Index Said to be the most extensive collection of horological resources on the internet.

 

The club is grateful to the following businesses for their assistance but the links are offered without intending any endorsement by the Club.

Clocks magazine The monthly magazine for clock collectors, repairers and makers worldwide

Cousins UK Clock parts, watch parts, tools, books and more

Robert B Loomes FBHI Antique clock restoration and repairs including painted dial restoration

Antique & Modern Repair and Sales of Clocks and watches in the North London and Hertfordshire area