We are a hands-on clock and watch workshop club located in West Essex close to the M25. The Club was established by a group of enthusiasts to provide workshop facilities and appropriately qualified instructors
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.
The 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 9 June 2010.
FACILITIES
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 USE for the Thursday evening watchmaking session. 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
Telephone 0844 251 0345
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 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 2009/10 year are:-
Autumn Term
Start week commencing Monday 14th September 2009
Finish week ending Friday 18th December 2009
Spring Term
Start week commencing Monday 4th January 2010
Finish week ending Friday 26th March 2010
Summer Term
Start week commencing Monday 12th April 2010
Finish week ending Friday 16th July 2010
The workshop is closed from mid July to mid September.
Our 2010/11 year will start, provisionally, on Monday 13th September 2010 and those considering joining us will benefit from talking to us ahead of the end of our current year.
FEES
Session fees for 2009/10 are as follows:-
Membership Joining Fee £60 (this is a non-refundable fee)
It is acceptable to join for short courses or theory lessons only.
Afternoon Sessions £350 per year (Monday or Tuesday or Thursday)
Evening Sessions £220 per year (Tuesday or Thursday)
Fees will be reduced for those joining later for less than 3 terms
2010/11 Fees have not yet been finalised
ACCESS
Potential members with disabilities are invited to contact the Club to discuss their needs.
FEES
*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 British Horological Institute The Examining Body for Horologists including a wealth of information available to members
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.
The Antiquarian Horological Society Promotes the study of clocks and watches and the history of time measurement
Horology - The Index The most extensive collection of horological resources on the internet.
Clocks magazine The monthly magazine for clock collectors, repairers and makers worldwide
Robert B Loomes FBHI Antique clock restoration and repairs including painted dial restoration
Cousins UK Clock parts, watch parts, tools, books and more