When It Matters Who Repairs Your Clock

List of Qualifications Below

In addition to the 44 years of hands-on experience and the 44,000 clocks he has repaired over that time, as of 2022, Michael Gainey is 1 of only 15 people in the world to hold a “Clockmaker of the 21st Century” certification (cc21), a rare achievement indeed. Michael doesn’t mention it much, but as a certified clockmaker, he was one of the few to be selected to be on the committee that rewrote the certification exam for the national organization: AWCI - The American Watchmakers Clockmakers Institute. This was done shortly after Michael spent several years working with these same individuals to author the first ever “Standards and Practices” document for clock Repair. Never before had there been nationally recognized guidelines as to what was considered the proper methods of repair. Michael often teaches clock classes for the American Watchmakers Clockmakers Institue (AWCI). He has also taught many classes for WAO which is the Ohio Affiliate of AWCI. HE has been published 12 times in the international clock magazine: The Horological Times. Michael has served as the president of WAO, and a member of the education committee for AWCI. In spite of being a teacher himself, Michael has continually taken classes to further his education and sharpen his skill. Michael has done work for several museums and even for a few individuals out of country such as Germany, Canada, and the Bahamas. Although highly skilled, there are occasions where even he may not know the answer. when such times arise, he is fortunate enough to serve with some of the greatest clockmakers in the nation and always has access to another highly skilled perspective. It is all of these things combined that allow us to perform some repairs other shops might not be confident enough to take on.

We Serve You

It is becoming more common for shops to suggest overhauling or replacing a clock movement because they are unable to diagnose the problem correctly. Sometimes, this is what the clock needs, but not always. Stating that a clock needs an overhaul, or a new movement is an easy diagnosis, but when they are wrong, it can cost the clock owner dearly. This may be an acceptable practice for some clockmakers, but Michael remembers that it is the customer who is the one paying the price, and I do mean that literally and metaphorically. A new mechanism is much more expensive than just servicing one, but for a clock owner who may not be aware, it is easy to fall into this trap. Our shop is a bit different. Some repairs are risky, but that doesn’t mean it won’t work. We provide free in shop estimates and look at the clock with you, pointing out the critical areas and potential problems. We educate you on why the issues may be of concern and warn you of the potential dangers if any appear to be present. Our customers are part of our estimate process. Instead of telling you what to do, we try to educate you on all of the relevant issues and lay out all the options. In some situations, there may only be one practical option, but when there are more, we let you know. If the clock is in great mechanical condition, we tell you that as well. See our page “Estimating Philosophy” for more information about our estimating process. We are here to serve YOU. If you are still on the fence, below you will find some of Michael’s Certifications along with his test scores and a signed copy of the Standards and Practices document for clockmakers that he helped author. If you are not here in Ohio, I would encourage you to ask your local clockmaker about their certifications or if they have ever taken any classes. I think you will be surprised that many have never attended a single class or convention and even fewer will hold a certification of any kind.

Whom do you trust with an heirloom?

Many clockmakers will tell you on their website about their skill and experience but how many can prove it through objective and verifiable means? How many are actively involved with other clockmakers on a regular basis and continue to learn and improve by taking advantage of additional learning opportunities?

Take a look at some of Michael’s qualifications including documentation below.