James Ritchie Clockmakers

Services

Clock Restoration

our Antique Clocks

Free estimates on items brought to our workshop
BHI Accredited repairer
Restoration and repair of antique clocks, dials and cases.
1 or 2 year guarantee on work carried out

our Antique Clocks

A carefully selected collection of antique clocks for sale that have been fully serviced and carry a 2 year workshop guarantee.
If you do not see a suitable example from our stock, we can source one to your specifications.

House Visits

our Antique Clocks

House Visits

Collection and delivery service
House visits are available to perform light maintenance to your antique clock .
Call or Email for a quotation

Ritchies At the drum

From city to sanctuary

In January 2019 the Workshop moved from the New Town to it's newly renovated premises located at The Old Byre within the grounds of Drum Estate.

Traditionally a city company we did regret having to leave Dundas Street and the New Town but having done so it has enabled us to welcome customers to a much more relaxed atmosphere with ample free parking available.

The company is owned and managed by clock maker, Jon Reglinski, who carries around 25 years of experience in the trade and is a BHI Accredited clock restoration and repair specialist. Jon is also a member of the British watch & clockmakers guild.

The company specializes in the provision of a reliable repair, maintenance and restoration service, and where more conservative approaches are required, appropriate advice can also be provided.

All of the work is carried out in a fully equipped workshop on the premises. If you require further information, please make contact by telephone or by e-mail.

History

A brief overview

James Ritchie was apprenticed to James Howden on Parliament square around 1799 and was listed in a marriage record of 1804 as being a watchmaker & Jeweller
1809: James Ritchie opened for business in 1809 at 29 Leith Street. In addition to selling watches, the craftsman made his living repairing and cleaning watches.
In 1810 Madame Tussaud visited the shop in Leith Street where she had two watches repaired while she had an exhibition at the Panorama, Leith Walk.
Joseph Durward's clockmaking firm which had been established in 1775 was absorbed into the company
1814: James was made a Burgess of the City of Edinburgh and the business flourished.

1838: James's eldest son, Frederick James Ritchie, became an apprentice partner in the firm at age 11, which moved to 25 Leith Street in the 1850's.
1853: Frederick James Ritchie came to the forefront of electrical horology. He worked with Professor Charles Piazzi Smyth and Chief Master Gunner Findlay in setting up the Time Ball on the Nelson Monument.

1861: It was decided to introduce a simultaneous firing of a cannon to provide an audible signal which could be heard by ships in the harbor at Leith.
1872: Frederick James Ritchie further developed inventions of Bain and Wheatstone in the field of electric timekeeping.

1873: Frederick Ritchie read a paper to the Royal Scottish Society of Arts in April 1873. His synchronised clocks were in use at the Liverpool Observatory, besides Edinburgh itself, and in a variety of other places.

1903: James Ritchie & Son designed the mechanism for the first floral clock in the world which is situated in Princes Street Gardens, Edinburgh.
1912: James Ritchie & Son manufactured and presented a non-dial chiming clock to St Giles Kirk.

1930: Following the end of the first world war and the depression of the 1930's, the branch on Princes St closed
The start of the second world war saw much of the younger skilled professionals called into service and the rest were lost to the new Ferranti factory.
The passing of two world wars saw further decline from the boom and demand they had benefitted from in the latter part of the 19th Century. The company still provided services in watch, clock and turret clock maintenance.

In 1970s the premises on Leith Street was vacated and the company moved to North St James Street. This was short lived as the area was demolished to make way for the St James Centre. The company moved again to Broughton St where it operated until the late 90's.
In earlier part of the 00's the company separated. The turret and public clock department went one way to become a branch of "Smith of Derby". The antique clock outfit went another and moved to Dundas Street where it operated up until 2018.