Special Projects

Restoration of one of the most famous 18th-century automata in the world. A unique mechanical swan that “swims” and feeds in a stream of silver fish – a masterpiece of clockmaking and artistry that required painstaking conservation to return it to working order.

In 2012, Cumbria Clock Company was entrusted with a once-in-a-lifetime commission: the design and manufacture of the internal hammer to strike the 24-tonne Olympic Bell, the largest harmonically tuned bell in the world, which marked the opening of the London 2012 Olympic Games. Unlike traditional external hammers, this project demanded a fully internal striking system — a significant engineering challenge given the immense size and resonance of the bell. Our team developed a pneumatically operated mechanism, complete with robust backup systems to guarantee reliability for the global broadcast moment. Precision engineering, rigorous testing, and innovative design came together to deliver a striking solution that combined safety, reliability, and acoustic performance worthy of such a historic occasion.

Cumbria Clock Company recently completed the restoration of the historic Edinburgh Time Ball, one of the city’s most iconic time signals. The project involved the creation of a new mast, along with carefully fitting a stainless steel skin to the original wooden frame of the time ball, ensuring durability while retaining its historic integrity. We also restored the Maudslay, Sons & Field mechanism, a remarkable piece of 19th-century engineering, and designed a system that made the ball’s operation fully automatic without altering any original components. To bring the mechanism into the 21st century, our engineers developed a bespoke GPS control system, guaranteeing that the ball drops at precisely 13:00 each day — just as it has for generations, but now with modern reliability.

The Cumbria Clock Company also overhauled and fitted a new control system to the world famous time ball on the Greenwich Observatory and made a new system for the time ball on the Margate Clock Tower, who’s building is now being renovated to straighten the time ball mast.

Cumbria Clock Company was proud to work on the automation of the historic track signs from White City dog track, soon to be displayed at the new London Museum. Our brief was to design a control system that would rotate the signs, displaying each surface for a precise, timed interval before moving seamlessly to the next. A key challenge was ensuring that the two signs operated in perfect synchrony, while also respecting and preserving the original mechanisms. We developed and fitted a new drive and control system that delivered reliable, repeatable movement — all without causing any damage to the historic components. This careful balance of innovation and conservation ensures that visitors will experience the signs in motion as they once were, now preserved for generations to come.

Cumbria Clock Company recently completed the full restoration of the famous Binns Clock in Edinburgh, a much-loved city landmark where generations of people arranged to “meet under the clock.” First installed in 1963 by the Synchronome Clock Company, the clock is renowned for its musical performances — playing Herrin at seven minutes past the hour and Scotland the Brave at thirty-seven minutes past, while rotating figures of Scottish bagpipers parade beneath the dials. Our restoration included the complete overhaul of the clock casing, dials, and animated figures, together with the creation of a new digital control and sound system to ensure accuracy and reliability. Today, as part of the Scotch Whisky Experience, the clock once again entertains visitors and locals alike, preserving a unique piece of Edinburgh’s cultural heritage.