The History of Timepiece Restoration Ltd

The Early years

Paul learned his trade from his grandfather, Mr. Eddie Reeves. He in turn had been apprenticed to his father. So the family had been in the trade for many years.

 
Originally from London, Paul’s grandfather had a Jeweller's shop there, and he, his wife and daughter moved down here during the war, granddad worked from home, which was at that time, at “Quarr” near Buckhorn Weston.  He did “trade-work” for various shops around the area and repaired clocks for people who visited his home. Later on they moved into Gillingham itself but he still kept the business going. His daughter Doris, met and married a local man, Mr. John Stone and they had two sons, Paul and Adrian.  Adrian is a fine craftsman, restoring antique furniture for the London market, and also used to restore clock and barometer cases for Paul when the need arose. 

Edward P J Reeves's Shop in London,229 Barking rd, East Ham, London

Edward P J Reeves

 
Granddad used to tell the tale that from the time Paul could sit up in his high-chair, he would teach him the names of the different styles of clocks and later gave him old wheels and springs to play with.

He watched his granddad closely, and, when a task that little hands could cope with, came up, under close supervision he was allowed to help. This carried on through his school years, evenings, week-ends and school holidays, and when he left school, he went to Hackney Technical College in London to do more training and take his exams.

On leaving college, he returned to his home in Gillingham, but set up shop in Mere, 4 miles away.  Granddad was now close to retiring, and Paul helped him with his work, as well as doing his own, which came into his shop. After five years, when the old man who owned the premises where Paul had his business, died, it was decided he would move to a small shop in Gillingham.   Over the next few years Paul took on nearly all of granddad’s work, although the old chap still busied himself in his workshop on most days, he was never one to stay idle.

Edward T. Reeves Outside his shop in London, Brixton Hill.

Later on the business moved again to where it is today and it has just entered its 21^st year on that spot.  A few years after this, Paul’s granddad died,  and Paul inherited the contents of  the workshop.  Many of the numerous  tins, boxes and drawers contained parts that we still sift through today. It takes hours of searching and good eyesight is needed. Lots of the small glass lidded pots contain hundreds of parts which all look the same to the un-trained eye.

 The majority of Paul’s work is still for the trade, and although lots of parts, when they need replacing, are ordered from far and wide, many have to be hand made here.  Ninety nine per cent of the work is carried out on the premises,  although we don’t have wheel cutting engines here. So wheels that need replacing are sent as patterns to Wales, where new ones are cut and returned for finishing, and assembly.