Owner specializes in repairs and antiques

To some people, a clock is just something that tells the time. Bill Kane, owner of The Clock Shop in Magnolia, sees it as much more than that.

"We don't just sell clocks, we sell heirlooms," he said. "So many things we own these days depreciate with age—cars, houses, electronics. Clocks are one of the few things that become more valuable as they get older."

Kane started up the Clock Shop in Maryland in 1978 and moved it to Magnolia/Woodlands area in the early '90s. Today, it is the largest clock dealer and repair shop in North Houston, Kane said.

The shop's primary services are in clock repair and restoration, but they also sell a variety of clocks, including grandfather, mantle and wall. There are 40 grandfather clocks on display at the store, which specializes in antique clocks purchased from around the world.

Kane said he estimates he sees several hundred customers every week, and his team repairs around 40–50 clocks each month.

"We get customers from all over Houston and quite a few from around the country that send us their clocks by mail," he said.

There are few places in the Houston area that offer clock repair services, Kane said.

"There are a lot of people out there that are unqualified, unprepared and under-skilled, who are working out of their homes,"` he said. "In all of Houston, there are really only three main clock stores."

Kane is a formally trained and certified horologist—a clock maker—by trade. He said the biggest differences between his shop and others is the staff's knowledge, customer service and the turnaround on repairs. His repair service is authorized by Howard Miller, which is considered the gold standard in clock dealerships.

"We guarantee it will take us between 10 days to two weeks to make just about any repair," Kane said. "We work a little harder, and we a have little bit more knowledge about what we do."

Kane said his interest in clocks sprouted at an early age. He started collecting after he bought his first clock at the age of 8. When he opened his shop at the age of 20, he already had between 300–400 clocks.

"I had amassed so many clocks that I was able to open up a store at such a young age without having to borrow money to do it," he said.

After 34 years, Kane said he is selling more clocks than ever.

"More people are appreciating clocks as a good gift for special occasions, but also as a solid investment," he said. "We've been at this location for a long time, and The Clock Shop has grown every year since we moved in."

Keep your clock running

• Bill Kane, owner of The Clock Shop, recommends a clock be oiled once every two years and cleaned and overhauled every five to seven years
• The shop's overhaul services include polishing the pivot, replacing worn parts, ultrasonic cleaning, rinsing and drying
• The Clock Shop accepts clocks by mail from all over the world and also offers in-home repair services to anywhere in the Houston area

The Clock Shop, 6315 FM 1488, Magnolia, 281-259-8338, www.theclockshoponline.com