Well the problem, I'd suggest is the issue of getting the spring out without
decapitation losing an eye or some other possibly fatal injury.
The spring has an awful lot of energy in it and as it has now come off of
the end, the minute you try to get into the area where the spring is, it
will attempt to straighten itself usually at least trashing the rest of the
clock or anything in the way at the time.
the same issue occurs with old fashioned wind up gramophone motors as I
found out when I was young and foolish. its also the reason why Meccano
stopped supplying clockwork motors, and went electric instead!
Now it may be that some crusty old clocksmith has designed a safe way to
do this, but I do know that if you mention overwinding or the key just goes
around, not many people want to know.
Brian

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This newsgroup posting comes to you directly from...
The Sofa of Brian Gaff...

Blind user, so no pictures please!
wrote in message
...
I appreciate that this is OT for a DIY group, but can anyone recommend a
good clock repairer, ideally in Yorkshire?

The broken clock has been overwound, so I guess that means a new mainspring.
It's a mid 20th century novelty clock, fashioned in wood after an animal
figure, with moving eyes. I think it is continental (Belgian, specifically).

The owner has a sentimental attachment to it and is really keen to get it
running again. The nearest repair shop seemed less than keen to fiddle with
it, but I'm not sure what the issue was, nor the extent of the competence of
said shop. A definitive answer from an expert would be ideal.

Cheers.

Terry.