Originating from a family with an engineering background it was no surprise when Roy entered working life as an engineering apprentice.
After a varied career in engineering working on such projects as the Hinckley Point Reactor and the development of the Rolls Royce RB211 engine Roy moved to a new position as a Technical College Lecturer. After a successful career there for 20 years finishing as a Senior Lecturer and Section Head he left to start his own business as a full time Antiquarian Horologist.
Having been fascinated by antiques and especially clocks from an early age Roy decided to make clocks with the possibility of developing a business along those lines. It was during his teaching career that he enrolled on the British Horological Institute's correspondence course. Each year a pass with merit and prize was the result, in 1985 his final year, a practical mark of 96% was achieved. The course opened up a whole new world of study and the realisation of the vast extent of the horological world. The interest in antiquarian horology grew and his business interest moved that way.
In recent years his consentration has been directed towards his two great loves in horology; Lantern Clocks and Marine Chronometers.
Having come full circle, in 2011 Roy started a development project to make an eight day chronometer which will be finished in early 2012. His home and workshop are in the beautiful North Cotswolds.
On leaving teaching the full time business of buying restoring and selling a wide range of clocks began. His wife Sandra a bookkeeper played a key role in the growth of the business taking care of the financial aspects, her own interest also grew in the buying and selling side of the business.
Over the years the range has narrowed but the expertise grown to just two areas, that of the Marine Chronometer and Lantern Clock.
Today Roy C. Harris FBHI offers collectors and connoisseurs of Lantern Clocks and Marine Chronometers a small selection of the best examples available on the market. Each item has been carefully chosen for its originality, overall condition and/or historical importance. Restoration or conservation work is carried out where necessary, sympathetic with age and style of the item, ensuring that the original is preserved as much as possible.
The price of an item for sale is mainly dictated by the purchase price to Roy C. Harris FBHI plus his time working on the item. Overheads are kept intentionally low so the retail price is always attractive.
The restoration, repair and service of horological artefacts covers the trade and private collector worldwide. All clocks and chronometers are restored, serviced and guaranteed for twelve months. For the overseas client, a fully insured door-to-door shipping service is offered. Roy C. Harris FBHI have shipped chronometers and lantern clocks to Australia, Gibraltar, Malta and the U.S.A.
