How do you oil your antique clock?

The important points to oil have "oil sinks", depressed areas around the pivots, the bearing surface of the wheels. Using either a special oiler, a toothpick or a cocktail stick, put a tiny drop of oil into all the oil sinks - and I mean a tiny drop. If there is enough oil to bulge out, at some time it will probably break and leak over the clock plates, which is no good. Put a tiny drop of oil on each contact face of the "anchor", the structure that transmits power from the pendulum directly to the escape wheel inside the movement. For spring-driven clocks, use a let-down tool to ensure the spring is utterly discharged. If you don't know what you're doing, you may hurt yourself, in which case you're better off leaving the springs alone. Instead of oil, springs require grease. Remove the spring, clean it of old grease (you can wash it in detergent or alcohol , but make sure it is good and dry before re-greasing. Ordinary grease will tend to squeeze out when the clock is wound: you need high-pressure grease or special clock-spring grease. Something I cannot stress enough is DO NOT USE 3-IN-ONE OIL OR WD40 TO OIL A CLOCK! Ever, ever, ever. It will work fine initially, but over time it will inevitably gather dust and grit and work like a grinding paste to permanently damage your pride and joy. The more oil you use, the worse it gets. Specialised clock oil, available on the webs, is not much denser than water, and a little goes a very long way. Ultimately, if you don't know what you're doing, and the clock you're working on is irreplaceable or of great value to you, it is better to leave it to a pro.