A Return to the Bench: Wear-Related Strike Problems in a Gustav Becker P27

March 2, 2026

I wrote recently about a two-weight Gustav Becker regulator wall clock that my wife bought for me in 2016. It was sold as a “project clock.” While the case presented its own challenges, the real difficulties lay in the movement. At the time, I was unfamiliar with Gustav Becker movements and only gradually realized that … More A Return to the Bench: Wear-Related Strike Problems in a Gustav Becker P27

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Siezed time-only movement

Can a Seized, Rusty Clock Movement Be Saved? An Ansonia Case Study

February 23, 2026

Some time ago, I was up for a real challenge when I bought an old clock that seemed hopelessly irreparable. While picking up another clock, the seller threw this one in for a few dollars more. The clock, an Ansonia Extra Drop, was in pieces and had been stored in a barn—literally—for many years. The … More Can a Seized, Rusty Clock Movement Be Saved? An Ansonia Case Study

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What to expect in 2026 | Will Clock Prices Rise Again?

February 16, 2026

Visitors to my site often ask what their clock is worth. Occasionally, someone has a very unique clock that is difficult to value, but more often, the clock they believe is valuable turns out to be very common and worth little or nothing, even though it may be 100+ years old. As we often say … More What to expect in 2026 | Will Clock Prices Rise Again?

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Gustav Becker 2 weight clock

Ten Years Later: An Odd Strike Issue in a Gustav Becker P27 Movement

February 9, 2026

In 2016, my wife gifted me a two-weight Gustav Becker regulator wall clock. It was a much-appreciated gift, and I spent many hours restoring it, as it had been sold as a “project clock.” The case certainly had its issues, but the most challenging problems lay in the movement itself. At the time, I was … More Ten Years Later: An Odd Strike Issue in a Gustav Becker P27 Movement

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Gravity Never Sleeps: A Tall-Case Clock Warning

February 2, 2026

This is a cautionary tale for anyone who owns a long-case or tall-case clock, especially a weight-driven example. I make that distinction because I do own a tall-case clock that is spring-driven, which I can assure you is quite unusual. Most, however, are weight-driven. The other day, I went to investigate an issue with the … More Gravity Never Sleeps: A Tall-Case Clock Warning

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A Letter of Praise Nearly Fooled Me | A Cautionary Tale

January 26, 2026

I receive many honest and sincere letters from readers of my blog, and I truly enjoy responding to the many clock questions and challenges. But one letter I received recently gave me reason to think twice — the first of its kind I have ever received. Here it is: “Dear Ron, I wanted to reach … More A Letter of Praise Nearly Fooled Me | A Cautionary Tale

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How to Start an Antique Clock Collection: Tips for Beginners

January 19, 2026

Starting an antique clock collection can be both exciting and a little overwhelming. With so many styles, makers, movements, and time periods to choose from, it’s easy to wonder where to begin. The good news is that you don’t need deep pockets or expert knowledge on day one—just curiosity, patience, and a willingness to learn. … More How to Start an Antique Clock Collection: Tips for Beginners

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George H Clark 30-hour ogee clock

How Much Can You Change A Clock Before It Loses Its Identity?

January 12, 2026

Some time ago, I posted an article on Minimal Invasive Intervention, in which I posed a question that often haunts clock collectors: how far should one go to repair, restore, or conserve a clock without changing it in a significant way? This question came up in a conversation with my daughter, a civil engineer, who … More How Much Can You Change A Clock Before It Loses Its Identity?

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A Clock Collection in Motion | The Dynamic Nature of Clock Collecting

January 5, 2026

If you’re a collector of any kind, you’ll relate to what I have to say in this blog article. In the early years of collecting anything, many of us follow a very familiar path. We begin with breadth rather than depth, acquiring whatever speaks to us, and for me, it was mantel clocks, shelf clocks, … More A Clock Collection in Motion | The Dynamic Nature of Clock Collecting

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Timeless Beginnings: A Horologist’s New Year Reflection

December 29, 2025

As the New Year approaches, I often find myself listening to the steady tick of an antique clock. There’s something comforting about it — that quiet rhythm marking the end of one chapter and the start of another. Picture a cozy room on New Year’s Eve. Maybe there’s a fire crackling, friends chatting, and somewhere … More Timeless Beginnings: A Horologist’s New Year Reflection

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Taking a Moment of Your Time This Christmas

December 22, 2025

There’s something especially magical about antique clocks during the Christmas season. Each one seems to hold onto time’s most precious moments, quietly ticking through memories of holidays long past. I often picture a cozy room bathed in soft, twinkling lights, with a tall case clock standing proudly in the corner — a symbol of craftsmanship … More Taking a Moment of Your Time This Christmas

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Clock face showing moon dial

Are Grandfather Clocks Making a Comeback?

December 15, 2025

Will grandfather clock prices go up in 2026? That’s the question. And while no one can predict the market with certainty, there are a few subtle signs worth paying attention to. Just recently, I came across a recent article in House Beautiful titled “This Status Symbol From Your Grandmother’s House Is Suddenly Cool Again.” The … More Are Grandfather Clocks Making a Comeback?

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The Clock That Wasn’t Complete: My Waterbury Suffolk Discovery

December 8, 2025

This clock wasn’t one I set out to find. My wife and I were wandering through a sprawling antique shop in Almonte, Ontario—the kind of place where time itself seems to stand still. She drifted upstairs while I lingered below, each of us lost in our own quiet hunt. A few minutes later, she appeared … More The Clock That Wasn’t Complete: My Waterbury Suffolk Discovery

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How to Choose the Perfect Antique Clock | A YouTube Guide

December 1, 2025

I recently made a video providing some tips on antique clock buying. The video offers general advice on how to buy an antique clock, whether for yourself or someone you know. The video is intended for the novice clock buyer, outlining several basic points to consider when purchasing an antique clock. While you are there, … More How to Choose the Perfect Antique Clock | A YouTube Guide

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Echoes of an Unknown Maker: A Banjo Clock’s Journey Through Time

November 24, 2025

The American Banjo clock — often just called a banjo clock — got its name from the shape of its case, which resembles a banjo musical instrument. Although the design was patented in 1802 by Simon Willard, a renowned clockmaker from Roxbury, Massachusetts, Willard referred to his invention as the “Improved Timepiece,” not a banjo … More Echoes of an Unknown Maker: A Banjo Clock’s Journey Through Time

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Echoes of Time: The Ansonia Wall Clock That Waited Fifty Years to Tick Again

November 17, 2025

We live in the northern part of Nova Scotia, and a trip to the Annapolis Valley for clock hunting is always a pleasure on an early fall day. It’s one of the province’s most beautiful regions — a mix of rolling hills, orchards, small farms, and picturesque little towns that always seem to welcome you … More Echoes of Time: The Ansonia Wall Clock That Waited Fifty Years to Tick Again

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Antique Clocks and the Term ‘Fully Serviced’: What Every Buyer Should Know

November 10, 2025

As the holiday season approaches, it’s wise to be familiar with some key terms if you’re considering purchasing an antique or vintage clock as a gift for that special person. One such term that often needs clarification is “serviced.” I remember scrolling through Facebook one afternoon when a post caught my eye—a 100+-year-old mantel clock … More Antique Clocks and the Term ‘Fully Serviced’: What Every Buyer Should Know

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The Lank House Clock: Tracing a Mauthe Wall Clock Through Parrsboro’s Past

November 3, 2025

Not long ago, my wife and I were attending a medical appointment in Springhill, Nova Scotia. While we were in the area, we decided that a side trip to Parrsboro fit the bill, as the town was less than a half-hour drive away. It was a leisurely, sunny fall day as we drove through the … More The Lank House Clock: Tracing a Mauthe Wall Clock Through Parrsboro’s Past

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Keeping Time on My Terms: A Collector’s Stand Against ST

October 27, 2025

Every November (on the 2nd, this year), the world around me dutifully prepares for the ritual of changing our clocks. People reset their watches, adjust their microwaves, and twist the dials on their alarm clocks, as if to say, “We control time.” Meanwhile, I stand back — mainspring key in hand — and quietly refuse … More Keeping Time on My Terms: A Collector’s Stand Against ST

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The Day I Found an Ingraham Huron Balloon Clock—and the Story That Came With It

October 20, 2025

Some time ago, I came across an ad on Facebook Marketplace for a clock owned by an older couple who lived about forty-five minutes from our home on the East Coast. When I first saw the photo, something about the clock caught my eye—it had character, a quiet dignity, and I had a feeling it … More The Day I Found an Ingraham Huron Balloon Clock—and the Story That Came With It

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Junghans Crispi wall clock

A Box of Parts, and a Special Clock That Journeyed Through Time

October 13, 2025

Every old clock has a story to tell — where it came from, who owned it, and the moments in time it quietly witnessed. Unfortunately, as clocks are sold, traded, or passed down, those stories often get lost along the way. The clock may keep ticking, but the people and places behind it fade into … More A Box of Parts, and a Special Clock That Journeyed Through Time

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Safely Using Brasso: Polishing Tips for Antique And Vintage Clock Collectors

October 6, 2025

After retiring from active duty, my father continued to serve in a reserve unit for several years. As a child, I still remember the formal occasions that called for his ceremonial uniform, when every detail had to be perfect. Before heading out, he would sit down with a tin of Brasso and a soft cotton … More Safely Using Brasso: Polishing Tips for Antique And Vintage Clock Collectors

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Kienzle World Time clock

Respect the Image: Copyright Challenges Every Blogger Faces

September 29, 2025

Some time ago, I was browsing a local online for-sale site looking for antique and vintage clocks when I spotted a Mauthe Westminster chime mantel clock for sale. From the photo, it looked familiar—too familiar. Why? Because the seller was using my photo. The seller had the very same clock model for sale, but instead … More Respect the Image: Copyright Challenges Every Blogger Faces

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Discovering a Rare Waterbury Clock in Almonte, Ontario

September 22, 2025

Almonte, Ontario, (Canada) is a town that practically invites you to slow down and explore, and that’s exactly what my wife and I did one afternoon in September. In fact, it is called “The Friendly Town”. We drifted from one antique shop to another, discovering all sorts of curiosities. But in one store, I found … More Discovering a Rare Waterbury Clock in Almonte, Ontario

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