A blog fan contacted me recently and asked me if I wanted literally hundreds of old clock periodicals and bulletins. I thought about it and knew that some of the periodicals would have some value to me as a clock repairer and restorer. And I was not wrong! The story is that the donor did … More Periodicals from 15-20 years ago donated by a blog fan – what to do with them
What to do with this cute Jerome & Co. CA 1870 cottage clock? I worked on the movement in the spring of 2022 and even at that point I was not sure what to do with the clock case. The tiny movement intrigued me and I wanted to have it running but the case – … More Jerome Rose Cottage clock – a candidate for extreme restoration?
Last week (January 20, 2023) I wrote about a wonderful little marine clock that I have just not had the time to service completely. A few weeks ago I cleaned the movement and polished the pivots and left it. All that was left was the bushing work. I spent a few hours on it today … More Welch Marine clock – let’s call it a work in progress
Just before Christmas 2022, I published an article on a Hamilton Clock Co. 30-hour ogee that I won at auction earlier in 2022. I had been delaying repairs on the case for months and finally found the time to tackle the veneer work. I seem to be strangely attracted to ogee clocks, this is my … More After veneer repairs, the Hamilton ogee case is finished
Some months ago I cleaned the case of this 30-hour marine clock and even polished the bezel. While it looked absolutely stunning on the wall it did not run well, losing upwards of 10 minutes per hour, and of course by any measure that is significant. It is time to find out why. The 30-hour … More E. N. Welch Marine clock – why is this clock running so slow?
My wife calls it the clock office. It is, after all where I work on my clocks and where some are on display. It is also where I compose articles for this blog. However, it has been getting very cluttered, and I am tired of how disorganized it looks. We have 4 bedrooms in our … More From chaos to order – reorganizing my clock office
Ah, the days when clock companies put a little time and effort into their designs. The Seth Thomas company, in its heyday, produced many attractive clocks and this eight-day shelf clock is one of the finest examples of the 1870s. It is a rather large round top shelf clock measuring 15 inches in height, 10 … More Seth Thomas round top shelf clock – simplicity is its strongest suit
I have saved a few clocks that were one step closer to a garbage bin by taking an aggressive approach to clock case restoration. Is stripping a clock case a travesty? Firstly, I am not a huge fan of gingerbread clocks which were very popular in America at the turn of the 20th century. Every … More Stripping a clock case is a travesty, or is it?
Thank you, subscribers and viewers. Whether you are a regular visitor, drop by occasionally, or are visiting for the first time, thank you. This has been the most exciting year yet for antiquevintageclock.com. The blog has done very well and naturally, it is always a thrill to reach the milestone of the most views in … More The year in review – antiquevintageclock.com
Ten minutes per hour! That is slow. American-made spring driven clocks are poor timekeepers and if yours loses or gains a minute or two a week that is just about the best you can expect. After having worked on the case a few months ago it is past time to work on the movement. The … More 30-hour Welch Marine clock loses 10 minutes per hour
Ringing in the New Year is for reminiscing, reliving, looking back, and looking forward. We got through 2022 and managed but for many of us, the pandemic has left lasting memories. Promises were made and broken, plans were made and altered, and hopes and dreams were reshaped. The antiquevintageclock.com family wishes everyone a Happy New … More Happy New Year to clock lovers everywhere
The last three years of uncertainty have taught us to be very thankful for family, friends, and relationships. We are back to some semblance of normality this year although the flu season is certainly upon us. Wishing you all health and happiness during the Christmas season. My kids stress every year over what to get … More Merry Christmas to clock lovers everywhere
Should antique clock cases be refinished or rejuvenated? It can be a judgement call. I am all for patina and preserving an old clock case but there are times when certain amount of intervention is practical from an aesthetics and resale point of view. There is a certain philosophical argument among collectors who believe on … More Hamilton Clock Co. ogee – a dull and tired case needs help
The Waterbury clock hanging in my office brings back memories of my grandfather, a man I wish I had known better. Call it one of life’s regrets. Now, I didn’t know my grandfather all that well and I’m not sure that many people did. He was shy and a man of few words. I don’t … More A very special Waterbury wall clock – my grandfather’s kitchen clock (a personal journey)
Most mechanical clocks have an hour hand concentric with the minute hand with the hour hand making one full turn every twelve hours. The special set of wheels off the centre arbour is called the motion works. Attached to the centre arbour is the minute hand. The hour pipe fits over the centre arbour and … More Sessions time and strike movement with a stiff minute hand
Let’s assume you have decided to take the plunge and you are at the beginning stages of building an essential tools list for clock repair. Let me help you with your journey. In the fall of 2022, I wrote about the five essential tools for clock repair. The sidebar will bring you to that article. … More Beyond the basics – more advanced tools for clock repair
Tick-Talk Tuesday is about the letters and comments I have received from readers concerning clock issues, challenges faced, a clock you would profiled or advice on your particular clock concern. For those comments and questions that stump even me, I consult within my clock circles for the best possible answer ED writes Good morning, I … More Tick Talk Tuesday #44 – What can you tell me about this clock?
Tick-Talk Tuesday is about the letters and comments I have received from readers concerning clock issues, challenges faced, a clock you would profiled or advice on your particular clock concern. For those comments and questions that stump even me, I consult within my clock circles for the best possible answer TM writes, “We have had … More Tick Talk Tuesday #43 – Is this a Simon Willard banjo clock?
A short while ago I received a letter from one of my readers. The writer asked if I knew the size of a Junghans B11 mantel clock spring. That was it. No mention that the spring was weak or broken, just one sentence with no explanation. My reply: “I do not have the mainspring size”. … More Mainsprings – should they be replaced every time a clock is serviced?
In 1981 my wife and I decided to buy a grandfather clock. We were newly married, living in Calgary, Alberta (Canada) at the time, and thought a grandfather clock would look perfect in our spanking new condominium. Grandfather clocks were all the rage back then and every home had to have one. Indeed, it was … More The grandfather clock that never was – a personal journey
I have been collecting clocks for over twenty years and for the past 11 years I have been building my collection of vintage and antique clocks, repairing them, and restoring them. I often reflect back to that first “real” antique clock that my wife and I purchased at an antique store in Blockhouse, Nova Scotia … More My first antique clock – a Seth Thomas Adamantine mantel clock
This unnamed fusee clock was acquired from a friend this past summer and after a few months, I am finally able to hang it on the wall. Unfortunately, after having been involved in the extensive cleanup following the devastating hurricane Fiona here in Nova Scotia, there was little time for clock repair. But, now that … More Fusee gallery clock – finally on the wall but who made it?
People often tell me that they could never have an old-fashioned antique clock in their home because of the noise. And by noise, they are not so much disturbed by the ticking sound as they are about the sound a clock makes on the quarter, half, or on the hour, in other words, a striking … More The time-only clock – simplicity without the noise
Thinking about clock repair? Does the high cost of tools keep you from diving deeper into the hobby? Here are a few basic tools to get you started on clock repair. These are also the five tools that I use almost every day in clock repair. The tools together are well under $100 and are … More Five essential tools for antique and vintage clock repairers on a budget
This is the only mission-style clock in my collection. Made by the Sessions Clock Co. of America in or about the 1920s it reflects classic Mission design and is rather attractive. I was not searching for this clock but a $10 find in a Pembroke, Ontario thrift shop is hard to pass up. Though this … More Sessions Mission style clock – an interesting challenge to what should have been a routine servicing
Progressive old soul wordsmith
Vintage Finds & Collectables For Sale!!
-Reviews, Advice & News For All Things Tech and Gadget Related-
Antique and Vintage Clocks 
You must be logged in to post a comment.