In my past life, I was a community college instructor. My students ranged in age from about 20 and upward, although most were in their early twenties. For years, I had an analogue clock mounted just above my office door. I often met with students in my office, and when I was pressed for time—not … More From Clock Faces to Smartphones: How We Lost the Art of Telling Time
One of the more intriguing clocks in my collection is a Scottish longcase clock signed by William McLachlan of Newton Stewart, Wigtownshire, Scotland. For years, I have estimated the clock’s date as circa 1848. Recent research into McLachlan himself, combined with a closer examination of the clock, suggests that the estimate may be remarkably accurate. … More A Scottish Longcase Clock from Newton Stewart: Piecing Together the Story of Clockmaker William McLachlan
Gallery clocks are often called pub clocks, canteen clocks, or office clocks. Gallery clocks are often found in public galleries and exhibition spaces, where they serve both functional and decorative purposes. They are usually placed on prominent walls and are designed to be easily visible to visitors. These clocks can vary in style, ranging from … More Why Won’t This Gilbert Gallery Clock Keep Running?
One of the oldest clocks in my collection is a Scottish tall case (long case) clock made in the late 1840s. I acquired it in 2020, and I was quite excited—it was my first antique tall case clock. It features what is known as an English bell strike, with a rack and snail striking the … More Rack, Snail, and Risk: Inside a Longcase Clock Repair | Part I
This regularly featured blog is about the letters, questions, and stories I receive from fellow clock enthusiasts. Tick-Talk Time is a special feature where I respond to readers’ letters and comments about their clock, clock-rlated issues and advice about specific clocks. When a question is particularily complex I consult with my clock community to ensure … More Tick Talk Time | A Canada Clock Co. Clock Bought at Auction
Pip: There is a specific kind of itch that only a century-old German wall clock can scratch — and Ron Joiner has been scratching it since at least 2018. Mara: This episode follows one Mauthe wall clock from a distressed Facebook Marketplace find all the way to a question about what once sat on top … More Podcast Episode: Did This Mauthe Wall Clock Originally Have a Crown? Solving the Model 247 Mystery
Recently, a reader contacted me because his mantel clock showed 7 o’clock but insisted on striking eight times. He assumed something had broken inside the movement. In reality, the fix took less than a minute. One of the most common questions asked by owners of mechanical clocks is: “Why does my clock strike the wrong … More My Mechanical Clock Strikes the Wrong Hour: Learn How to Fix It
So far in July 2026, AntiqueVintageClock.com has received an impressive 95,422 visitors, who collectively generated 133,658 page views. On average, each visitor viewed 1.55 pages, suggesting a high level of interest in antique and vintage clocks. … More Antiquevintageclock.com Website Statistics | 2026 Analysis
For newcomers to the hobby, the expression may sound complicated, but the concept is actually quite simple. … More What Is a Strike Train? A Beginner’s Guide to Mechanical Clock Striking Mechanisms
Maintaining a healthy work-life balance is important, even when your work is something you genuinely enjoy. Researching antique clocks, writing articles, responding to readers, and maintaining a blog are all rewarding activities, but occasionally stepping away from the computer and workshop helps recharge the batteries. … More Where Will the Next Antique Clock Be Found? Summer Travels and Horology
Finding a way to connect antique clock collecting and Canada Day might seem like a bit of a stretch—but hear me out! I had some fun thinking this through, and perhaps these oddball reflections will give you a smile. Canada Day, formerly known as Dominion Day, marks the birth of Canada as a nation on … More Time to Celebrate: Canada Day Through the Eyes of a Clock Collector
Just a quick note to let everyone know that there won’t be a regular blog post today. Instead, I’ve prepared a special article that will be published on Wednesday, July 1, in recognition of Canada Day. I hope you’ll stop by and join me in celebrating this special occasion. Although Canada Day is uniquely Canadian, … More No Monday Post This Week – See You on Canada Day
Like many collectors, I didn’t start out with a plan—I simply started acquiring clocks. In those early days, anything affordable and interesting found its way onto my shelves, often for little more than the price of a cup of coffee. Over time, however, what began as casual accumulation evolved into something more deliberate. Managing a … More Managing My Collection Makes Me a Better Collector | Advice for Collectors
Over the years, as my clock collection has evolved and my interest in Canadian horology has deepened, I’ve found myself crossing paths with a wide range of clocks from around the world. One group that continues to spark curiosity—and conversation—is the Chinese-made mechanical wall clocks that became so common in North America during the 1960s … More The History and Significance of 1970s Chinese Wall Clocks
In the fall of 2018, I came across an interesting clock on Facebook Marketplace. The photos were far from ideal and showed a very distressed piece that had clearly spent years in a hot, humid environment—my guess was an attic. The seller was asking quite a lot for it, but I replied that the clock … More Did This Mauthe Wall Clock Originally Have a Crown? Solving the Model 247 Mystery
One of the most common mistakes in clock maintenance is oiling a movement while it is still in the case. It seems convenient, and many people believe they are helping the clock, but in reality, you cannot properly inspect or oil a movement until it has been removed from the case and examined, where you … More Never Re-Oil a Mechanical Clock Without Removing the Movement First
Some clocks are purchased because they are rare, some because they are old, and some simply because they appeal to the eye. Every once in a while, however, a clock comes along that checks all three boxes. This Kienzle World Time desk clock is one of those clocks. This article will explore the clock’s designer, … More Kienzle World Time Desk Clock – A Mid-Century Masterpiece
There is a curious term you might have heard in relation to clocks and clock collecting. The term is FrankenClock. Have you ever bought a clock and, as much as you hoped that every mechanical part, finial, and piece of trim was original, later found out through experience, research, or knowledge that it was not? … More FrankenClocks – A Cautionary Tale for Clock Collectors
Looking around my home today, I can count twelve Arthur Pequegnat clocks, but the Brandon II will always be the most important one. It was the first Pequegnat clock I ever bought, and the one that started me down the Pequegnat road. This particular clock is a Brandon II. The first edition was produced up … More The Arthur Pequegnat Brandon II Schoolhouse Clock – The Clock That Started My Collection
The Science Museum in London England occasionally hosts temporary exhibits within the horology section that delve deeper into specific aspects of timekeeping, such as the influence of time on culture or the future of time measurement. In the spring of 2024, a special exhibit of Zimingzhong clocks captured my attention. For any clock enthusiast, it … More The Magic of the Zimingzhong Clock
For the past four years, my blog has been built around the Gateway theme. It has served me well—clean, reliable, and easy to navigate. It has quietly done its job without drawing attention to itself. But over time, even the most dependable design can begin to feel a little… familiar. As my blog has grown, … More Exploring a New Look: Moving Beyond the Gateway Theme
idioms are fixed phrases or expressions whose meanings can’t be understood just by interpreting the individual words. Their meanings are figurative and widely recognized within a particular culture or language. Every language has its own idioms. In horology, we have quite a few, and it’s fascinating how the word “clock” plays such a prominent role … More Idioms and Expressions with the word “Clock” and/or “Time” in Them | 2026 edition
Some clocks have a way of drawing you in immediately, and this Vienna-style wall clock made by Friedrich Mauthe was one of those pieces. The moment I saw it, I knew it had presence—it becomes part of the room. With its rich walnut case, turned columns, and the distinctive horse finial crowning the top pediment, … More Restoring the Balance of a Mauthe Horse Crown Vienna Style Wall Clock
U. M. Müller clocks were once a familiar name in households across Europe, yet today the brand is not as widely recognized among collectors as some of the larger German makers. That is a bit surprising, because the company produced clocks that could easily stand beside the finest German manufacturers of the early twentieth century. … More The Rise of the German Box Clock: A U. M. Müller Example
This two-weightGustav Becker regulator wall clock, purchased in 2016 as a “project clock,” proved early on to be more challenging than I thought. This is the third and final post in this series. For the story behind this clock and an analysis of the steps taken so far, the first and the second posts can … More Re-Bushing, Reassembly & Testing of a Gustav Becker Regulator
Collecting, Repairing and Restoring Antique & Vintage Clocks
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