Over the years, many readers have asked what tools, oils, and supplies I use when working on antique clocks. While I occasionally mention these items in various posts, I realized it might be helpful to bring everything together in one convenient place. I’ve now added a new resource page to the blog titled “Tools I … More A New Resource Page for Clock Enthusiasts: Tools I Use for Clock Repair
Twice each year, most people casually change the time on a microwave or stove clock and carry on with life. Those of us who collect mechanical clocks, however, prepare for what can only be described as a seasonal endurance event. Yes — Daylight Saving Time has arrived again. For the general public, DST is a … More Daylight Saving Time and Mechanical Clocks — A Love-Hate Relationship
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
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
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?
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
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
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
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
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?
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
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
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
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?
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
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
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
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
Every year on November 11th in Canada, we pause at the eleventh hour to remember those who served and sacrificed during times of war. For horologists and clock enthusiasts, Remembrance Day carries a particularly poignant connection to the passage and preservation of time. The act of observing two minutes of silence at exactly 11:00 a.m. … More Time, Memory, and Remembrance Day
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
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
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
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
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
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
Collecting, Repairing and Restoring Antique/Vintage Clocks
Antique and Vintage Mechanical Clocks 
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