How far do you go repairing, restoring or conserving a vintage or antique clock without changing it in a significant way? My daughter. a civil engineer raised the philosophical argument that questions whether an object like a clock that has had all of its components replaced remains fundamentally the same object. This paradoxical thought exercise … More Preserve, Conserve or Restore, a clockmakers dilemma
Let me begin by saying that I am not a big fan of clock movements with steel plates. Many that I have come across have brass bushing inserts that I believe to be a limitation rather than a benefit. The movement in this plain drop octagon case is a Waterbury time-only. When I bought the … More Waterbury Arion wall clock movement servicing
7 reasons why a hobby such as clockmaking gives respite during a pandemic. Builds self-esteem. Developing and maintaining a hobby is important because the small successes from day to day are enough to sustain oneself amid other pressures in life and it is the one solid thing to feel good about. It gives renewed energy … More 7 reasons why a hobby such as clockmaking gives respite during a pandemic
Servicing the movement is complete. Next is the case. For those unfamiliar with the HAC acronym, it stands for Hamburg American Clock Company, a well-known German company that was acquired by Junghans in the late 1920s. I have a number of German clocks including Junghans, Mauthe, Hermle, Jauch, Gufa, and Gustav Becker but this is … More HAC mantel clock – refreshing the case
The movement has been serviced and the next step to bringing this clock back to life is cleaning a very grimy, tarnished and worn dial. For those unfamiliar with HAC or, The Hamburg American Clock Company (Hamburg Amerikanische Uhrenfabrik), it is a well-known German company that was incorporated in 1876 as Landenburger and Lang, later … More HAC/HAU shelf clock is attractive but the dial needs work
Eight years ago I acquired my first Arthur Pequegnat clock. In the years following, I have added to my collection and now have a total of 8. Although my collection of Pequegnat clocks is very modest by comparison to a dedicated Pequegant collector it is a good start and I would certainly like to add … More My collection of Arthur Pequegnat clocks
Tick-Talk Tuesday is about the letters and comments I have received from you, the reader, concerning your clock, issues you might have had, challenges you face, a clock you would like me to profile, my advice on your particular clock concern or a general clock question. For those comments and questions that stump even me, … More Tick Talk Tuesday #32 – Advice on learning how to bush a movement
I want to share my experiences dealing with clock suppliers and let me begin by saying that my experiences have been largely positive. I have been repairing and restoring clocks for the past 10 years and since I live in Canada I generally deal with one mechanical clock parts supplier out of Toronto, Ontario, Perrin. … More Servicing clocks and dealing with clock suppliers
Clock collecting from a beginner’s perspective. That was the subject of my first blog post six years ago. Since then I have seen a lot of excellent and not-so-good blogs come and go but I wanted to give it my best shot and after 6 years, well, I am still here. I started with a … More First blog post – 6 years ago
This clock is an antique store find not too far from where I live. It was high on a shelf and the price was not visible. I asked the shopkeeper to take it down so that I could check the price ($40) and verify that it had a mechanical movement. I opened the back panel, … More A marriage of two makers, Waterbury and Seth Thomas
Canadian clock collectors familiar with companies such as Arthur Pequegnat, the Canada Clock Company, the Hamilton Clock Company, Forestville, and Fleet seldom consider the Snider Clock company clocks for their collections yet for a quarter of a century this home-grown Canadian company made mantel and wall clocks designed and manufactured in Toronto, Ontario. Harry Snider … More The Snider Clock Company of Canada
This E. Ingraham & Co. clock is a garden variety parlour clock. There is nothing special about it but among parlour clocks, it has nice lines and reflects a more conservative approach to clock designs of the late 19th century. It is an 8-day time and strike clock purchased from a local antique store in … More E Ingraham Mystic parlour clock servicing
The arrangement of the gears should be familiar to anyone working on German clocks made in the first quarter of the twentieth century Bought on an online estate auction site earlier this year, servicing the movement is the subject of this post. Once the movement is serviced, the next step is to address dirt and … More HAC/HAU movement servicing
There is enough confusion among clock collectors and owners of antique and vintage items that it prompts a discussion. The terms vintage and antique are often used interchangeably, and often incorrectly. According to the United States Government, the term “antique” is reserved for valuables that are over a century old. Webster’s dictionary defines an antique as a work … More What’s the difference between an antique and a vintage clock?
This Fleet Time, time and strike mantel clock is essentially a plain, garden variety clock with a walnut finish, flat front, a slightly domed top, and step-side features on corner feet. The dial is heavily tarnished and the glass bezel that should be soldered to the chapter ring is detached. These bezels often go missing … More Fleet Time Clock – servicing the movement and then disaster
After having completed work on the case and dial pan of the Ingraham Grecian time and strike shelf clock it is now on to servicing the movement. Assessing the movement The movement is in surprisingly good condition for its age. It has been serviced in the past, when, I don’t know. Here’s what I discovered … More Ingraham Grecian – servicing the movement
Perhaps recognizable as one of the most common regulator clocks in America, the Seth Thomas Regulator #2 was found in many railway stations, offices. libraries and other public places across America during the last century, a testament to its accuracy and dependability. It is a robust, accurate, well-engineered, and dependable timepiece that was made by … More Seth Thomas #2 has stopped – cleaning and bushing work should put it right
This attractive shelf clock was bought on an online auction in early January 2021. From the auction photos, I expected a clock that required attention and now, having received it, I am pleasantly surprised that it is in better condition than I thought. Under the auction studio light (first photo), the case might appear to … More E. Ingraham Grecian – restoration of the case and dial
What is an 8-day clock? The term refers to a clock with a mechanical movement or works that must be wound once per week with a key. It is not quite as simple as that; let me explain. Mechanical clocks come in many varieties and may have different run times. A 30-hour clock is often … More What is an 8-day clock?
I am sure some of you have noticed that I have been switching between theme templates for my blog. I recently upgraded to a better plan and with the plan comes more choices for themes. I had been using the Rosalie theme for the past few days and have discovered some things I like about … More Experimenting with blog themes
Tick-Talk Tuesday is about the letters and comments I have received from you, the reader, concerning your clock, issues you might have had, challenges you face or a clock you would like me to profile or my responses to your questions with advice on your particular clock concern. For those comments and questions that stump … More Tick Talk Tuesday #31 – nobody wants the family clock
This clock was an estate auction buy in early 2021. Since my wife and I were unable to bid in person we placed an online bid. So many estate auction houses are taking this very route that the days of people packing an auction house and bidding feverishly may be behind us. It was described … More Hamburg American Clock Co. – shelf clock, first look
Although I have sold a few clocks locally in the past year to trim down my collection, I am always on the lookout for new acquisitions. One in, one out, has become the rule. I am a frequent follower of online for-sale and estate auction sites and look for unique clocks like this E. Ingraham … More Auction clock bought on a whim
It should have been an easy fix but often when working with clock movements unexpected issues occasionally crop up. The clock was purchased in the fall of 2018. This Seth Thomas #2 Regulator has had little done to it except oiling the movement and cleaning up the case. It is one of the most accurate … More Replacing a suspension spring on a Seth Thomas #2 Regulator
Daylight Savings Time has no place in our modern world. Of 195 countries in the world, approximately 70 countries observe Daylight Saving Time in at least a portion of the country. Japan, India, and China are the only major industrialized countries that do not observe some form of daylight saving. 70 countries must live with … More Daylight Savings – it is time to end it!
Life after encephalitis
Discovering the joy of art
editorial / Opinión
To Travel is to Live
