Antique and Vintage Clocks

The curator of the Canadian Clock museum was kind enough to respond to an email I sent concerning the absence of Martin Cheney clocks as well as provide further information on the collection.

First of all Mr. Symons explained that the museum profiles two centuries of Canadian clocks which include many Canadian manufacturers that represent 90% of the collection of over 2600 examples. The problem, he says, with Martin Cheney clocks is the cost. He is most certainly correct; most I have seen have been in the $5000-10,000.00 ballpark. The museum always considers donations and if any one out there feels they can part with their Martin Cheney wall or tall case clock I am sure that Allan Symons would graciously accept it.

Mr. Symons notes one clarification. “The Seth Thomas Clock Company in the U.S. (dating back to the early 1800’s) became part of a larger company that owned Westclox in the early 1930s.  Starting then, Seth Thomas “brand” mantel, alarm, and wall models were made in part of the existing Westclox Canada factory in Peterborough. Ontario, Canada.  That new factory had opened in 1923 to produce Westclox clocks for the Canadian market, after about three years in rented space in Peterborough.”

The reference library now has over 500 titles on all aspects of horology and visitors are welcome to sit down and conduct research on clock companies in general or a specific family clock.

Thanks for an email from a reader in Romania who provided information on the Clock Museum in Ploiesti, Romania. This museum recently reopened after I gather some renovation work and profiles European clocks from the 18th century. From their website, “Those who visit the museum have the occasion to follow the way in which the means of measuring the time had developed, from the first “clocks”- the sun dial, the burning clocks, the clocks with water (the outline of the clock with water being taken over from d’Horologerie Ancienne) or the clocks with sand; up to the “ancient” mechanical and modern ones.”

“Muzeul Ceasului from Ploiesti shows us such “folk clocks”, some with simple or double ringing with flute players, some others quite monumental, with rich ornamental design, dated in the 18th and the 19th centuries. The folk influence inspired the creation of the wall clocks in straight cases, made by lathering. Some of them are created in Romania, having German or Austrian mechanismes.”

For more information please visit this fine museum at http://www.cimec.ro/muzee/Ceasuri/ceas_eng.htm

Sounds like a very interesting museum and one that I will put on my “must see” list.