Antique and Vintage Clocks

Hi readers, in light of current world events the antiquevintageclock.com family wish to convey our sympathy and condolences to those effected by Covid 19

I have a total of eight Arthur Pequegnat clocks in my collection. The newest, an Arthur Pequegnat Canuck is not exactly my favorite though it is not unattractive for a gingerbread clock. The company made a range of kitchen clocks but I have seen very few in the true gingerbread style, such as this one.

The clock runs well though it will certainly need servicing

Few are offered on online for-sale sites so it is quite possible that not many of them have survived over the years. Collectors would often pass them up as most other Pequegnat clocks are considered more desirable and valuable.

Let me introduce the Canuck, an appropriate name for a Canadian clock. The term Canuck is first recorded about 1835 as an Americanism, originally referring specifically to a French Canadian. This was probably the original meaning, though in Canada and other countries, Canuck more often refers to any Canadian.

It has an eight-day movement with steel plates, a common feature of time and strike Pequegnat clocks. Though impossible to accurately date the clock, it is after the Berlin period, post-1917.

Everything looks very good except for the dial which is in poor condition. A reproduction dial on tin is available online from a source in Oakville, Ontario but I am not sure I want to spend $50 just for the dial though the supplier offers a cheaper paper version.

The case is very dirty and requires a thorough cleaning plus a protective coat of shellac.

Otherwise, there are no pieces missing, the tablet looks good, the pendulum looked original until I saw 80 stamped on the back (80g equals 2.8 oz – I doubt they used metric measures in 1920), the label is in fair condition, the coil gong block is unusual but likely original. The clock runs well though it will certainly need servicing. Essentially, the only disappointing issue is the dial.

I am not a big fan of stripping a clock case finish unless it is in very desperate condition. If I can bring the case back to the original finish by means of a thorough cleaning that is always my first course of action.

I gave the case a good scrubbing with multiple Q-Tips and a toothbrush dipped in full strength Murphy’s Soap, washed with warm water, dried, followed by one coat of shellac (traditional 1 lb cut). The cleaning took 3 hours. I am pleased that the grain and the texture really came to life.

This is just an introduction and cleaning of the case. Servicing the movement will come later.