FrankenClocks – A Cautionary Tale for Clock Collectors

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? How did you feel about your purchase? You might have felt disappointed, maybe even a little cheated. So, if a clock has parts that are not original, what would it be called? Some collectors call it a FrankenClock.

The term, of course, comes from the Frankenstein story by Mary Shelley — something assembled from parts taken from different sources. In Shelley’s world, a creature is formed from various body parts and brought to life.

In the clock world, a FrankenClock is typically a clock made up of mismatched parts: a movement from one clock, a case from another, replacement trim, incorrect hands, different weights, replacement glass, or reproduction parts.

In fact, after the Second World War, stories began circulating within clock-collecting circles that a large number of incomplete Vienna regulator–style clocks were sent to America—far more than had been seen before the war. There was a significant trade in parts, as dealers brought in crates of movements, boxes of weights, pendulums, hands, and other components.

These items were often mixed and matched, then reassembled into complete clocks and sold as original clocks in the United States and Canada.

This is an important point for collectors, because finding a completely original Vienna regulator is actually quite rare. I have heard this story often enough that I believe there is a great deal of truth to it.

Is a Frankenclock a bad clock?

Now, not all FrankenClocks are bad clocks. In fact, many are excellent timekeepers and display very well. The issue is usually not function — it is originality and value.

Over the years, clocks have often been repaired using whatever parts are available at the time. A broken glass panel gets replaced. A missing weight gets substituted with something close.

A damaged/broken movement gets replaced with a similar one. Hands get changed. Bezels get replaced. Trim pieces get lost and later substituted. After 100 or 150 years, it is actually quite amazing when you find a clock that is completely original.

This is especially true with:

• Vienna regulators (as mentioned above)
• Gingerbread clocks
• Mantel clocks
• Shelf clocks
• Longcase clocks

Many of these clocks have lived long lives and have been repaired many times by many different people.

Look closely if you are shopping for a clock

When buying a clock, it is important to look closely at:

• Glass thickness and mounting
• Matching weights and pulleys
• Correct hands for the model
• Proper movement for the case
• Dial and bezel fit
• Trim pieces and finials
• Signs of filled holes where trim used to be
• Extra screw holes inside the case
• Movement seat board modifications

These are often clues that parts have been changed over the years.

However, here is an important point that is sometimes overlooked: If you know a clock is made up of mixed parts, and you still like it, and the price reflects that, and you are happy with it, then there is absolutely nothing wrong with owning a FrankenClock.

Many collectors own them — sometimes knowingly, sometimes not. They can still be beautiful clocks, excellent timekeepers, and enjoyable pieces to own and display.

The problem only arises when a clock is represented as completely original when it is not, or when a buyer does not do enough research before purchasing.

There is a very appropriate expression for this situation:

Caveat Emptor — Let the buyer beware

The principle means that the buyer is responsible for checking the quality, authenticity, and suitability of goods before making a purchase. Reputable auction houses and dealers will usually disclose replaced parts or restorations, but this is not always the case with private sales, flea markets, antique malls, or online auctions.

When buying clocks, knowledge and careful inspection are your best protection. This is why buying a clock from eBay or a distant online seller is often too risky—you simply cannot perform the detailed visual inspection that is so important.

In the end, whether a clock is completely original or a bit of a FrankenClock, the most important question may simply be:

Do you like the clock?

If the answer is yes, and you understand what you are buying, then that may be all that really matters. Not every clock needs to be perfectly original or museum quality. Many clocks have lived long lives, been repaired, rebuilt, and cared for by generations of owners. Part of the charm of antique clocks is that they have stories, and sometimes those stories include a few replacement parts along the way.

Author’s note

None of the three clocks in this article is completely original. One has undergone extensive modification, while the other two have simply had smaller parts replaced during their long lives. I will leave it to the reader to decide which is which.

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