Antique and Vintage Mechanical Clocks

It is time to slow down, relax, and enjoy a change of scenery. For my wife and me, that means packing up and heading to our cottage in central Canada to spend the summer season with family and friends.

Our summer getaway plans are pleasantly simple: read a few good books, do a little fishing, swimming, kayaking, and hiking, and exchange stories with family, friends, and neighbours over a glass (or two, or perhaps three) of wine as the sun sets over the lake.

Please allow me to share a very important message with all my readers. Maintaining a healthy work-life balance is important, even when your work is something you genuinely enjoy. Researching antique clocks, writing articles, responding to readers, and maintaining a blog are all rewarding activities, but occasionally stepping away from the computer and the workshop helps recharge the batteries.

Time spent with family and friends, enjoying nature, and pursuing other interests often provides fresh perspectives and renewed enthusiasm. In many ways, a summer at the cottage, or wherever your away place is, is not only a welcome break but also an opportunity to return with new ideas and an even greater appreciation for life itself.

Although I will be away from home, there will be no interruption in blog posts throughout the summer months. Many articles have been researched and written well in advance, allowing me to maintain my regular publishing schedule of one Monday blog post per week.

As 1960s television variety host Dean Martin used to say, “Keep those cards and letters coming.” I always enjoy hearing from readers. There may be a slight delay in replying to email inquiries or responding to comments while I am enjoying the summer sunshine, but rest assured that your questions about clocks and your comments on blog posts are important to me and will receive a response.

This blog chronicles my adventures in the world of horology

This blog chronicles my own clock collection, the challenges and rewards of maintaining and repairing antique clocks, the excitement of finding unusual timepieces, and the fascinating stories that surround the history of horology. Every clock has a story to tell, and many of those stories find their way into these pages.

One of the great pleasures of spending the summer in central Canada is exploring antique stores, flea markets, country auctions, and the occasional dusty junk shop. Experience has taught me that you never know where the next interesting clock might appear.

Somewhere out there may be a neglected and tired clock waiting to be rediscovered, a rare Canadian clock I have never encountered before, or perhaps the next major restoration project destined for my workshop.

No summer visit would be complete without a trip to The Canadian Clock Museum in Deep River, Ontario, a couple of hours’ drive from our cottage.

I always look forward to seeing new additions to the museum’s collection and spending time chatting with curator Allan Symons, whose knowledge and enthusiasm for Canadian horology are second to none.

While I am away, I invite you to browse the hundreds of articles already available on the blog. Use the search box to explore past topics, discover forgotten clockmakers, learn repair techniques, or read about unusual clocks from around the world. Better yet, click the “Follow” button and have new articles delivered directly to your inbox every few days.

Thank you for reading, commenting, and sharing in this journey. I hope you enjoy reading these articles as much as I enjoy researching and writing them. Wherever your summer takes you, may it be filled with good friends, good stories, and enough time to appreciate the steady tick of a favourite clock.

Interesting reading

Idioms and Expressions with the word “Clock” and/or “Time” in Them | 2026 edition

Discover Canadian Clocks and clocks with a Canadian connection at The Canadian Clock Museum in Deep River

Discover the Wonders of Horology at the Science Museum in London