Antique and Vintage Mechanical Clocks

Pip: There is a specific kind of itch that only a century-old German wall clock can scratch — and Ron Joiner has been scratching it since at least 2018.

Mara: This episode follows one Mauthe wall clock from a distressed Facebook Marketplace find all the way to a question about what once sat on top of it — and what should sit there now.

Pip: Let’s start with the mystery of the missing crown.

Did This Mauthe Wall Clock Originally Have a Crown?

Mara: The question at the center of this segment is deceptively simple: was the top of this clock case always bare, or did something once sit up there that time and circumstance removed?

Pip: The post traces the clock’s provenance — brought from Europe to Canada in the 1890s, acquired off Facebook Marketplace in distressed condition — and the answer came from an original Mauthe manufacturer’s catalogue, posted by a forum member. The catalogue entry reads: “Model number 247 — the very same clock. And sitting proudly on top of the base section of the crown was a rearing horse.”

Mara: That’s the upshot: this wasn’t a plain-topped case. The rearing horse sculpture was a deliberate design feature, and without it the clock is literally incomplete — the post puts it plainly, “without it, the case feels a little unfinished.”

Pip: The catalogue also gives hard dimensions — 106 centimeters tall, 14-centimeter dial, 42-centimeter pendulum, 14-day movement — which is how the math on a replacement crown becomes possible. If the case stands 42 inches high, a medium crown running about 6 inches should be proportionally correct.

Mara: The available replacements are molded resin rather than the original material, and they aren’t exact replicas, but the post concludes they’re close enough to restore the overall silhouette. A postscript confirms a crown was ordered from a UK supplier.

Pip: There’s also a broader question underneath the restoration decision — whether adding a replacement element rewrites the clock’s history or honors its original intent. The post lands on the side of honoring intent.

Mara: Two related Mauthe pieces inform that thinking. “Turn of the Century Mauthe Wall Clock with Adler Gong” shows another acquisition where price negotiation shaped what was possible. And “The Lank House Clock” traces a separate Mauthe through Parrsboro’s local history — a reminder that provenance and place are as much a part of these clocks as any missing finial.

Pip: Every clock has a story still unfolding — and apparently, so does its crown.

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Mara: What stays with me is that a forum post and a catalogue scan changed a seven-year-old decision about a clock sitting quietly on a wall.

Pip: Historical evidence has a way of arriving late and being entirely persuasive. More clocks, more stories — next time.

Here is the original article that I posted earlier this year. Photos of the clock and the catalogue image can be found in this article.

Did This Mauthe Wall Clock Originally Have a Crown? Solving the Model 247 Mystery

Trying Something New: AI-Generated Audio Version

I’ve been experimenting with a new WordPress feature that creates an AI-generated podcast from one of my articles. Since many people enjoy listening rather than reading, I thought it would be interesting to give it a try and make my content accessible to auditory learners.

Please don’t worry—this will not replace my regular articles. Writing and sharing my thoughts through the written word remains the heart of this blog. The audio version is simply an occasional supplement for those who prefer to listen while driving, walking, or relaxing.

As with any new technology, I’m still evaluating its usefulness and how well it represents my work. For that reason, you can expect these AI-generated audio versions only from time to time rather than as a regular feature.

I’d be interested in hearing your thoughts. Is this something you find helpful, or do you prefer the traditional written article? Feel free to let me know.