Tag: halifax explosion

The Stories Behind My Antique and Vintage Clocks

I often wonder about the stories behind my clocks.

Antique and vintage clocks evoke a time when life seemed simpler, a stark contrast to today’s frenetic pace. Old clocks serve as living memories, cherished relics of people and places that are long gone but not forgotten.

Ideally, they should be passed down through generations. Yet, when I look at online marketplaces, it’s clear that many clocks no longer stay within their original families. I can’t help but wonder—has sentimentality lost its place in today’s world?

Out of the 35 clocks displayed throughout our home (a small part of my collection), I wish I knew the stories behind every single one of them. If only they could talk! What tales they would share.

Still, two of my clocks come with stories that I hold dear to my heart.

Junghans Crispi time and strike wall clock
Junghans Crispi time and strike wall clock

One of my clocks survived the 1917 Halifax Explosion. It is a Junghans Crispi wall clock. I know this because the previous owner had kept it in their family for over 100 years. It wasn’t in the condition you see it in today, though. It came to me as a box of parts, and I imagine they decided it was time to let it go after holding onto it for so long. They hoped that whoever bought it would bring it back to its former glory.

After restoring the clock, I contacted the former owner to show them what I’d done, sending them a photo of the clock in its restored state. I never heard back and I assume they experienced a bit of seller’s remorse.

However, I often look at the clock and try to imagine that fateful day, December 6, 1917, when it fell from the wall in a modest North Halifax home and broke into dozens of pieces.

Ingraham Huron shelf clock

Another story belongs to my Ingraham Huron shelf clock (circa 1878). It was a rare find considering it was made between 1878 and 1880. Some might call the style a balloon clock. It came from a small village outside Bridgewater, Nova Scotia. My wife and I made a day of the trip, enjoying lunch and some shopping after picking up the clock from an elderly couple who were in the process of separating.

The clock’s story unfolded when we met the couple selling it. The gentleman, in his early seventies, recalled seeing the clock in his grandmother’s home when he was a child. After some conversation, we learned that the couple was separating amicably, with the wife planning to move into an apartment nearby. “We need to get rid of a lot of stuff,” he told us. It was a bittersweet moment, knowing they were parting with something tied to childhood memories. My wife and I left with the clock, reflecting on how our connection to objects, even sentimental ones, can change over time.

It seems sentimentality can have a price. People grow tired of the things they once cherished or feel the need to unburden themselves of objects tied to past relationships and memories. Nostalgia can bring comfort, but for some, it may not be enough to hold onto the past.

I often wonder what will happen to my clocks when I’m gone. My wife knows that I’m not emotionally attached to all of them. Some were simply acquisitions that served to give me projects that helped me grow as a hobbyist. Yet, there are several clocks that I hope my children will keep—the ones I’ve spent countless hours restoring, the ones with stories and history.

Among them are my twelve Arthur Pequegnat Canadian-made clocks, two Vienna regulators, a Seth Thomas Empire-style clock, a Sessions Beveled No. 2, my Ingraham Huron, and my Junghans Crispi wall clock.

These clocks represent a blend of history, personal connection, and the passion I’ve poured into them. I think my kids will appreciate that.

My most recent Hunsruck Clock evokes memories of my first Junghans clock

While working on one of my latest acquisitions, a Junghans Hunsruck mantel clock, memories flooded back to the first Junghans clock I ever owned, a Junghans Crispi wall clock, that I still have to this day.

Junghans Hunsruck C. 1913

It was a humble box of parts when it first came to me, but I was determined to bring it back to life.

Junghans clock in pieces
Junghans clock in pieces, not unlike a jigsaw puzzle

The restoration process was a hands-on experience where I had to fashion new parts, source missing pieces, and master the art of staining and gluing. Through this ground-up restoration process, I developed a deeper understanding of the craftsmanship and artistry that went into creating these old clocks.

Piece by piece, I painstakingly assembled the clock, learning about the inner workings and mechanics along the way. It required both patience and dedication, but in the end, it was worth it. The clock not only became a functional piece, but a treasured symbol of my passion for antique wall clocks.

A first examination of the movement

As I worked on my latest Junghans mantel clock refreshing the case and servicing the movement, I couldn’t help but reflect on the journey that led me to this point. Each clock I restore holds a special place in my heart, but that first Junghans clock will always hold a particularly special place. It was an affirmation of a lifelong passion for the timeless elegance of antique clocks.

The fascinating story behind the Crispi wall clock

The story behind the Junghans Crispi clock is the enduring power of objects that connect us to the past.

Junghans Crispi time and strike wall clock
Junghans Crispi time and strike wall clock

In the midst of tragedy, there can be glimmers of hope and resilience. Such was the case with a Junghans Crispi wall clock that fell off a wall on Princess Court in North End Halifax on the fateful day of December 6, 1917. Despite the chaos and destruction caused by the Halifax Explosion, this clock managed to survive, albeit in a state of disrepair.

Following its century-long journey, the clock that had been treasured by the Halifax family for generations finally found its way into the hands of an avid antique clock collector.

Over the course of two months, I worked tirelessly to piece together the various components and restore the clock to working condition. It was no easy feat, but the end result was a stunning tribute to both the clock’s history and the resilience of the people of Halifax.

Junghans Crispi wall clock – from a clock-in-a-box to a clock that rocks!

In a series of articles documenting the restoration process, I shared not only the technical details of the restoration but also the personal connection to this piece of history.

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