Vintage alarm clock – they say rust never sleeps
Vintage Alarm Clock. Other than the rust, everything about it appears to be intact. May still work, just leaving it as is Yeah, about that rust!
I reside in a small community just outside Truro, Nova Scotia. I am a retired community college criminal justice professor. My interests include clock collecting & repair, photography, and international travel. The world of horology has opened up interesting opportunities for me. As I build my collection of clocks, repair and restoration have become an integral part of my hobby. Please leave a comment on my blog or email me privately about any question(s) you might have on this post or others.
Vintage Alarm Clock. Other than the rust, everything about it appears to be intact. May still work, just leaving it as is Yeah, about that rust!
There are four general categories of clocks; quartz, electro-mechanical, electric, and mechanical. Mechanical clocks, whether they are antique or vintage are the focus of our discussion on why a clock runs slow. We are quite accustomed to the accuracy of quartz clocks which lose or gain mere milli-seconds per week. Contrast that with an era … More My antique clock runs slow – why?
Some folks collect clocks without actually working on them. Collecting clocks and repairing them are two very different things. I know people who would gladly send their clocks out for servicing and don’t seem to mind the extra cost. I like to do my own work. If you work on your own clocks or service … More What is this clock thing for? #3 – the let-down key
An antique clock stopping unexpectedly can be frustrating, especially if it has been running smoothly for years. However, a stopped clock doesn’t always signal a major problem. In many cases, the issue can be resolved with a little troubleshooting and basic maintenance. Whether it’s a cherished family heirloom or a recent addition to your collection, … More My antique clock stopped, what do I do?
Tick-Talk Tuesday is about the letters and comments I have received from you, the reader, concerning your clock, issues you might have had, challenges you face or a clock you would like me to profile and my responses to your questions with advice on your particular clock concern. For those comments and questions that stump … More Tick Talk Tuesday #16 – I would like to sell my clock
This is Part II of a two part series in which I describe the final finishing of an Arthur Pequegnat Bedford clock case. In Part I I described the challenges of repairing the clock case and the minor repairs to the movement. In the first part of the series I also described how I acquired … More Arthur Pequegnat Bedford – bringing a handsome mantel clock back to life – Part II
Now for a little tongue in cheek. The Tempus Fugit Clock Company must be doing exceptionally well. Tempus Fugit clocks are everywhere, online for-sale sites, eBay, Kijiji and the like. Type “Tempus Fugit” in the eBay search box and dozens of wall clocks, grandfather clocks and mantel clocks will pop up. Not only can the … More Tempus Fugit – what you need to know about the worlds fastest growing clock company
Is your mechanical clock not running as well as it should? Does it stop intermittently or not run at all? There may be a number of issues with the movement and among them pivot wear. Pivots are the ends of the axles (the horological term is “arbours”) that spin in small holes drilled in the … More What does bushing a clock mean?
I acquired an Arthur Pequegnat mantel/shelf clock during my travels to Quebec this spring. The red oak veneered clock is complete with original hands, pendulum bob, a good label on the inside back of the access panel, coil gong and of course, the signature time and strike Arthur Pequegnat movement with nickel-plated steel plates. It … More Arthur Pequegnat Bedford – bringing a handsome mantel clock back to life – Part I
My Gustav Becker Vienna Regulator wall clock is 51 inches in length. It is a 2-weight regulator that runs on an eight day cycle. In order to bring the weights up I must open the access door and insert the winding crank into the arbours on the clock face. I then raise the weights to … More What is this thing for? #1 – The clock case stabilizer
Most knowledgeable clock enthusiasts in Canada instantly recognize the Arthur Pequegnat Clock Company as one of Canada’s premier clock companies. Although the company went out of business over 75 years ago the Arthur Pequegnat name is still respected as a quality clock-maker. The Arthur Pequegnat Clock Company had an illustrious albeit short life. Watchmaker Arthur … More The Arthur Pequegnat Clock Company – a brief history
It is time to take a little break. As regular readers know I publish between 7 and 9 articles per month. I have been spending considerable time this spring putting ideas together and getting articles ready for the summer months so that there will be NO interruption in activity on this blog. Since I spend … More Taking a summer clock break
While antiquing some time ago I came across boxes of clock movements in a shop. Some were fairly new though I found a Gilbert time and strike date stamped 1906 which piqued my interest. In the box was the key, the coil gong, clock hands, pendulum and movement mounting screws. A movement without a case. … More Gilbert time and strike – why I am putting the movement aside for now
I have been to Middleton, Nova Scotia many times. I have even passed the Macdonald Consolidated School where the clock museum is located without realizing what treasures lay inside. The clock museum represents a small section of the museum, the remainder of which is dedicated to the history of the area. In the Spring of … More The Macdonald Museum – if you are a clock fan, or even if you are not, this small museum may surprise you
Tick-Talk Tuesday is about the letters and comments I have received from you, the reader, concerning your clock, issues you might have had, challenges you face or a clock you would like me to profile and my responses to your questions with advice on your particular clock concern. For those comments and questions that stump … More Tick Talk Tuesday #15 -what size clock key do I need?
I have the 30-hour clock bug and my collection of them is steadily growing, but where to put them all? I have not decided where to put this one and for the moment it is on the floor of my work room. Sperry and Shaw were not thought of as a high end clock company … More Sperry and Shaw 30 hour 4 column New York Style shelf clock circa 1846-47
The photos tell the story Some time ago I wrote an article on an Ansonia barn find. It is an Ansonia Extra Drop time-only Rosewood veneered wall clock, circa 1880. I thought I would update readers on how this little project is progressing. I was able to find most of the parts but there are … More Ansonia Extra Drop wall clock – moving ahead with repairs
Last summer (2017) my sister asked me to look at her newly acquired Ansonia time-only 1-day cottage clock (circa 1895). “How much did you pay for it”, I said. “Only $25 but it doesn’t work, something is wrong with it,” she said without being specific. And she was correct. The clock would have not cost … More Ansonia cottage clock – a neglected clock brought back to life
As regular readers know I am a fan of Arthur Pequegnat clocks not just because they were made in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada but they are attractive, well made and hold their value well (in Canada!). I have had clocks given to me in the past but this was a rather unusual situation. As readers know … More Arthur Pequegnat Bedford mantel clock – an interesting find
Ogee clock prices seem to be at their lowest level in years. If you have your heart set on an Ogee clock, there is probably no better time to buy than now. Ogee clock; clock design that originated in the United States in the 1830s, distinguished by a case (usually pine) the front outer edges of … More Looking for an antique Ogee clock? Now is the best time to buy
Old Clock nice wood and brass good glass works great have both keys Seller wants $60. Nice Sessions American time and strike mantel clock at a good price but really, 2 keys? All American time and strike clocks require one key only.
The other day I decided to explore my humble beginnings and realized that 240 posts ago was post number one. Three years ago I had recently retired and I decided to look into blogging, something I always wanted to do. I never considered myself a great writer. I do not have that natural flair that … More 240 clock posts later and still ticking away
Tick-Talk Tuesday is about the letters and comments I have received from you, the reader, concerning your clock, issues you might have had, challenges you face or a clock you would like me to profile and my responses to your questions with advice on your particular clock concern. For those comments and questions that stump … More Tick Talk Tuesday #14 – Can you tell me something about my Forestville clock
While on a vacation in the Dominican Republic we brought along an old Westclox wind-up mechanical travel alarm clock for no other reason but to have it as a curiosity and of course, to get us up in the morning. You might wonder why an alarm clock is necessary for a relaxing beach vacation. Well, … More Westclox travel alarm clock made in China
On a recent trip to the Dominican Republic my wife and I spent the day in the capital city of Santo Domingo. It is the largest city in the Dominican Republic and the oldest city in the Americas. Although the city considers itself a European in style and architecture, in appearance it is not unlike … More The sundial – the earliest time telling object
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