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, … More The Stories Behind My Antique and Vintage Clocks
About a year ago, I shifted my focus to collecting clocks made in Canada or those with a Canadian connection. Of course, there are exceptions if a particularly interesting clock comes along. In keeping with my goal, I won three Canadian clocks this week at auction: an Arthur Pequegnat Hamilton “Tall”, an Arthur Pequegant Dandy, … More Three Canadian Antique Clocks Won at Auction
Martin Cheney is not typically the first name that comes to mind when considering the impact of clockmakers on Canadian horology. Martin Cheney, born in 1778, was part of a prominent American clock-making family. He was one of four sons of Benjamin Cheney (1725-1815) and Elizabeth Long Cheney, who hailed from East Hartford, Connecticut. Benjamin … More The Legacy of Martin Cheney: Clock-Making in Early Canada
It’s time to inspect the movement on this mid-thirties German box clock. Purchased at an antique mall in Peterborough, Ontario, in May of 2017, it was serviced in 2020. This clock is part of a small collection at our family cottage and runs for about three months each year. However, the cottage environment can be … More Optimizing Care for a Vintage Mauthe Clock: Inspection and Oiling
The newest addition to my collection of Pequegant clocks is the Jewel. That marks a total of nine Pequegnat clocks in my modest collection. I was not actively seeking a new clock. In fact, I haven’t purchased one in months, and mantel clocks weren’t even on my radar. I bought the Simcoe (above) in 2018 … More The Pequegnat Jewel and the Simcoe – similar yet subtly different
A steeple clock is a type of clock designed to resemble a miniature church steeple or spire. This style of clock is often characterized by its tall and narrow structure. These clocks gained popularity in the mid-19th century and were often produced in various styles. The design was influenced by the Gothic Revival architecture that … More The Steeple Clock – function combines with design
One clock that holds a special meaning and one that I would like to add to my collection someday is the Arthur Pequegnat Regulator #1, a single-weight eight-day clock. This clock is truly a rare find, though the prices I’ve encountered thus far are a bit steep for my budget. The Arthur Pequegnat Story The … More Regulator #1 by Arthur Pequegnat
In the heart of North End Halifax, on December 6, 1917, a Junghans Crispi clock fell off a wall in a house on Princess Court. Unbeknownst to it, this simple clock would become a silent witness to one of the worst man-made disasters in Canadian history – the Halifax Explosion. As the Belgian relief ship … More Honouring History, One Tick at a Time – the Halifax Explosion Dec 6, 1917
Here are three commonly cited reasons for eliminating the cursed Daylight Savings Time convention: One of the main arguments against daylight saving time is its impact on human health. The abrupt shift in the clock can disrupt people’s sleep patterns, leading to sleep deprivation and increased stress. Studies have shown a rise in heart attacks, … More Three arguments for eliminating Daylight Savings Time
After attending the 2019 NAWCC (National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors) convention and participating in chapter meetings in Ottawa, Ontario, I’ve often wondered why there isn’t any NAWCC representation in the Maritime provinces of Canada – Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island. Surprisingly, there isn’t even an informal clock and watch club … More Cultivating a Clock and Watch Community in Canada’s Maritime Region
Tick-Talk Tuesday is dedicated to addressing readers’ letters and comments related to clock issues, challenges, and recommendations for specific clocks. In cases where the comments and questions are particularly challenging, I seek advice from my fellow clock enthusiasts to provide the most accurate and helpful response. SS writes Hi Ron. My name is SS I’m … More Tick Talk Tuesday #51 – My Arthur Pequegnat clock
Tick-Talk Tuesday is dedicated to addressing readers’ letters and comments related to clock issues, challenges, and recommendations for specific clocks. In cases where the comments and questions are particularly challenging, I seek advice from my fellow clock enthusiasts to provide the most accurate and helpful response. SS writes“Hi, Ron. My name is S and I’m writing … More Tick Talk Tuesday #50 – My mother-inlaw gave me this clock
The dashboard that forms part of the WordPress package offers a fascinating array of statistical information. It empowers me to track the viewership of my articles and gain insights into readers’ interests, as indicated by the number of clicks, which serves as a valuable measure of engagement. So far in the year 2023, antiquevintageclock.com has … More Antiquvintageclock visitors come from all over the world
At our seasonal cottage located in central Canada, we enjoy displaying a small selection of clocks, during the summer months. The first clock, displayed for a number of years, was a Danial Dakota time and strike clock, which we had converted to a quartz movement. This clock, originating from the 1960s, incorporated Chinese design elements … More Clocks at our summer retreat
In this blog post, we’ll share practical tips on how to incorporate antique clocks into your interior decor. We’ll discuss strategic placement, creative styling techniques, and ways to create an eye-catching focal point. Make your antique clock the star of the show by displaying it in a prominent location where it can take center stage. … More How to Display an Antique Clock in Your Home
The origin of the name “schoolhouse clock” is not well-documented, and it appears that the term was not used during the time these clocks were made. Instead, it was later coined by collectors to describe a particular style of clock commonly found in school settings. Schoolhouse clocks were the standard design for early North American … More The Schoolhouse Clock: Unveiling its History
While there has been a minimal uptick in clock prices, at least as far as the garden variety of common antique clocks is concerned, the cost of clock repair equipment had increased dramatically. The increase in the cost of clock repair equipment can be attributed to several factors that may contribute to the significant rise … More Exploring Factors Behind the Recent Increase in Clock Equipment Prices
Finding a way to tie in antique clock collecting and repair to Canada Day celebrations on July 1st is an interesting challenge so I came up with some oddball thoughts the reader might find amusing. So here goes. Canada Day, at one time known as Dominion Day, marks the anniversary of the Confederation of Canada … More Celebrating Canada Day with family and friends
We have been facing a challenging spring here in Nova Scotia, as the threat of wildfires has been looming over us. In May 2023, our community in Nova Scotia has been devastated by the occurrence of two uncontrolled wildfires. The dire consequences of these fires include the evacuation of thousands of individuals and the tragic … More If I had to take one antique clock from a “burning house” which one would it be
During my article review this week, I stumbled upon my first-ever blog post from 2015 about my fortunate discovery of an Arthur Pequegnat clock in a nearby antique shop. It was an exciting experience for me, and I was thrilled to share it with my readers. This was my first Arthur Pequegnat clock whihc was … More Timeless Treasure: My First Arthur Pequegnat Clock Discovery
The Pequegnat name may not be familiar to international readers but it was a significant Canadian clock company that manufactured both movements and cases beginning in the early 20th century. The Pequegnat Clock Company was a Canadian clock manufacturer that operated from 1904 to 1941. The company was founded by Arthur Pequegnat a Canadian immigrant … More The Pequegnat story & the Maple Leaf series of kitchen clocks
Well, it’s that time of the year. What is my best clock acquisition of the past year? You can decide for yourself and leave a comment but I will reveal my favorite at the end of the post. As a clock hobbyist, I have had little difficulty locating interesting clocks and every year I have … More Best clock acquisition of 2022
Just before Christmas 2022, I published an article on a Hamilton Clock Co. 30-hour ogee that I won at auction earlier in 2022. I had been delaying repairs on the case for months and finally found the time to tackle the veneer work. I seem to be strangely attracted to ogee clocks, this is my … More After veneer repairs, the Hamilton ogee case is finished
Should antique clock cases be refinished or rejuvenated? It can be a judgement call. I am all for patina and preserving an old clock case but there are times when certain amount of intervention is practical from an aesthetics and resale point of view. There is a certain philosophical argument among collectors who believe on … More Hamilton Clock Co. ogee – a dull and tired case needs help
People often tell me that they could never have an old-fashioned antique clock in their home because of the noise. And by noise, they are not so much disturbed by the ticking sound as they are about the sound a clock makes on the quarter, half, or on the hour, in other words, a striking … More The time-only clock – simplicity without the noise
You must be logged in to post a comment.