Pequegnat was in the business of making clocks in Kitchener, Canada for over 35 years, 1903 to 1941. Unfortunately the shortage of brass during World War II was the death knell for this company. Pequegnat clocks are sought after by Canadian clock collectors and command higher than average prices, in Canada at least. The best … More Servicing a Pequegnat time and strike movement
The only way you can safely disassemble a clock with an open mainspring is by using mainspring restraining clamps. 4 piece sets, which will accommodate various mainsprings sizes are available from all clock suppliers. Wind the mainsprings tightly enough so that you can work the clamps around the springs. Move the rachet click aside and … More What is this clock thing for? #5 – the mainspring clamp
While I admire the ingenuity and creativity of clock repairpersons many years ago some of the repairs are downright scary and dangerous. I say clock repairpersons because may were back yard mechanics with minimal clock skills that were paid to “just get his thing running”. In this article, I will describe some of the strange … More Interesting clock repairs, some good, some not so good
In February 2020 my wife was perusing an online auction house looking for interesting bargains and noticed a 170-year-old Scottish tall case offered for bidding. Over the past couple of years we had talked about acquiring an antique tall case clock but those we liked were either well beyond our reach or required extensive repairs … More English bell strike servicing Part I – the assessment
A clock test stand is an absolute must for anyone that repairs antique and/or vintage clocks. Quite often minor adjustments are required after servicing that can only be made if the movement is on a test stand. Years ago I bought a test stand from Merritts Clock Supplies. It is called Gene’s test stand and … More Tall case clock movement testing stand
While refreshing the case of this relatively nondescript mantel clock assembled by a short-lived Canadain clock company I ran into two interesting surprises. Here is a garden-variety vintage Westminster chime mantel clock from the Fleet Time Company of Montreal (Canada). Many of these clocks were sold at department stores across Canada during the pre-war (WWII) … More Fleet Time company of Montreal – case refinishing and 2 surprises
It is time to take a little break. It has been a difficult first half of 2020 and we are all feeling the effects of isolation. For many the world-wide pandemic has been an adjustment not only with our daily routine but in our interactions with those dear to us. Hopefully things will change for … More Time to relax and slow down
It is not uncommon for a mechanical clock to run 25, 30 years or more with nothing more done to it other than the occasional oiling. How often should a mechanical clock be serviced? It is not as simple an answer as it seems. In this post, I will discuss what it means to service … More Service intervals for antique and vintage mechanical clocks?
Older readers growing up in the rural areas of Canada and American have fond memories of the one-room schoolhouse clock located in the front or rear of the classroom. Just how did the schoolhouse clock get its name? As the teacher instructed the students to work quietly on their own students would look up furtively … More The schoolhouse clock – how it got its name
Putting together a list of all the clocks I desire really appeals to me. The more I research the antique and vintage clock world the more discerning I have become as a collector. Most clock collectors evolve as their tastes change and after collecting for more than 10 years I have changed my thinking on … More My antique and vintage clock wish list
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 #25 – broken suspension spring on Vedette clock
In light of current world events the antiquevintageclock.com family wish to convey our sympathy and condolences to those effected by Covid 19 I receive letters from all over the world asking my advice on a number of clock issues such as how a particular component of a mechanical clock should work, a clock repair challenge, … More Search for my past clock articles using keywords
In light of current world events the antiquevintageclock.com family wish to convey our sympathy and condolences to those effected by Covid 19 My daughter found this vintage Sessions electric table clock, a model 3W and gave it to me as a Christmas gift. It is made, by the Sessions Clock Co. Forestville, Connecticut in 1936 … More Sessions electric table clock refinishing – a father-daughter project
In light of current world events the antiquevintageclock.com family wish to convey our sympathy and condolences to those effected by Covid 19 Tick Talk Tuesday #24 – key required for family clock. Tick-Talk Tuesday is about the letters and comments I have received from you, the reader, concerning your clock, issues you might have had, … More Tick Talk Tuesday #24 – key required for family clock
In light of current world events the antiquevintageclock.com family wish to convey our sympathy and condolences to those effected by Covid 19 Small shelf clocks of the 1930s from BlackForest Clock Co. of Toronto shared a simple German-made time-only movement across the line. The movement has tiny wheels and pivots plus a clever twisting pendulum … More Plate clock movement – simple but finicky
In light of current world events the antiquevintageclock.com family wish to convey our sympathy and condolences to those effected by Covid 19 The only exception to my collection of mechanical clocks is this vintage Sessions electric auto-start table clock, model 3W, made by the Sessions Clock Co. Forestville, Connecticut in 1934 and sold throughout Canada … More Session Electric clock model 3W – refinishing the case
In light of current world events the antiquevintageclock.com family wish to convey our sympathy and condolences to those effected by Covid 19 In this article, I will describe the steps taken to inpaint and restore the dial of an Arthur Pequegnat time and strike gingerbread clock. But first, what is inpainting? And what does it … More Pequegnat gingerbread clock and dial inpainting
In light of current world events the antiquevintageclock.com family wish to convey our sympathy and condolences to those effected by Covid 19 There are a fair number of Canadian clock enthusiasts that have various sized collections of Pequegnat clocks. Skip Kerr‘s extensive collection immediately comes to mind. Although my collection is modest by comparison with … More My collection of Arthur Pequegnat clocks
Hi readers, in light of current world events the antiquevintageclock.com family wish to convey our sympathy and condolences to those effected by Covid 19 I have a total of eight Arthur Pequegnat clocks in my collection. The newest, an Arthur Pequegnat Canuck is not exactly my favorite though it is not unattractive for a gingerbread … More Arthur Pequegnat Canuck gingerbread clock first look
Hi readers, in light of current world events the antiquevintageclock.com family wish to convey our sympathy and condolences to those effected by Covid 19 Dating a clock can be a challenge and often an estimate within a range of dates is the best that can be accomplished. Dating some clocks can be relatively easy as … More Dating an antique Gothic Steeple Manross clock
Amid the health crisis ensnaring the world today finding escape is good for the soul. Social distancing, self-isolation, and sheltered-in-place are terms representing new realities. However, we must all use our time at home constructively engaged in meaningful activities and mine is the repair and restoration of old clocks. Horology allows me to drift into … More 7 reasons why a hobby is your oasis for the coming dark days
While waiting for movement parts I continued to work on the case of this antique Canadian cottage clock from the mid 1880s. The dial needs attention and in this article I will describe the procedures for in-painting the numerals and decorative elements. Decorative hand-painted antique dials need attention from time to time. Through environment and … More Canada Clock Co. Hamilton Cottage Extra – dial in-painting
For the past several years my wife and I have been searching for an authentic antique tall case clock. I finally found one at an estate auction an hour down the road from where I live and seized the opportunity to purchase a clock I knew practically nothing about. In this blog article, I will … More Scottish tall case clock circa 1850s
Servicing this clock from the Canada Clock Company was a real challenge as I encountered many issues that conspired to slow my progress. I found this clock in an antique shop in downtown Truro, Nova Scotia at basically a give-away price. The seller knew nothing about the Canada Clock Co. and that was fine with … More Canada Clock Co. – 30 hour time and strike needs some love
I want to talk about one of the most useful tools in clock repair, the pivot locator. As an avid horology enthusiast for the past 9 years, I have been steadily building my knowledge of clock repair and with it a selection of essential clock tools.
Antique and Vintage Mechanical Clocks 
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