My wife’s uncle was an internist (internal medicine specialist) in Newfoundland and practiced for many years but dementia and its attendant complications finally got the best of him. He spent the last 5 or so years in a locked ward of a residential facility for the elderly. As part of his practice, he set up … More Wag on a wall clock – does it wag?
Like a car engine, oil is the lifeblood of a clock. A correctly oiled clock will ensure a long life. Oil is the “lifeblood” of the car engine; the same applies to a clock. Just as a car engine relies on quality oil to keep its moving parts running smoothly and efficiently, a clock depends … More Oiling your mechanical clock – a quick guide
Something causes tooth damage. But what? The example is a Fleet time and strike mantel clock from the 1930s. Fleet Time Company of Montreal, a company that was operating four short years, sourced movements from Germany prior to the Second World War. It was a very common mantel clock sold through department stores across Canada. … More Mainspring barrel tooth damage – how does that happen?
I knew when I first laid eyes on the clock that it was missing something, the crown. It’s too bad because it is very attractive Hamburg American Company or HAC 8-day time and strike mantel or parlour clock. The little plaque on the base references 1926 the year it was presented to a pastor in … More HAC mantel clock – it came without a crown – FIXED
Honestly, an entire book could be devoted to the topic of dating clocks. Some time ago, I published an article titled “How to Date an Antique or Vintage Clock – Part I,” in which I used specific examples from my own collection. I’d like to explore this topic further, and this post will discuss additional … More Dating an Antique or Vintage Clock – Part II
Schatz and Sohne, the maker of this attractive 8-day carriage clock may not have considered the fact one day their carriage clocks would require servicing. Did they make a throw-away clock? We’ll see. Many were sold and gifted to family, friends, and business associates. Over the years they have either been tossed out, found their … More Are inexpensive carriage clocks worth fixing? Schatz and Sohne
There is no single method of dating an antique or vintage clock but there are some strong clues in some cases and subtle inferences in others that help determine when a clock was manufactured. Occasionally, the exact month and year is displayed somewhere on the case, and in other instances the clock by way of … More Dating an antique or vintage clock – Part I
Is it worth the time and expense to have a clock professionally serviced? That is the question of the day. I receive many letters from people who ask whether a clock handed down to them is worth repairing/preserving. It is not an easy question to answer. Shared history and stories connected with the clock can … More Having a professional service your clock
This clock was bought at auction in Ottawa, Ontario, and hung on the wall of the kitchen at our cottage in Quebec for 4 years. The clock was imported from Germany and sold by the Forestville Clock Co. of Toronto, Canada. It was never a great timekeeper probably because it had never been properly cleaned. … More Delft clock by Forestville – Let’s take it apart and see what we have
During the Christmas season, we split our time between Calgary, Alberta, and Ottawa, Ontario to see our 2 daughters. While in Calgary my wife spotted an interesting item on an Ottawa Facebook Marketplace, an English time and strike clock. She showed me the photo and I said, “that does not look like any English clock … More Dating a Hamburg Amerikanische Uhrenfabrik (HAU) shelf clock
This Fleet Time mantel clock is a generic mantel clock with a walnut finish, flat front, a slightly domed top, and step-side features. Simple but attractive. Fleet assembled clocks sourced from German parts in the Montreal area for 4 years prior to WWII. While the case looks great after refinishing, I was oh so close … More Fleet Time replacement movement needed – calling all clock parts collectors
The time has come to determine the best clock acquisition of the past year. As a clock hobbyist, I have had little difficulty locating interesting clocks over the years, and despite the seemingly never-ending pandemic, I have scored a few in 2021 though the past year has been leaner than most. In the early days … More Best clock acquisition of 2021
I frequently cruise the online for-sale sites for interesting clocks and I could not help but chuckle at this one. Would you buy a Cucuko clock? If you are going to sell a cute Black Forest clock take a little time to find out how to spell the darn word. It is not choochoo or … More Would you buy a “Cucuko” clock?
I have just one other Kienzle clock in my collection and it is a rather unusual one, the World Time desk clock from the 1940s. I do not come across Kienzle clocks very often. They are no lessor quality than most German clocks, I just don’t see many around this region. The latest is a … More Kienzle time and strike movement servicing
I have a growing collection of clocks with upwards of 85 in my collection. My focus is on clocks made in Canada that are entirely manufactured in this country or companies such as Fleet and Forestville, that assembled clocks with foreign/domestic cases and movements. In addition, I have many other clocks that were made in … More Pursuing a clock on an online auction
In January 2017 I took a chance, plunked down $75 and bought a project clock which consisted of a box of clock parts. I took it home, stared at the box for a while trying to figure out what to do and how far I would get with this project. I itemized the parts, arranging … More Finial replacement on a Junghans wall clock
The Fleet Time Co. was a short-lived Canadian clock company that operated between the years 1936 and 1940 producing a range of two and three-train mantel clocks with movements sourced from Germany. All clocks had pendulums and were spring-driven. According to the Canadian Clock Museum in Deep River, Ontario, the company was listed as an … More Fleet Time mantel clock – Mainspring damage
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 or my responses to your questions with advice on your particular clock concern. For those comments and questions that stump … More Tick Talk Tuesday #35 – this clock is a blast
About a year ago I picked up two clocks. I had my eye on one, an Arthur Pequegnat Canuck shelf clock, and the other was “thrown in” as part of the deal. We completed the transaction on the Pequegnat clock and the seller asked me if I wouldn’t mind looking at a mantel clock stored … More Fleet Time mantel clock with Gufa movement – servicing the movement
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, a clock you would like me to profile, my advice on your particular clock concern or a general clock question. For those comments and questions that stump even me, … More Tick Talk Tuesday #34 – what is a HHSN clock?
Servicing the movement is complete. Next is the case. For those unfamiliar with the HAC acronym, it stands for Hamburg American Clock Company, a well-known German company that was acquired by Junghans in the late 1920s. I have a number of German clocks including Junghans, Mauthe, Hermle, Jauch, Gufa, and Gustav Becker but this is … More HAC mantel clock – refreshing the case
The arrangement of the gears should be familiar to anyone working on German clocks made in the first quarter of the twentieth century Bought on an online estate auction site earlier this year, servicing the movement is the subject of this post. Once the movement is serviced, the next step is to address dirt and … More HAC/HAU movement servicing
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 or my responses to your questions with advice on your particular clock concern. For those comments and questions that stump … More Tick Talk Tuesday #31 – nobody wants the family clock
This clock was an estate auction buy in early 2021. Since my wife and I were unable to bid in person we placed an online bid. So many estate auction houses are taking this very route that the days of people packing an auction house and bidding feverishly may be behind us. It was described … More Hamburg American Clock Co. – shelf clock, first look
Although I have sold a few clocks locally in the past year to trim down my collection, I am always on the lookout for new acquisitions. One in, one out, has become the rule. I am a frequent follower of online for-sale and estate auction sites and look for unique clocks like this E. Ingraham … More Auction clock bought on a whim
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