The results are in. By a small margin, your pick for the best clock of the year is the Sawin banjo clock. A great choice and one I would have picked had I not been frustrated with it during the restoration process but at the end of the day, my favorite is the Gilbert Shawville … More Readers pick for the best clock of 2021
An ogee clock is so-called because it is a 19th century U.S. shelf clock with a distinctive S-curve (convex above and concave below) molding. 30-hour ogee clocks were very popular from the early 1840s to as late as the 1890s, a good run for a distinctive style of clock. Before the days of the Internet, … More Circa 1845 Chauncey Jerome Ogee Clock
Every clock enthusiast has their own way of doing things and each has a different approach to clock restoration. Am I different? Not really, but I have put some thoughts to paper that you might find interesting. Like everyone I started out knowing virtually nothing about clock restoration but learned as I went. As I … More My Approach to Clock Restoration
The turned 4 columns of the New York style Sperry and Shaw clock drew my attention because it is so unlike many of the 30-hour shelf clocks of the time. This clock was made between 1844 and 1851 when Henry Sperry and George Shaw were in the clock business together. The label, which is in … More Sperry and Shaw 4 column clock back on the bench
My Chauncey Jerome 30-hour Ogee weight driven time and strike clock has stopped for no obvious reason. Let’s see if we can get it going again. But first, no-one can deny that Chauncey Jerome had made a historic contribution to the American clock industry in the 18th century when he substituted brass works for wooden … More Chauncey Jerome 30-hour ogee has stopped – the trouble with trundles
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
One more shot is what it deserves. It had been running fairly well since I serviced it three years ago it but in the last few weeks it has decided to run for about 5 minutes and stop and I think I know the reason why. This Ansonia Extra Drop time-only Rosewood veneered wall clock … More I am very close to replacing the mainspring on a Ansonia time-only movement
This Fleet Time, time and strike mantel clock is essentially a plain, garden variety clock with a walnut finish, flat front, a slightly domed top, and step-side features on corner feet. The dial is heavily tarnished and the glass bezel that should be soldered to the chapter ring is detached. These bezels often go missing … More Fleet Time Clock – servicing the movement and then disaster
For today’s post, we are looking at a German time and strike mantel clock with a Hermle movement and sold in Canada under the Solar name. It has a 6″ dial and dark walnut case that would have been around $50 or $60 when new in the 1960s. At about 13” wide by 7” high … More Solar mantel clock servicing – just one hiccup, well, a couple actually
I know many of you did your best to adapt to isolation during what is now known as The Coronavirus Pandemic. It changed the way we think, the way we behave and the way we interact with each other. My condolences to those who suffered during this infamous chapter of our lives particularly those of … More The pandemic allowed time to service my clocks and help me understand “sympathetic vibration”
What defines a successful clock day? When everything goes according to plan, I’d say. I ordered a number of parts from a clock supplier that finally arrived recently. Among the supplies was a good quality pivot oiler, a mainspring for the time side of a mantel clock, a set of better quality broaches and movement … More What defines a successful clock day?
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
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
Back in December 2019, I wrote about the challenges of adjusting the strike side of this attractive parlour clock, a Waterbury York, circa 1900. Despite many attempts the strike side refused to work. Though I was close to a solution but I did not realize it at the time. I put it aside to think … More Waterbury York parlour clock – a fresh approach to addressing a non-functioning strike side
In light of current world events the antiquevintageclock.com family wish to convey our sympathy and condolences to those effected by Covid 19 The movement in this Canada Clock Co. time and (hour) strike cottage clock from the late 1880s is a mess but fixable. Some past repairs are acceptable while other leave a lot to … More Canada Clock Co. – a frustrating movement
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.
I have worked on several Gilbert clocks in the past few months which is unusual for me. Certain makes of clocks seem to come in bunches. This clock is a 6 column time and strike antique Gilbert mantel clock made in 1913, and reflects a period when every American maker had a similar style. Some … More Gilbert 6 column mantel clock
Has my 90 year old Gilbert clock been running continuously since it was first purchased? Not likely. Okay, you’ve made the plunge. For whatever reason you bought that mechanical clock you always wanted. Ask yourself; this is a 100 year old clock and it has been running all this time so what more do I … More How long has my clock been running?
My wife was going through the online catalogue of an estate auction recently and found an attractive vintage Gilbert tambour style clock. “Are you interested?” she said. “Sure”, I said, “put a maximum bid of $35”. We won the bid at $25 + tax and buyer’s premium, so, still under $35 CDN. Would I have … More Gilbert model 2038 8-day mantel clock with Normandy Chime
Antique and Vintage Mechanical Clocks 
You must be logged in to post a comment.