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 some people seem to have for writing but I wanted to give it a try. I had some thoughts and ideas that I wanted to communicate with an audience that was looking for something a little different.
I attended a WordPress session at my local college and was very impressed with how easy it was to set up a blogging site. Anyone can do it said the facilitator and I wasted no time getting started. WordPress impressed me as a very intuitive package then and after 3 years I am still impressed with the power of the product.
This year as some of you know I decided to buy a domain name which I think is a great name and says everything it needs to, antiquevintageclock.com and a 1-year automatically renewable subscription. I won’t go into the additional benefits of the new package suffice to say the time was right for a change. The result has been a slight uptick in hits and exposure to more powerful options within WordPress.
Just a note about hits. In the first week or so of my new domain name my hits dropped dramatically, something to do with Google’s ranking analytics and not unusual for a brand new domain name. Of course, after I hit the migrate button and saw my hits drop I found an article that spoke directly to making preparations beforehand to avoid low hits after migration but too late for me. It would have been nice for a WordPress warning box to pop that would have read, “Oh, before you do that you may want to read this”
So, here is what I said three years ago. It was a short article and I remember at the time what a real struggle it was to put those first few words together.
I am no more than a clock collector and tinkerer. I am not a trained horologist nor do I have a great talent for clock repair or even getting a simple clock back to working order, but I find the world of horology to be quite fascinating.
It is a relatively new hobby for me which began with the purchase of a Daniel Dakota 2-train wall clock about 3 years ago.
The clock that started my collection, a humble Chinese clock that still ticks today.
Now I know what you are thinking. Why start with a Chinese made clock which most would consider inferior to almost any other clock in the world. Well, it was pretty cheap and it piqued my interest in collecting. From there I moved on to a Ridgeway grandfather clock and to my current collection of Mauthe, Seth Thomas, Hermle, Forestville, Sessions, Smiths Enfield, Muller and Pequegnat clocks.
I intend to profile my clocks both old and newly acquired on this blog and describe my attempts to repair and maintain my modest collection. I might even solicit a little help from my fellow clock enthusiasts.
Some of the nicer things about clock collecting are that is a great conversation starter and it allows me to combine my other passions, photography and traveling. Finding good clocks means traveling around the province of Nova Scotia, meeting interesting people along the way and is some cases getting fabulous deals. All the photos on this site are my own. I will try to capture the beauty of these old mechanical clocks and talk about the pedigree if I can learn anything about the history of any of these clocks..
Stay tuned. It is all a learning experience and as I bravely go further into the hobby I will be able to share my many experiences.
Well, I am still doing what I set out to do, profile my modest collection and pass on the clock repair techniques I have learned to the novice and intermediate clock repairer. Do I know more than I knew then? Sure, isn’t that what learning is all about? I am still tuned in and I hope you are too.
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 even me, I consult within my clock circles for the best possible answer.
GGs Forestville Mantel clock
GG writes: “Hello there,,,I was wondering if you know much about my mantle clock and maybe it’s value?
I have attached some photos!”
My reply: “Thanks for coming to my blog. That is one of the nicest mantel clock cases I have seen on a Forestville and it appears to be in good shape.
Forestville is a Canadian Company based out of Toronto. They went out of business in 1979. They did not make their own movements instead sourcing them from England, France, the US and Germany though they made their own clock cases.
GGs clock showing German made movement and pendulum bob
You may or may not know that Forestville was called the Blackforest Clock company prior to WWII. So, you have a post war clock made in the late 1940s or early 50s. Later on In the 1950s Forestville went from using pendulums in their clocks to balance wheels (no pendulum). Forestville also sourced German movements exclusively after the war. Your movement (the brass works) was likely made by Mauthe or Hermle, both well known and well respected German companies.
You have what is known as a time and strike Bim-Bam clock. It strikes the respective hour and once on the half hour but makes a distinctive “Bim-Bam” sound as a result of one hammer striking one rod while the other two strikes two rods simultaneously.
Unfortunately there are thousands of similar clocks and Forestville clocks are not particularly distinctive but a clock such as this in good running condition might fetch about $100.”
GG writes back to explain that the movement is an Enfield from England which stands to reason if it was made immediately after the Second War.
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, if you have excursions planned for a specific day, it’s essential to wake up early and on schedule.
We’ve all become accustomed to using electronic alarms, like those on our cell phones or tablets, to wake us at a precise time. However, my brief testing showed that this compact travel alarm clock works well, even if it’s not quite as precise.
This is a Westclox travel alarm clock I purchased from a local antique dealer for $6. It’s in excellent condition, suggesting it hasn’t seen much travel. Clocks like this often didn’t fare well with heavy use; once they broke, they were typically discarded.
I would date it to the 1960s. It is very compact, measuring 3 inches square by 1 1/2 inches deep when collapsed. It is in a light brown plastic case and folds into its case when transported. It fits easily into a purse, messenger bag, overnight bag, or suitcase.
Collapsed, the clock fits anywhere
Unlike older alarm clocks that usually have two separate winding keys, this one combines the winding mechanism for both the bell alarm and the time function into a single key. The center knob is used to adjust the time, while the upper-left knob sets the alarm. Additionally, there is a speed adjustment located just above the center knob.
The red lever activates the alarm
The three patent numbers on the back of the clock don’t clearly indicate the exact year it was manufactured.
These clocks were produced in large quantities and can often be found for under $10 on online marketplaces or in antique stores.
Back of the alarm clock shows setting knobs
While many Westclox alarm clocks were produced in Canada and the US, by the 1960s, production shifted offshore to reduce costs. This particular clock was made in China, whereas other similar Westclox alarm clocks from the same era were manufactured in Taiwan.
Westclox alarm clocks were originally produced by the United Clock Company in Peru, Illinois in the late nineteenth century.
The company initially failed, became the Western Clock Co., and again went bankrupt, reorganized under the Western Clock Manufacturing Co., and found success when they acquired the first patent for the Big Ben alarm clock in the early part of the 20th Century. In 1931 Western Clock Co. merged with Seth Thomas with both companies falling under the General Time Corporation. Westclox then became a division of General Time.
Regarding the Canadian connection, a significant number of Westclox alarm clocks sold in North America were manufactured in Peterborough, Ontario, from 1922 to the early 1980s.
Quite often alarm clocks that I find in flea markets and antique shops are dented, missing winding keys and other adjustment knobs which I try to avoid (unless for parts) but this one was complete.
Although I primarily collect clocks, I do have several alarm clocks in my collection. I am selective, adding only those that are particularly interesting, and I avoid clocks with luminous dials from the early 20th century due to the potential exposure to Radium.
Most traveling alarm clocks remain quite affordable, except for certain Swiss and French models.
This clock is an excellent example from a company that was once the undisputed leader in alarm clock production.
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.
Square in historic centre of Santo Domingo
Central cathedral, Santo Domingo
Although the city considers itself a European in style and architecture, in appearance it is not unlike any other city in the Caribbean. Most of the historic buildings are located in the Colonial Zone or Zona Colonial, a walled 16-square-block historic district with many firsts of the New World such as the first cathedral, university, and hospital. Most of our time was spent in this historic district where we saw museums, castles, churches, had a light lunch and this sundial.
Sundial in historic district Santo Domingo, showing 11:30am
Jesuit church, Santo Domingo
A sundial is a device that tells the time when there is sunlight. It does so by casting a shadow according to the position of the sun in the sky. The part of it that casts the shadow is called the gnomon, a sort of shark-fin like object. As the earth turns on its polar axis, the sun appears to cross the sky from east to west, rising at sun-rise from beneath the horizon to a zenith at mid-day and falling again behind the horizon at sunset. Sundials indicate the local solar time only. Before the introduction of the mechanical clock, the sundial was the only source of time. Ironically, when the clcok was invented the sundial became more important as a way of regulating the clock as its accuracy was poor.
The Alcázar de Colón, or Columbus Alcazar is the oldest Viceregal residence in America
Torre del Reloj, clock tower, Santo Domingo
Sundials have been invented independently in all major cultures and become more accurate and sophisticated as the culture developed. The earliest sundials go back to 1500BC from ancient Egyptian astronomy, however, humans were telling time from shadow-lengths at an even earlier date, but this is difficult to verify.
Indeed, we have come a long way from the sundial.
Unlike mechanical clock movements, they are easy to maintain. As they say, there are two clocks that should never be oiled, the Atmos and the sundial.
I wasn’t on the lookout for another steeple clock but when I discovered this on a local online for-sale site I just could not pass it up.
Let’s clear something up from the outset. The Hamilton Clock Co in the United States and the Hamilton Watch Co were probably associated with each other in some way but the Hamilton Clock Co. located in Hamilton Ontario, Canada which operated between 1876 and 1880 was not in any way affiliated with the American company.
I bought his Hamilton Clock Co. 30-hour time and strike steeple clock from a local seller. I am sure the seller thought he did well with the sale as he did not budge from the 100CDN he was asking. However, I consider this a win-win situation. We were both pleased because clocks from the Hamilton Clock Co. are sought after by Canadian collectors and this example would easily fetch much more than the price I paid. I was particularly intrigued by the etched tablet with, “Cling to the Cross” a religious phrase that was popular at the time. It is the larger of two versions at 19 ¼”. The Hamilton Clock company made the only true steeple clocks and very few survive.
The 30-hour time and strike movement is appropriately stamped HAMILTON CLOCK CO. HAMILTON ONT. The suspension spring is mounted higher up than a photo I saw on the Canadian Clock Museum site which shows the suspension spring mounted below the hour cannon. There is also a pin through what looks like the intermediate gear on this movement. There had to be some variations over the period the movement was made.
The clock is not without issues, after all, it was made between 1876 and 1880 and some wear and tear is expected for a 140-year-old clock. Everything seems to be there and it is in good shape including the “Cling to the Cross” inscription on the tablet. The etched glass tablet was the result of an association with glass factories in the Hamilton area and unlike anything offered by other companies. There were a whole series of clocks made with similar religious messages.
30-hour time and strike movement with clock company inscription on the bottom of the front plate
The original dial face is faded/worn, the hands are original and the 30-hour movement has the correct pendulum. There are minor veneer losses here and there consisting mostly of chips. The right steeple is also missing its tip.
Veneer chips on the left side of the double-curved base
The label is not complete but is quite readable.
Loss on the clock label
Half the label is missing but enough to clearly identify the clock-maker
A complete label should look like this better example
The clock runs surprisingly well but requires a thorough cleaning and repair work on the time side ratchet click which slips when the arbour is wound. Generally, the clock appears to be in reasonably good shape.
I am always intrigued by clocks made entirely in Canada. The following information is taken from the Canadian Clock Museum located in Deep River Ontario (Canada). A must visit if you are in Canada, love clocks and are especially interested in Canadian makers.
“This company was established in 1876, after the failure of the Canada Clock Company in Whitby, Ontario.
The machinery and other tools and equipment were purchased and moved to Hamilton by two business men, James Simpson and George Lee. Simpson, born in Scotland, had been active in Hamilton for years as a partner in a wholesale grocery business. He assumed the title of President of the clock company. Lee, born in Ireland, was also active in food wholesaling, and the operation of hotels, and restaurants. He became the Business Manager. Neither man had any prior experience with factory operations or clock making.
Technical expertise was provided by John F. Collins, who had previously acted as Manager of the Canada Clock Company in Whitby and had been instrumental in equipping and operating that enterprise. He was brought from Whitby along with the equipment and given the title of Mechanical Superintendent.
Collins utilized tools, dies and designs he had created at Whitby, so the Hamilton company was really a continuation of his previous efforts. He was able to broaden the range of movements and case styles, and hence to offer a more complete line of merchandise. Unfortunately, after a few years, he appears to have fallen out with the new owners and left the company in 1879.
George Lee, in turn, suffered health problems and was obliged to leave around 1880.
This left James Simpson as sole proprietor. He ended production under the name Hamilton Clock Company and proceeded to make major changes. The factory and equipment were retained, but a completely updated product line was developed. Simpson found new investors and incorporated the firm as a public company that was renamed The Canada Clock Company Limited.
The Hamilton Clock Company appears to have made a valiant effort to provide clocks for the Canadian market, in competition with the huge U.S. clock factories that already dominated the market. Hamilton clocks matched competitive products in appearance and their quality was quite adequate. The volume achieved, however, was never very large and the product line was simple and limited. No catalogs or printed material have ever been found from the company and our opinions can only be based on an examination of surviving clocks. Perhaps, like the attempt in Whitby, the available capital and ‘know-how’ were insufficient to ensure a major success.”
There is nothing novel or unusual about Hamilton Clock Co. clocks. They had movements and cases similar to American made clocks but since the production was limited to 4 years, fewer were made, they are rare and therefore more desirable for collectors.
Of the five anniversary clocks in my collection, none have cost me more than $30. It’s unfortunate because these clocks are truly fascinating devices. They are well-crafted, delicate, and ornamental, driven by spring mechanisms. While many thousands were produced, their abundance is reflected in their low value today. My focus is on collecting the older mechanical models, the last of which were manufactured over 35 years ago, and steer clear of the battery-operated anniversary clocks still being sold.
Among clock repair enthusiasts (horologists), opinions on anniversary clocks vary—some enjoy working on them, while others struggle to develop an affinity for them. I fall firmly into the former group, finding these clocks both intriguing and enjoyable to work on.
Kundo 400 day torsion clock
Gustav Becker, Haller, and Schatz 400-day clocks are certainly more desirable, better made, and fetch higher prices. While I don’t have any of these makes in my collection, I am always on the lookout for more desirable and collectible models.
Movement prior to cleaning and showing verdigris on the spring barrel
I picked this up for $5 at a local antique store. When buying one of these clocks, regardless of the price, it’s crucial to check that all parts are present, as sourcing a missing part can be nearly impossible unless you purchase an identical clock for parts. Often, the only issue is a broken suspension spring.
Fortunately, this Kundo clock was complete and in generally good condition. However, the suspension spring had clearly been snapped off due to improper transport. Many people either forget about or are unaware that these clocks feature highly effective pendulum locking mechanisms.
These are called torsion clocks because there is a weighted disk or wheel, often a decorative wheel with 3 or 4 chrome or brass balls on ornate spokes, suspended by a thin wire or ribbon called a torsion spring (otherwise known as a suspension spring). The torsion pendulum rotates about the vertical axis of the wire, twisting it, instead of swinging like an ordinary pendulum.
These clocks operate very slowly—in the case of this Kundo Junior, just 10 beats per minute compared to 100 beats per minute or more for a typical pendulum mantel clock. Due to the slow movement of the gears, wear is minimal, and it’s quite common to find these clocks with a broken suspension spring as their only issue.
Front plate removed
The movement was disassembled and cleaned in an ultrasonic cleaner. The mainspring was removed from the barrel, cleaned, and serviced. Otherwise, there was minimal wear to the pivot holes. In fact, I have never needed to install a bushing in an anniversary clock because their slow operation results in very little friction.
The old spring was very twisted
Now, it’s time to install the new suspension spring. The suspension spring is a very thin piece of steel running down the back of the clock, designed to twist back and forth while suspending the pendulum balls. It’s crucial not to kink or bend it, as a bent or crimped spring is the most common reason these clocks fail to function properly.
You can purchase pre-assembled suspension springs in kit form—springs already fitted with blocks and a fork—but I’ve found it far more cost-effective to buy the springs separately and re-use the blocks and fork. To ensure accuracy, I consulted my Horolovar manual (I eventually purchased one) to find the exact template—Kundo 5E, in this case. I then unscrew the blocks and fork to install the new spring. Here is an example of a suspension spring from a Kern 400-day clock.
A new suspension spring was installed on a Kern
Installing the suspension spring requires a little patience. While it is a delicate process, it’s relatively easy to do. It’s best to work on a flat surface. There are screws on both the top and bottom blocks that must be loosened before the new spring can be inserted. The bottom block was a bit stubborn, and a jeweler’s screwdriver is essential—you don’t want to strip those tiny screws.
Use the template in the Horolovar manual as your guide. For the Kern clock mentioned earlier, I had to rely on some guesswork while waiting for the manual to arrive, but once it did, I was able to confirm the measurements. After positioning the blocks, attach the fork and secure it with screws.
Install the bottom block first. Attach the spring block to the 4 pendulum balls with the pin then lock the pendulum balls in place using the locking lever. Some 400-day clocks use a simpler bottom block solution that simply hooks the block into place. Because this one uses a pin it is a bit more frustrating. After the bottom block is secured and locked in place install the top block to the top mount by first slipping the fork over the verge post. In the case of this Kundo it is a small side screw that secures the top block to the mount (saddle?).
I then attached the dial face and the hands then gave the pendulum a gentle 360-degree spin. Not surprisingly the clock failed to maintain its spin. An adjustment was required.
Looking at the top of the clock, you’ll see a screw that can be loosened to adjust the fork in one direction or another. Be very careful not to kink the suspension spring when loosening this screw. Loosen it gently, just enough to allow movement, and make small, incremental adjustments when setting the beat. While you can buy a beat adjustment tool for 400-day clocks, with a bit of trial and error—observing the verge’s action and fine-tuning the beat setter—you’ll eventually find the correct beat. You’ll know it’s “in beat” when the time between the tick and tock is the same. At that point, the clock should run smoothly. Since the ticking is so quiet, it helps to turn off any background noise in the room while making adjustments. I have several loud-ticking clocks in my office, and I stop them to assist with the process.
If you work on enough torsion clocks, a Timetrax or similar beat amplifier will make the task much easier.
The clock has been running for several weeks and is in the process of being regulated. Above the pendulum balls in a regulating adjustment dial. You will see a “+” and a “-“. Adjusting towards the plus side speeds up the clock and the minus slows it down. I recommend minute turns for either adjustment.
There’s some debate about whether or not to oil these clocks, given the slow movement of the gears. While polishing the pivots to reduce friction can certainly be beneficial, I believe a bit of pivot oil is never a bad idea.
As I mentioned earlier, I’m part of the group that enjoys working on 400-day clocks, appreciating their delicate mechanisms and the satisfaction that comes with restoring them to working condition.
When I saw this listed on an online for sale site and not seeing a picture of the clock I was very curious. Imagine my amusement when I opened up the ad and saw this.
Banjo clock
THE AD: Vintage cast iron bango player clock beautiful piece Heavy 16 in tall great condition
Well, it IS a banjo clock or should I say “bango”!
The clock is a 1937 Blackforest Royal Tour commemorative edition shelf clock with an 8-day time-only “plate” clock movement. Plate clock movements are so-called because they were typically used on kitchen clocks with Dutch Delft plates such as this one in the next photo.
Delft Plate Clock from Forestville
The movement is likely German and could have been made by a number of companies. There are no stamps or markings on the movement to give any indication of the maker. Canadian companies such as the Blackforest Clock Company of Toronto (the Forestville Clock Company after the war) imported German movements before the Second World War and installed them in Canadian made cases.
Grimy movement prior to cleaning
This clock had been happily running for about a year and then last week it suddenly stopped after a winding. I nudged the pendulum in an effort to make it go, checked to see if it was in beat and level but no luck. I nudged the pendulum a few more times, left it for a day or so, tried it again and still no luck. I was at the point of disassembling the movement to investigate the problem. Two days later I wound it tight and gave the pendulum a push and it sprang to life. I think I know what happened.
I thought I did a good job of servicing the movement including the mainspring over a year ago but apparently not well enough. You may have heard the expression, “you overwound the clock so that’s why it stopped”. There is a grain of truth in the expression because if you wind the spring till it winds no further the mainspring is at it tightest. If there are dirt, grime and rust on the mainspring the mainspring will actually cease in place, hence the clock stops. I believe this is what occurred in this case. Although it is running now it will need to be properly cleaned. In the meantime, I will let it run and see if it completes its full 8-day cycle.
I have always had a fascination with clocks. As a young boy I can remember the schoolhouse clock in my grandparents’ kitchen and the ticking sound it would make that echoed through the entire house.
Seth Thomas Adamantine time and strike mantel clock, circa 1913
We all have busy lives and despite my interest in clocks over the years it was not until the year 2000 that I started building my collection, first with a Seth Thomas Adamantine clock and later with more mantel clocks, wall clocks and finally a grandfather clock in 2012. My collection has expanded to include virtually every style of clock though my interest lies specifically with American and European wall and shelf clocks. As I write there are about 35 clocks ticking away in my home.
In my blog I stress that I am not a trained horologist but have accumulated enough knowledge over the years that I feel capable of addressing general clock issues
Clock repair came a little later. I began with general understanding of the cleaning and oiling of clock movements in order to keep my little collection running. As I acquired clock repair tools and equipment I progressed to servicing pinions, bushings, verge repairs, cleaning of mainsprings and case restoration.
In 2015 I decided to write a blog about collecting and servicing vintage and antique clocks. There are some excellent clock blogs but many are commercial sites or professional horologists selling their services. I decided to design a blog that would appeal to the amateur clock collector/repairer. In my blog I stress that I am not a trained horologist but have accumulated enough knowledge over the years that I feel capable of addressing general clock issues. Therefore, my blog is not aimed at the professional repairer or restoration expert but the individual looking for specific information about a certain clock, those who have a particular problem with their clock and finally those who have a general interest in clock collecting and repair.
Fully restored Junghans time and strike wall clock, circa 1899
Time and strike movement on a test stand after servicing
I publish an average of seven blog articles per month on a variety of clock topics. I appeal to a wide change of subjects; some articles have a philosophical perspective, some detail the challenges of working on a specific clock, some present simple repair techniques for the beginner, general maintenance tips as well as articles of general interest. As a history buff I try to include a background history or provenance of the specific clock I am profiling or information about its maker.
A micrometer is used to size a bushing for an escape wheel pivot
Blogging has also allowed me to combine my other interests, that of photography and traveling. My wife and I have had many interesting adventures seeking out unique clocks for my collection.
In the early spring, my wife and I travelled to Portugal and Spain. We attended our daughter’s destination wedding in Sintra, Portugal and we decided to expand our stay, visit Spain and see the sights in Barcelona and Montserrat. Spain has always been on our bucket list and it did not disappoint.
Being a clock enthusiast I did a little research beforehand to find out if there were any clock museums along our travel route. Alas, we travelled to places that were very distant from the well know clock museums. Clocks in Europe were made in specific regions and that is where you will find clock museums. Here are a few clocks that I found in various places in Spain (Barcelona) and Portugal. I will let the photos tell the story.
Tall case clock in a Barcelona cathedral
Little card on the side simply said “High box clock, school clock”, Barcelona
A marriage of movement and case found in a shop in Sintra, Portugal
Town clock in downtown Sintra, Portugal
A very ornate clock in poor condition, Pena Palace, Sintra, Portugal
The most ornate clock I found is this working example at the Porto basilica
Unknown mantel clock, Tivoli Hotel, Sintra, Portugal
Unknown gallery clock. I could not find an opening on this clock. No arbour holes on the clock face. Found on an estate in Sintra, Portugal
Flea market clock. Time and strike English or German clock, the 1960s
Flea market clock. Time and strike French clock with matching candelabra
Used goods store, time and strike wall clock, possibly French
I was not specifically looking for these clocks but as we visited churches, museums, shops and public places I photographed any I discovered in our travels.
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 even me, I consult within my clock circles for the best possible answer.
Modern Mauthe wall clock circa 1970S
DK writes, “I just received this clock. I’m hoping you can help me identify it and maybe help me to fix it. I’d like to see if I can repair it if possible. Hope to hear from you.”
I write back, “Can you send a photo of your Mauthe clock with the door closed?”
An attractive wall clock by Mauthe
DK, “I seemed to have fixed it so it is working, however the Lewis girl at the bottom of the pendulum I turn it to increase a time or decrease the time how does it go or work?”
Me, “Your Mauthe clock is from the 1960s. It is a time and strike and should run reliably for years. To adjust the rate, turn the thumbscrew at the bottom of the pendulum clockwise to speed the clock up or counterclockwise to slow it down.”
DK, “Thanks Rockin Ronnie. Does this clock have any value?”
Me, “Not especially. Depends on the market but perhaps upwards of 100US in top condition.”
DK, “Thanks Ron I kind of figured as much. Have yourself a good day and thank you for everything!”
Note: In 1970, Mauthe struggled for survival, and in 1975 the company was in receivership and forced to close in 1976.
I am not a huge collector of steeple clocks but I was intrigued by one I found in an old barn. I bought 4 clocks as part of a barn find this past winter (2018). Two including this one are salvageable. The two others are for case and works parts only.
$5 for a clock is a real bargain. This antique American Elisha Manross 30 hour time and strike steeple clock is an interesting variant of the sharp Gothic steeple clock. It looks fairly plain today but it was a striking style for its time. The early Steeple clocks of the 1840s influenced the design of later steeple clocks which were produced in large numbers up to the end of the 19th century.
A unique feature is the 30 hour brass movement with 2 brass mainsprings. Brass mainsprings were used in American clocks between 1836 and 1850. When affordable steel mainsprings arrived the brass mainspring disappeared into history. This clock was made in the Elisha Manross factory in Bristol, Connecticut (USA) August of 1843. 30 hour movements are immediately recognizable because of the proximity of the winding holes to the centre cannon. Eight day movements, which are taller, would have much lower winding arbours.
The dial face is in reasonably good shape with some losses on the edges and corners
The good and the bad
The good: the movement, coil gong and dial face are original as is the pendulum bob. The label is in very good condition for the age of the clock. The upper glass tablet is original and shows the waviness you would expect with visible imperfections. The movement works but needs a thorough cleaning. The movement looks good though I will know more once I disassemble it for cleaning.
The bad: the mahogany veneered case is in poor condition with nicks, scratches and gouges on the entire surface. The very tip of the left steeple is broken off. There is a large piece of veneer missing on the right side on the clock base but that piece was found inside the clock and later glued in place. The most critical issue is the missing right steeple and base. The lower tablet is missing. There would have been a Fenn or similar design. Clear glass has been installed in its place. It is also missing the minute hand.
This side piece of veneer was found inside the case glued in place but there is still a small section that needs veneering
Work to be done
My first task is to clean the case and determine how I should approach finishing the clock case. I decided not to strip the case because there is a certain patina I would like to preserve.
My goal is the have a running clock in presentable condition and that includes replacing the right steeple. Ordering the missing parts from a clock supply house would seem to be a simple solution but unfortunately these parts must be hand made. To address the steeple base and spire I had some decisions to make. I took careful measurements of the left steeple base, cut a piece of pine stock to the same dimensions and clad it in crotch mahogany.
Pine cut and test fit for right steeple base
A relatively simple task of veneering took three days as I had to veneer each side, clamp, wait till it dried and trim off the excess before tackling the next side. Hide glue was used for this project. Hide glue is appropriate because it is an organic adhesive and it is the type of glue that would have used at the time.
The steeple base is the middle block of wood
Sides and top are veneered, now the front
Once all sides were completed the spire was next. I have never made a finial before so this was a very interesting learning experience. The spire was somewhat more challenging since it involved patterning it off the left spire. As I discovered it is much harder than it looks. I do not have a wood lathe so my metal lathe had to do. I bought a set of wood lathe chisels at my local hardware store at a reasonable price though I discovered that they require sharpening prior to use.
Taig lathe with 1/4 hp motor
The result was something closer than I expected. Not perfect but until I improve my skills this will do for now. Working with softwood is relatively easy but working with hardwood would be a much greater challenge would think.
This is the first application of red mahogany stain on the steeple but how to get rid of the distracting wood grain!
The grain in the spire is certainly distracting and it is something I did not anticipate. One more application of stain concealed some of the grain but it is still visible at certain angles. Will a clear coat over the stain bring me the result I am looking for? Hmm!
Second application of red mahogany stain, grain is disappearing
After thoroughly cleaning the case with Murphy’s soap and Orange Oil I applied a very thin coat of red mahogany stain on the entire case, left it on for only one minute and wiped off all the excess residue. Again, my aim was to preserve the original patina as much as possible but hide numerous scratches. The stain filled in the scratches and I am satisfied with the end result. With the addition of the right final base and spire, the clock now looks complete.
Now to address the spire one more time. I decided that Minwax Poly Wipe was not working very well. The clear coat absorbed into the wood after two applications and still left a dull finish. I then selected a clear spar varnish and it finally gave me the results I was looking for.
The screws holding the movement were so loose they had to be replaced with bolts. The coil gong and base were cleaned and stripped of years of rust. I then oiled the movement, put the clock in beat and attached the dial face. The moon hands look good but are not original to the clock. While I have the hour hand the original needle type minute hand is long gone.
The clock is assembled and running
With the cased cleaned and with the addition of the right spire base and steeple the clock now looks presentable. Although I was able to make the spire on a metal lathe it it has certain limitations and I now see the value in using a wood lathe. I am also pleased that the movement is running but at some point it must be cleaned and properly serviced. At the moment there are just too many other projects standing in the way.
A great little project and a test of my veneering and woodworking skills.
I seem to be one of those people who manage to find a great clock deal. I don’t think it takes a special talent but patience, research, and timing are three key elements in finding a bargain.
I often cruise the online for-sale sites for interesting clocks. In Canada, we have something called Kijiji. In the States Craig’s List is quite popular and I am sure other countries have something very similar.
What makes Kijiji (and similar sites) interesting and fun is that you can connect with people locally or in my case our province of Nova Scotia. There are a wide variety of sellers. Some know what they are selling and price items accordingly. Some have really no idea and either price items clearly for much more than they are worth or conversely for far less than their actual value.
It is nice to be able to meet the seller, find out the history of the clock, learn something about the seller, and their motivation for selling, negotiate a price, and bring the item home. There is no post office or courier service to “screw” things up. No “oh crap” sigh when you open the package. With online auction sites, you often get a “pig in a poke” which means that something is sold or bought without the buyer knowing its true nature or value, especially when buying without inspecting the item beforehand. This does not happen with Kijiji. You find the item advertised, connect with the seller several times electronically or personally if necessary, see the item beforehand, ask questions about it, inspect it for any immediate issues or potential problems and you have the choice to walk away if you are not completely satisfied. All transactions are cash with no pesky sales tax.
Clocks are interesting items to collect and prices are all over the map as you would expect. However, I have found a few gems in the last few years. Let me tell you about my latest experience.
A few weeks ago I saw this clock advertised on Kijiji (photo below). Now, this looks like any ordinary Gothic steeple clock but what grabbed my attention was the unique tablet inscription. The acid-etched glass tablet says “Cling to the Cross”, a religious expression not often found on this style of clock. I knew immediately that this was a very special Canadian-made clock.
Seller’s photo
Why, because several months ago I watched a video presentation by Jim Connell. Jim Connell is well known in Canadian clock circles. According to the introductory remarks found at the aforementioned site “He has amassed a large collection of clocks of all types with an emphasis on those with a Canadian origin. As his collection and knowledge grew, Jim prepared and presented numerous articles, talks, and displays on Canadian clocks and their history. He is the respected author of the Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Clocks and he co-authored Early Canadian Timekeepersand The Canada and Hamilton Clock Companies with Jane Varkaris.”
In his presentation, he described this exact clock and mentioned in his presentation that there were very few copies left, a very rare Canadian clock indeed.
I wanted to confirm that this was the clock I thought it was and asked the seller to photograph the label. He did so and sent this to me.
Seller’s photo of the label affixed on the back of the clock
I attempted to negotiate a price. The seller wanted 100CDN and I offered 80CDN. He replied that he would not accept anything less than 100CDN. In the meantime, I checked with the curator of The Canadian Clock Museum to confirm its authenticity. Upon discovering that this was a Hamilton Clock Co. clock made between 1876 and 1880 I decided that, yes, this was a good find and in my email reply to the seller I said, “100CDN it is”.
It is what I would consider one of those happy win-win situations. The seller got more than he thought the clock was worth and I got a clock that is worth much more than I paid for it. My motivation, however, was not to celebrate a great deal at a great price but to acquire a piece of significant Canadian horological history at an affordable price.
Hamilton Clock Co. Gothic steeple clock30-hour time and strike movement with company inscription on the bottom of the front plate
We met and settled the deal. I am now the owner of a Canadian-made 30-hour time-and-strike Hamilton Clock Co. Gothic steeple clock.
In a later blog article, I will profile this clock and describe my strategy to address some of its issues.
Daniel Pratt reverse ogee and splat clock with mirrored tablet
This Daniel Pratt Jr. reverse Ogee shelf clock was made in Reading, Massachusetts, c. 1832-38. It has a splat-top mahogany case with half (?) reverse Ogee moldings flanking the door, painted wooden Roman numeral dial and mirrored lower tablet.
Clocks, manufactured and warranted by Daniel Pratt Jr
The label inside states in part.
Clocks manufactured and warranted by Daniel Pratt Jr. Reading Mass, U.S. Sold in any quantities on reasonable terms
The label is a ink drawing of a clock merchants shop and is printed by Dickinson and Co. 52 Washington St. Boston.
Wooden movement, time and strike
Wooden Roman numeral dial with missing grommet on right arbor hole
Daniel Pratt (1797-1871), Jr., clock-maker, banker, town clerk, legislator, lived in the town of Reading, Massachusetts, in the 1800s. Reading is a suburb twelve miles north of Boston. Pratt did not contribute much to clock-making and was regarded as an entrepreneur rather than an innovator. He made wooden movements in his plant, as well as wooden cases. The clocks they sold during the 1832-35 period were typically wooden movement, weight driven, 30 hour, wood-cased, “looking glass” shelf clocks.
This Pratt clock measures 28 inches high, 14 3/4 inches wide, and has a depth of 5 inches. It is covered with mahogany veneer over pine. The square dial is of painted wood, 9 inches wide by 8 1/2 inches tall, with Roman numerals with floral spandrels. The dial is in good condition for the age of the clock. This clock was produced during the heyday of wood movements which were eventually phased out when cheaper but more reliable brass movements were introduced after 1839.
The memory of this successful man is continued by the quiet, even beat of his many clocks which have survived to this day — truly a great honour indeed.
From this day onward the new domain for this site is antiquevintageclock.com.
I have been thinking about name change for some time. My reasons are fourfold, to increase viewership, make my site more accessible using search engines, gain more storage space for my photos and have more creative freedom in the design of the site.
In the months to come I hope you, the reader, will appreciate the changes as I offer more content and features.
There may be some growing pains for the first while as I experiment with new templates so I ask for a little patience as I make the new transition to an improved site.
My email address will continue to be ronjoiner@gmail.com although I will explore the benefits of aligning my email address with the site.
Tick-Talk Tuesday is about the letters and comments I have received from you, the reader, concerning your clocks, issues you might have had and challenges you face and my responses to your questions with advice on your particular clock concern(s). For those comments and questions that stump even me, I consult within my clock circles for the best possible response to your question
AM writes, “I am writing in hopes you can help me figure out how to safely set and wind my clock !
It looks pretty much identical to this one of yours I found online. Exactly same roman numerals. Forestville name in gold appliqué at top. GERMANY appliqué near the VI at bottom. Two key holes. Wing shaped box. Mine has darker brown wood glossy, and only one gold trim line. Same little feet. It has a silver colour key. I tentatively tried winding the left side clockwise, and it wound, but seemed tight. So I only wound it twice. Scared to try the left side. Please let me know if you would – what each wind is for, and whether to go clockwise or counterclockwise. Thanks in advance for any clues you can give me.”
Roman numerals, Forestville name
Over winding a clock is a myth
My response, “Hi, These Forestville clocks have German movements. The movements are quite robust and will last for years. The left side is the strike side and the right side is the time side. You should be able to wind each side as tight as possible. Over winding a clock is a myth. If the clock does not run after you have wound each arbour to the limit, the springs are rusty and have seized the clock. However you should be able to safely wind each side several turns. The strike side will not function unless the time side is wound fully. You can get a feel for how the clock is wound. These clocks wind clockwise and the strike side might be a little tighter than the time side, I know mine is. The clock sounds like an old wristwatch because it has a hairspring or a floating balance wheel escapement not the usual pendulum ( I gather yours is the same). Anyway, do not be afraid of your clock. Wind it and enjoy it.
AM writes back and says, “Hello and thank-you for your reply. I took the plunge and wound each side about 4-5 X. No ticking as yet ! It must be seized at you said…Not sure what to do now cuz we live in the XXXXXXX and I doubt a clock expert nearby (within 300 km). Prince George is 3 hr drive west, and Grande Prairie Alberta 2.5 hr east. Will start asking around for sure. It is quite funky and reminds me of my Aunty Jane… so I will use as décor for the interim.”
My reply, “Open the access door. Locate the escapement at the top of the movement. If it is exposed give the wheel a little push. If it is in a plastic enclosure, tap on the plastic a few times. That might be enough to free the escapement. If it runs you have power through the clock. If it does not your power issue might be elsewhere i.e. seized springs, bent wheels etc. Unfortunately a repair would be far more than the clock is worth but that is a decision you will have to make.”
Hairspring escapement in my clock
AM managed to get the clock working but it will not strike despite plenty of whirring.
Balance wheel or floating balance escapement
Closer look at the floating balance escapement
AM says, “Well now I’m thinking maybe I can fix the chime myself ? Particularly with your help. So this one last attempt will show you how it sounds. I also need to know:
During the weekly wind, if I just do not wind the chime… will it stop the click and whirr without affecting the clock time?
Here’s what I see at the back during non-chime time – one hammer is a ‘two in one’, and it was up, but the one at the back was down touching the rod. So I tried lifting it, and realized that the little black metal stopper that holds the ‘two’ works well, but the front stopper wouldn’t hold the back hammer. I gently bent that front black stopper (horrors? !) so it will hold it up. But still no chime.
Then I decided to take a wee video of the strike during chime time. At 11:00 that morning, this is what happened in the back of the clock:
It seems to me by the length of whirring, that the chime is out of whack in that sense also. Not sure tho how much whirr = one chime.”
I took a look at the video and the strike rods are way too high above the rods.
My reply, “There are three hammers. Your clock is not a chiming clock – it is a striking clock. A chiming clock makes a musical sound and typically the musical sound is the Westminster chime on the quarter hour. You have what is called a striking “Bim-bam” clock. The rear hammer hits first followed by the two front hammers to make that bim-bam sound. The hammers should be just above the strike rods. Yours are too high to strike the rods therefore you are not getting the sound of the strike. Lower the rods by slightly bending them past the rods to the side and bend them so that they are just barely above the rods leaving a gap of about 1/8 inch. They should now work as designed. I can only surmise that someone in the past bent the rods upwards to quiet the clock.”
AMs Forestville clock, a very attractive Art Deco clock
AM replies, “Ok! Well that makes sense, and even the bending of the hammers. I can hear and see my Uncle Bill … first swearing, then getting in there and bending those hammers! He was dear soul really. Thanks for all your help”.
Clocks historically have numbers on the dial to help people accurately tell time and organize their daily activities. Early mechanical clocks were developed to standardize timekeeping. Adding numbers made it easier for people to read and interpret the time at a glance, particularly as public clocks were placed in town squares and churches for communal use.
Early clockmakers borrowed design elements from sundials, which often had marked divisions for hours. Numbered dials mirrored this system, making mechanical clocks intuitive for users transitioning from sundials.
Roman numerals were commonly used on early clock dials because they were familiar to people during the Middle Ages and Renaissance. Adding numbers also balanced the clock’s aesthetic appeal with its functional purpose.
So, let’s look at a specific difference concerning Roma Numerals. Some clocks with Roman numerals have ‘4’ as ‘IV,’ while most use ‘IIII‘. Why?
There is no definitive answer. There are a handful of competing theories and one of the following seven might just be the correct one.
Possible Scenarios
Theory 1: When Roman numerals were used by the Roman Empire, the name of the Romans’ supreme deity, Jupiter, was spelled as IVPPITER in Latin. Reluctant to put a god’s name on a sundial, IIII became the preferred representation of four.
The number IIII
Theory 2:IV, instead of IIII, which represents four didn’t become the standard until well after the fall of the Roman Empire. It’s likely, then, that IIII was used on sundials (and everywhere else) simply because that was accepted convention at the time, and not for fear of divine retribution.
Which do you prefer, IV or IIII?
In the years to follow every clock-maker had to decide whether to adopt IV because it was the new standard, or hang onto the traditional IIII.
Theory 3:IIII might have stuck around because it’s easily recognizable as four. IV involves a little math. it’s a simple subtraction operation. Though subtractive notations really caught on in the Middle Ages, the majority of people were not literate or numerate and IIII was simply easier to visualize. Subtraction involves conscious thought. IV and VI might also have been easily confused by the uneducated.
Kienzle World Clock with the four as IV
Theory 5: Using IIII may have also made work a little easier for certain clockmakers. If you’re making a clock where the numerals are cut from metal and affixed to the face, using IIII means you’ll need twenty I‘s, four V‘s, and four X‘s. That’s one mold with a V, five I‘s, and an X cast four times. With an IV, you’d need seventeen I’s, five V‘s, and four X‘s, requiring several molds in different configurations. Or, did they really think in those terms?
Parlour clock with Roman Numerals
Theory 6: King Louis XIV of France preferred IIII over IV, perhaps for the same reasons Jupiter would not want two letters from his name on a sundial, and so ordered his clock-makers to use the former. Some later clock-makers followed the tradition, and others did not. Other monarchs might have felt the same way, and IIII was used also in areas where there was no king with an IV in his title to object to the subtractive notation.
Theory 7: Lastly, IIII creates more visual symmetry with VIII on the opposite side of the clock face than IV does. Using IIII also means that only I is seen in the first four hour markings, V is only seen in the next four markings, and X is seen only in the last four markings, creating radial symmetry.
The tradition of numbered dials persists today because of its practicality and historical significance, even as digital timekeeping has become the norm,
I bought four clocks at an estate auction several weeks ago, this and three other Ogee clocks plus a parlour clock. This clock is no less interesting than the others but I was lucky enough to research its maker and date it fairly accurately. I wish I knew its provenance but nevertheless it is an excellent example and has been well cared for over the years.
It is a Chauncey Jerome 30 hour Ogee weight driven time and strike clock. 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 works and was said to be “the greatest and most far-reaching contributor to the clock industry.” Although he made a fortune selling his clocks, and his business grew quickly his company failed in 1856.
Chauncey Jerome one-day movement type 1.314
The number 11 Ogee was the last of the Jerome clocks made in 1855. Mike Bailey, a Chauncey Jerome clock collector has an excellent blog in which he meticulously details and dates Jerome cases and movements. After researching his site I was able to determine that my clock is a number 11 Ogee made just before the Jerome bankruptcy, 1855. It has the Jerome patent 30 hour brass movement number 1.314 which is likely original to the case.
Type 1.314 movement, very dirty
There were some issues with the movement as you would expect from a 156 year old clock. There were a number of punch marks here and there, but specifically on the first wheel and the second wheel time side. The movement had years of dirt. The repairs over the years are typical for this type of clock. Punching to close pivot holes would have been the preferred approach to repairing a worn clock. With the advent of the modern bushing machine repairs are much simpler.
Eight bushings were installed. The first wheel strike side, the second wheel strike side plus the fly, the lower gear off the centre cannon, rear plate and 3 bushings on the time side.
Punch marks on first wheel, strike side
A piece came off the wood support for the movement when I disassembled the movement. Dry-rot perhaps. I had leftover hide glue from a previous project, applied the glue and clamped it for 24 hours.
Broken movement support
The retainer clip for the count wheel was riveted in placed and prevented me from taking it apart.
Retainer clip for count wheel riveted in place, not nice!
Some were punched very close to the pivot hole as you can see in this next photo. I left that as-is and decided to take a second look in a year or two.
Looks like a large pivot hole but actually punched very close to the hole
After eight bushings were installed (4 in the front and 2 in the rear) and an ultrasonic cleaning, the parts are test fit to check the smooth running of the gears. The rope for the weights looked re-usable, they were not replaced. The suspension spring also looked to be in good shape. The crutch wire has had bending and twisting over the years but it was also re-usable.
Test fitting parts after cleaning
30 hour movement servicing, oiled, movement in the case
C Jerome 30 hour movement testing in the case
Now to regulate the movement. The clock is ticking away nicely and in beat. There are always challenges setting the strike side and this movement is no exception. However, through trial and error the strike side is functioning as it should.
These are very simple clocks to service and a great movement to hone your clock repair skills.
This is a fine example of a Seth Thomas column and cornice clock with sleigh front made prior to 1867 and sold by the R.W. Paterson Company of Canada West. Both the lower and upper tablets appear to be original and are in very good condition. Unfortunately this antique American column and cornice time and strike Seth Thomas clock is not mine and if it were I would proudly display it.
My clock, though similar is missing its upper tablet and a few other items that I wish to address in stages.
Missing upper tablet on an American Seth Thomas clock
This blog article concerns one aspect of the clock, it upper and lower tablets. The lower tablet appears to be original and shows a cluster of fruit. Not as stately or ornate as the one in the first photo but quite appropriate for this style of clock. A quick online search shows that there were an endless number of reverse tablet painting designs ranging from birds, flowers, pastoral scenes, stately structures, eagles, parrots, berries, flags, drapery, crests and the list goes on.
Because there is a missing top tablet, the clock does not look complete. The clear glass is certainly not correct. As is typical for most clocks this age, things go missing over the years.
To address the missing upper tablet there are a number of options to consider;
Do nothing,
Attempt to find a decent quality reverse painted set from the same period,
Try my hand at painting a new tablet,
Buy a photo reproduction set online
Find a complimentary design and reproduce it on my home photo printer.
Finding a decent quality reverse painted set from that era is quite difficult and a search would take a long time. I am no artist, so, painting a tablet is out of the question. Buying a reproduction set online is a possibility but how much am I prepared to spend on something I could potentially do myself. After analyzing the options my first thought was to explore the possibility of buying a reproduction set online.
A search on EBay revealed sellers who make reproductions of the original tablets. They are essentially a “replacement picture set” of the clock tablets. They are as one ad put, “Exact copies of a set of Seth Thomas 8 day “Column” model sleigh front clock ca. 1880. They are printed on photo stock and mounted on mat-board that when put behind antique glass they are very hard to tell from the original and make a Seth Thomas column clock with plain or damaged pictures into a super looking clock.” I have seen them offered from 15USD to 45USD + shipping.
Hmm, I can do this myself!
Following a search of my photo collection I found a cluster of hanging fruit that complimented the lower tablet. Using PaintShopPro X6 by Corel I chose a water-colour effect, removed some fruit, changed the orientation of the image, adjusted the back lighting to match the tone of the lower tablet, cloned the deleted areas and darkened the stem and black-berries.
The first photo shows the source photo converted to a water-colour. The next shows the adjustments made to the “water-colour”. The third shows my first attempt without back-light darkening.
Using my wide carriage Epson Stylus 1400, here is my first attempt.
First attempt, a little brighter than what I was looking for but close
Colour-matching the lower tablet is a real challenge. More adjustments are required to get the right effect but I think I am on the right track.
If you have any suggestions on how I can improve my workflow I would love to hear from you.
I acquired four old clocks in a barn find. Two, a 30 hour Ogee and a mantel clock were totally unsalvageable although I managed to take off some veneer, case parts, a movement, boards, case hardware and a few other items.
Elisha Manross 30 hour steeple clock
Two others were worth a second look. One is an Elisha Manross 30 hour Gothic steeple clock that is worth restoring and the other, an Ansonia Drop Extra wall clock, the subject of this article.
There are a number of variations of the Ansonia Drop Extras and the one most sought after is the time, strike and calendar version. This is merely a time-only version and would fetch a price in the lower end of the range.
The largely intact label says,
Eight-day and thirty hour brass clocks, pendulum clocks, a variety of……., Also sole manufacturers of Jeweled Marines and eight-day gilt time pieces, Ansonia Brass and Copper….Ansonia Conn.
This clock was manufactured by the Ansonia Brass & Copper Co. around 1880. It is 26 inches high, 16 inches wide and 5 inches deep. It has a 16 inch round wood door bezel on a large 2 inch hinge. The drop section has serpentine sides and teardrop finials. The bottom access drop door opens downwards. Other Drop Extra access doors open to the side.
Much has been written about the Ansonia clock company. The company history can be found here. Formed in 1844, the Ansonia Clock Company went into receivership just before the stock market crash in 1929. The machinery and dies were sold to a Russian Company in 1931 thus ending the long reign of a glorious American clock manufacturer.
The Lima (Ohio) News gave this account in a March 12, 1931 news report:
“…there came an order to supply the Soviet union with men and machines to make watches and clocks, neither of which products ever had been manufactured there. Representatives of Amtorg went to the Ansonia Clock Company in Brooklyn and to the Duber Hampden Watch Company of Canton, Ohio, and bought them lock, stock and barrel. Then they hired most of the skilled employees of the plants to go to Russia and operate the familiar machines. These have been installed in a new, many-windowed building in Moscow, where Russian apprentices are beginning to master the trade.”
The time-only movement appears unusual because of the oversize 2nd and 3rd wheels. The dial glass is original as is the painted dial which is 11 1/2 inches wide. The painted zinc dial has black Roman numerals, is flaked in some areas and requires stabilization. The flaking dial could use some work if only to arrest the deterioration of the finish. In the meantime the numerals have been touched up with black metal paint.
Ansonia Extra short drop wall clock
Seized time-only movement
The clock is in generally poor shape, what I would consider a diamond in the rough. A challenging project? Yes, because there are so many missing parts. Missing are the brass dial bezel, clock hands, pendulum bob, verge, drop access door with its hardware, right tear drop finial and 3 hinges. The finish is completely gone, down to the bare veneer. The veneer has some minor losses that are in hidden from view but for the most part the case is in good condition.
The movement was rusty and the wheels were seized. Obviously the clock had not been running in a number of years. After applying some WD-40 I managed to free the gears. In addition, two bent wheels (2nd and 3rd) had to be straightened. The rust was removed and the movement cleaned up surprisingly well. Only one bushing was required on the escape wheel bridge. The movement is presently installed in the clock and running well with the addition of a new verge, pendulum rod and bob.
There is nothing special about bringing the veneer back to life. After a thorough cleaning with Murphy’s soap I applied three coats of shellac lightly sanding after each coat. The photo shows the clock after the third application of shellac.
Ansonia backboard with partial label & movement mount blocks
A section on the right side of the backboard was missing. I salvaged a piece of board from a donor Waterbury Ogee from about the same period and traced a pattern to fit the missing piece. Replacing the entire backboard might have been an option but I felt it necessary to preserve most of the label. Hide glue was used to bond the two boards which were then clamped for 24 hours. The gaps were filled with a combination of hide glue and sawdust one day later.
Ansonia movement running and installed in the case
Unfortunately, this is as far as I can go with this project. Unless the previous owner finds the missing pieces which is doubtful or I find another clock to marry the two together this clock will simply be a curiosity on a wall. In the meantime I have contacted some clock suppliers and have had no luck so far. My inquiries on clock oriented social media sites have also produced no results.
Rosewood veneered dial bezel in position
The movement has been running reliably for a full 8-day cycle and has run for the past 4 weeks. Despite not having the parts I require to complete the project there is a certain satisfaction in making a clock run that has not run in years.
I acquired four old clocks in a barn find. Two, a 30 hour ogee and a mantel clock were salvageable only that I was able to take veneer, case parts, one movement and a few pieces.
The two other clocks are worth preserving. Though it is missing some case parts one of them is an Ansonia Drop Extra wall clock. It is the subject of a future article.
Steeple clocks of the 1840s signaled the design of later steeple clocks
Ansonia Drop Extra wall clock
The fourth clock is an American Elisha Manross 30 hour steeple clock which is the subject of this article.
Elisha Manross 30 hour steeple clock on right
This is an interesting variant of the sharp Gothic steeple clock. These early Steeple clocks though simple in style, influenced the design of later steeple clocks.
Veneer could use some cleaning, right steeple is missing, door is off
The clock has accumulated years of dust and grime. The movement though dirty runs remarkably well. The case is scuffed, has a myriad of marks and scratches and one or two deeper gouges. This clock has seen its share of abuse and neglect over the years.
I took the access door off and found the bottom door pin to be original but the top pin has been replaced with a finishing nail. A piece of pinion wire was fashioned and glued in place. It is missing the right side steeple base and the spire. It is also missing the minute hand which appears to have been snapped off at some point and lost. Also missing is the bottom tablet with plain glass fixed in its place. The pendulum bob appears to be original as is the coil gong. The dial face has a nice patina and is in good condition with some losses. It has readable Roman numerals but covered with shellac or varnish at one point. The numerals have also been touched up.
Exotic woods were used to cover the pine case. Elisha Manross clocks were either clad in Rosewood veneer or Mahogany. The Mahogany veneer on this clock is much thicker than the veneers typically used today. Manross clocks are produced with the Mahogany veneer in a vertical orientation and Rosewood veneer in a horizontal orientation. Manross made two steeple clocks. One is 20″ high and 10″ wide, the other is 19 1/2 inches high by 9 1/2 inches wide. The larger case would have made for other labels but the smaller size (this is the smaller mahogany clock) was produced in the Manross factory.
Nice aged patine, numbers have been touched up
On the back of the door, left side of the upper tablet is the inscription 8/43, not once but twice. My first thought was an inventory or part number but if this is the month and date the clock was made it would be consistent with the brass mainsprings on the movement which makers used between 1836 and 1850. The label on the clock is in remarkable condition for a 175+ year old clock. However, the date (8/43) is inconsistent with the label which was printed by Elihu Geer at his shop on 10 State Street, Hartford Conn. According to one source Elihu Geer operated the print shop at this location after 1850. Perhaps but it seems reasonable that the clock was made in 1843.
8/43 inscribed on the back door
Although Elisha Manross had been active in Bristol clock-making since 1812 or earlier he shows in the Bristol tax records as making clocks from 1842-1851. His business was dissolved in 1854 and the factory was purchased in 1855 by E.N. Welch.
Well preserved label
Brass springs were invented and first used in 1836 by Joseph Shaylor Ives. Brass for mainsprings was evidently cheaper and more accessible than steel in the mid 1830s and 1840s. Silas B. Terry developed steel springs for clock use in the Bristol area circa 1847, and as steel improved and became cheaper brass springs quickly disappeared. In the history of the American clock brass springs had a very short life. The brass springs on the movement have survived a very long time which is unusual since most clocks of this age have had replacement steel springs.
The movement will be cleaned up and the case will be reconditioned including the replacement of the right steeple and base. I do not foresee the clock as being a daily runner.
Have you brought an old antique back to life be it a clock or a piece of furniture? Leave a comment about your own experiences.
Antique and vintage clocks evoke a time when life was simpler than the hectic times we live in today. Those nostalgic times when the things we bought and cherished were living memories of people and places that are gone but not forgotten. Antique clocks should be passed down from one generation to the next. Judging from the online marketplaces unfortunately many are not handed from father to son at all as so many have left their original owners. Is sentimentality lost on this generation?
Two such clocks have a story
Not including the the nine clocks I have in my home office there are 35 clocks displayed throughout our home. It saddens me to think that for many of my clocks I know absolutely nothing about them though I wish they all could talk. What stories they could tell.
Two such clocks have a story.
One of my clocks survived the Halifax Explosion in 1917. I know this because the people I bought it from had the clock in their family for over 100 years. It was certainly not in the condition you see here. It was a box of parts and I imagine they felt they had held onto it long enough and it was time to let it go. After I restored the clock I called back the previous owner and told him what I had done with the clock and would I kindly send him a photo of it restored to its former glory. I did and heard nothing afterwards. Sellers remorse, perhaps. I often look at the clock and try to imagine that fateful day when it fell of the wall in a modest home in North Halifax on December 6, 1917.
Junghans Crispi wall clock
Story number two. You have to feel something for some of the previous owners. This Ingraham Huron shelf clock (circa 1878) is a real gem and fairly rare, you just do not see it come up for sale very often. Some would call it a balloon clock. It was bought in a little village outside Bridgewater, Nova Scotia. My wife and I are about 2 hours away and we decided to make a trip out of getting the clock, having lunch nearby and doing a little shopping.
Do you know anyone who wants Jeff Gordon memorabilia?
Rare Ingraham Huron found on a local online for-sale site
We arrived at the sellers home, a modest nondescript bungalow. I was greeted at the door by an elderly couple. They had previously told me on the phone a day earlier that after consultation with their son they had decided on a fixed price for the clock and the price seemed very fair to us.
I asked how long they had the clock and the gentlemen who I would say was in his early seventies said that he could remember the clock in this grandmother’s home when he was quite young. He extended his hand palm down to about a meter from the floor and said, “I was this tall when I can first remember it in my grandmother’s home”. After a conversation with the couple I had discovered that they were parting ways, an amicable separation it seemed and the wife had decided to live in an apartment minutes away in Bridgewater. The husband was left with the home and his workshop in the back of the property. “He spends a lot of time out there anyway and besides, we need to get rid of stuff”. “Do you know anyone who wants Jeff Gordon memorabilia?” “No”, I said and left with the clock. It is sad that they had to part with such a memory but people change.
Seth Thomas column and cornice “Empire” style time and strike shelf clock
I guess sentimentality has a dollar value or people live with things so long that they eventually tire of having them. Deciding to get rid of things is about relieving yourself of all the stuff you’re hanging onto from past relationships and past memories. Secondly, our desire to hold onto piles and piles of old mementos can often be blamed on nostalgia. That’s because reminiscing about the past makes us feel good. It can lead to increased feelings of familial or social connectedness. If I have an old clock, looking at it can elicit positive emotions. Or, perhaps it was not an especially happy memory and getting rid of it expunges that memory.
I often wonder what will happen to my collection when I meet my fellow clock-makers in the sky. My wife knows that I have no real attachment to some of my clocks since I merely purchased them to learn how to repair them and to grow my hobby. Yes, you can have too many mantel clocks!
However, there are about ten clocks in my collection that I hope will be passed down to my kids. My four Arthur Pequegnats, two Vienna regulators, a Seth Thomas Empire style clock, my Sessions Beveled No. 2, my Ingraham Huron shelf clock and my Junghans Crispi wall clock. For some I appreciate their history and admire the folks who had them and for others they have become sentimental attachments because I spent so much time restoring them.
I bought four wonderful clocks at an estate auction several weeks ago, this and three other Ogee clocks plus a parlour clock. This clock is no less interesting than the other three but I was lucky enough to research its maker and date the manufacture to within a year or two.
Noble Jerome’s invention showed that with the one-day brass movement, clocks could be mass produced economically and in great quantities
I wish I knew its provenance, how many hands it passed through, where it has been, what homes it has been in and even its last owner. All that is a mystery to me, nonetheless this clock is an excellent example of the classic Ogee weight driven shelf clock and a well-cared-for time-keeper.
Chauncey Jerome 30 hour Ogee clock with J.C. Brown house in lower tablet
Chauncey Jerome: The greatest and most far-reaching contributor to the clock industry
Chauncey Jerome 30 hour Ogee weight driven time and strike clocks are not a rarity. Thousands upon thousands were made. However, no-one can deny Chauncey Jerome’s historic contribution to the American clock industry in the 18th century when he substituted brass works for wooden works. He was “the greatest and most far-reaching contributor to the clock industry.” Although he made his fortune selling his clocks and his business grew quickly his company eventually failed in 1856.
Chauncey Jerome (1793–1868) was one of many pioneer American clock-makers. Jerome began his career in Waterbury, Connecticut (USA), making dials for long-case clocks. Jerome learned what he could about clocks, particularly clock cases, and went to New Jersey to make seven-foot cases for clocks. In 1816 he went to work for Eli Terry making “Patent Shelf Clocks,” and learned how to make previously handmade cases using machinery. His venture into business for himself eventually led to making cases and trading them to Terry for wooden movements.
In 1822 Jerome moved his business to Bristol, Connecticut opening a small shop with his brother Noble, producing 30-hour and eight-day wooden clocks. By 1837 Jerome’s company was selling more clocks than any of his competitors. A one-day wood-cased clock with wood movement sold for six dollars and had helped put the company on the map. A year later his company was selling that same clock for four dollars. As profits began falling combined with a general malaise in the manufacturing sector, it was not long before Noble Jerome’s patented clockwork innovation, the 30 hour brass weight driven movement introduced in 1839 changed clock making in America. The design was proposed by Chauncey in response to the 1837 nationwide depression that closed many clock factories. Noble’s invention showed that with the one-day brass movement, clocks could be mass produced economically and in great quantities.
Jerome also made clocks according to what he termed the “systematic approach” where selected workers made one part of a clock while other workers simultaneously constructed other parts in the same factory, a precursor to the assembly line method of manufacture.
Coil gong, polished, incorrect position in this photo
In 1842 Jerome moved his clock-case manufacturing operation to St. John Street in New Haven, Connecticut. Three years later, following a fire that destroyed the Bristol plant, Jerome relocated the entire operation to Elm City. Enlarging the plant, the company soon became the largest industrial employer in the city, producing 150,000 clocks annually. In 1850 Jerome formed the Jerome Manufacturing Co. as a joint-stock company with Benedict & Burnham, brass manufacturers of Waterbury. In 1853 the company became known as the New Haven Clock Co., producing 444,000 clocks and timepieces annually. Jerome’s future should have been secure but in 1855 he bought out a failed Bridgeport clock company controlled by P.T. Barnum, (a good read, it is a very tangled story) which wiped him out financially, leaving the Jerome Manufacturing Co. bankrupt in 1856. Jerome never recovered from the loss. By his own admission, he was a better innovator and inventor than a businessman.
In the years following he traveled from town to town and took jobs where he could, often working for clock companies that had learned the business of clock making using Jerome’s inventions. Returning to New Haven near the end of his life, he died, penniless, in 1868 at age 74.
The ticking of a clock is music to me, and although many of my experiences as a business man have been trying and bitter, I have satisfaction of knowing that I have lived the life of an honest man, and have been of some use to my fellow men
Chauncey Jerome 1860
This the number 11 Ogee was the last of the Jerome clocks made no later than the fall of 1855 when Jerome Manufacturing Co. failed. Mike Bailey, a Chauncey Jerome clock collector has an excellent blog in which he meticulously details and dates Jerome cases and movements. After researching his site I was able to determine that my clock is a number 11 Ogee made just before the Jerome bankruptcy in 1855. It is the Jerome patent 30 hour brass movement number 1.314. The movement appears to be original to the case.
Chauncey Jerome one-day movement type 1.314, yes, very dirty
The clock has a zinc dial and an image of JC Brown’s house in the lower tablet. Jerome was the first to introduce the zinc dial. It might have originally had a mirrored lower tablet. However it now features the JC Brown’s home. The J.C. Brown home in Forestville was featured on the tablet of many of his (Brown) Ogee clocks and it is unclear why it is on this clock. From 1847-1855 Brown conducted business without partners as the Forestville Manufacturing Company or the Forestville Clock Manufactory.
Rear of zinc dial
On the back of the zinc dial are inscriptions that I can barely make out. It says 1860 April 9??? on the top of the dial and 1866, Feb 2 and UPO 477 on the bottom. I tried to enhance it as best I could. Could this dial be a later replacement?
Overall the veneer is in excellent condition though it has been covered at some point with a clear coat of varnish. The weights appear original with the strike side having the slightly lighter weight as one would expect. The pendulum bob is consistent with the age of the clock and the label is largely intact. This was the last label Jerome used before his company went bankrupt.
Label showing Benham Printer, 55 Orange Street, New Haven at bottom center
The movement is not running reliably. It is very dirty and long overdue for a cleaning, plus, the movement has had some poor repairs over the years.
Much of the information for this post is from Chauncey Jerome’s autobiography entitled History of the American Clock Business for the Past 60 Years, a free copy which you can find here.
Next up is servicing the movement which I will cover in a separate post.
Antique and Vintage Mechanical Clocks 
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