We were making our way to Missouri after beginning our journey in Maine in early May (2017). We only had one very important stop along the way because for the past 5 years I have always wanted to see the NAWCC clock museum in Columbia, Pennsylvania. Ever since I seriously wrapped my head around clock … More Visit to the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors museum
While touring through the United States we had an opportunity to explore the “magic” of antique malls. Antique malls are typically located in former department stores such as Macys or JC Penny found in commercial areas of a town or city. Antique malls are an American cultural experience. They are not a unique experience for … More Lessons learned from antique mall clock buying
No! As a clock collector I have quite a few clocks in my home. Most are running daily. There are 34 clocks ticking away in my home as I write this blog article. I have accepted them as normal sounds in my home Some collectors have a dedicated clock room in their home but mine … More Doesn’t all that ticking drive you crazy?
Regulating your clock is the process of making repeated, precise adjustments to its mechanism with the goal of enhancing its accuracy and ensuring it functions as a reliable timekeeper over an extended period. The running of your mechanical clock is influenced by three key factors: neglect, friction, and the environment. These elements will determine whether … More Regulating your mechanical clock – its easier than you think
Carole Ann Bennett of Ottawa, Canada asked me to profile her latest clock acquisition which was bought at auction and advertised as a triple-decker clock. It is, in fact, a column and cornice clock. This lovely Seth Thomas time and strike eight-day weight-driven column and cornice clock with hour strike features a mahogany veneer case … More Profile My Clock: Seth Thomas Column and Cornice clock
It this day and age it is very common to have family scattered to the four winds. What time is it is such and such? Why not create timezone clocks? I live in Canada and I have one daughter in Calgary, Alberta, one of our mid-western provinces and one in Victoria, BC, on the … More Timezone clocks – keeping track of family across the country
I did not have a banjo clock in my collection and my latest acquisition is certainly a banjo styled clock but not in the tradition of a true weight-driven American banjo clock which continues to allude me. There is no scarcity of spring driven recoil escapement (lever escapement) banjo clocks. This particular clock has a … More Ingraham Nordic Banjo Clock
Do you like the challenge of working on a mechanical clock? This one might have you ripping your hair out. These are not the best clocks to start on and can be a headache for the experienced clock-maker. You will find Part I of this project here and Part II, here. In August 2015 I … More Sessions Westminster A mantel clock Part III – re-assembly and cursing the chime drive
The clock is a “Canadian made” New Haven Octagonal short drop wall clock. It was assembled at The New Haven Clock Co. of Canada plant established at Brantford, Ontario (Canada) in 1906. The New Haven Clock Company of Canada was a subsidiary of the New Haven Clock Company of America. Both mantel and wall clocks … More Servicing a Well Worn New Haven Schoolhouse Clock
I am servicing the first antique clock I ever bought. After having serviced many others it is time to give this clock a little love. Some years ago (2000) my wife and I were traveling around Nova Scotia and stopped in a little village called Blockhouse. We found an antique store, walked in and never … More Seth Thomas Adamantine mantel clock – time to give it a little love
I am always intrigued by the language of the clock world. Here are some terms that I have learned in the past year. Foxing: This is a more common problem than I thought. It is unsightly feature of clock dial faces and might be a cause for concern to some collectors. This phenomenon is caused … More The language of the clock world amazes me
You bought a clock. It ran when you first saw it but you bring it home, display it in that very spot you imagined and now it won’t run. 99% of the time this is caused by a clock not being in beat. All mechanical clocks must be set in beat before they will run … More Is my clock in beat?
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 … More Tick-Talk Tuesday #4 – question about Sessions Westminster A clock
The Ansonia octagonal short drop wall clock was (is) commonly known as a schoolhouse clock. This clock was manufactured in 1912. The number “12” , the year stamp, is found on the lower front plate of the movement. The letter “N” is also stamped on the movement. In this post, Part II, I will proceed … More Ansonia Schoolhouse Clock – Part II – cleaning, bushing work and final testing
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 … More Tick-Talk Tuesday #2 -question about Chelsea ships clock issue
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 … More Tick-Talk Tuesday – #1 -question about Stromberg Carlson master clock
“Life is a box of chocolates….you never know what you are going to get”, Forest Gump Buying a clock without actually touching and inspecting it is always a gamble and making a judgement based on images, many of which are poor quality, complicates the decision-making even further. There are stories of people buying clocks online … More Buying an antique or vintage clock on Craigslist, Kijiji, Gumtree etc. – a how to
This is Part II of a multi part series on the Sessions Westminster A chiming mantel clock. Inside the plates they are a conventional Sessions clock. Outside the plates is an entirely different story Sessions Westminster A clocks are true chiming clocks that play the Westminster chime sequences on the quarter hours and strike the … More Sessions Westminster A mantel clock Part II – Dis-assembly
This is Part I of a multi-part blog wherein I explore the challenges of repairing a Sessions Westminster A tambour style time, strike and chime mantel clock. This part is the introduction. In August 2015 I wrote, “This a good project clock that is not for the inexperienced. As I gain more knowledge I will … More Sessions Westminster A mantel clock Part I – Let’s explore this clock a little further
I recently purchased a vintage Canadian made New Haven 8-day short drop octagon time and strike clock. It is in the familiar style of a schoolhouse clock. The New Haven Clock Company lasted just over 100 years. Sadly, The New Haven Clock Company lasted just over 100 years. Much of the history of the New … More New Haven Short Drop Octagon – two curious features
This year I decided to part with three of my vintage clocks. Rather than sell them which would have offset tool purchases, I decided that there is no better way than gifting them. I have three adult children (is that an oxymoron?) and it was a matter of allowing them to choose what clock they … More Timely Treasures – Gifting a Mechanical Clock
My recent acquisition of another schoolhouse clock stimulated my curiosity and prompted me to do some research on the origin of the name. In this article I will describe my thoughts on how the schoolhouse clock came to be and my most recent Sessions wall clock purchase. During my research I found it very interesting … More The schoolhouse clock that was never called the schoolhouse clock
When I first started clock collecting and repair many people said to me, stay as far away as you can from those darned Chinese wall clocks. They are garbage! They have thin plates, are cheaply made with many stamped parts and they explode without warning. Not true! Oh, yes, they have thin plates and many … More Why I love my Daniel Dakota wall clock
How Far Do You Go to Repair or Restore a Clock? How far should one go to repair, restore, or conserve a clock without changing it in a significant way? Minimal invasive intervention is a term I “borrowed” from a clock forum I frequent. Some collectors argue that any work done on an antique clock … More Minimal Invasive intervention – repair, restore or conserve? The Ingraham Huron | A Case in Point
It is a question many clock owners face when confronted with a nonfunctional antique or vintage clock. Whether it’s a handed-down family heirloom, a vintage find from a flea market, or a sentimental gift, deciding whether to invest in repairs can feel daunting. Beyond its monetary value, a clock’s worth often lies in its history, … More Is my clock worth fixing?
Antique and Vintage Mechanical Clocks 
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