Tick-Talk Tuesday is dedicated to addressing readers’ letters and comments related to clock issues, challenges, and recommendations for specific clocks. In cases where the comments and questions are particularly challenging, I seek advice from my fellow clock enthusiasts to provide the most accurate and helpful response.
It is important to respond to emails from interested visitors, as it not only cultivates a sense of community and engagement with my audience but also facilitates the establishment of relationships with individuals who share similar interests.
JB did not provide a photo but here is a Ridgeway clock from the 1990s
JB writes:
Just wanted to contact you for your professional opinion on a Grandfather clock I’ve been lucky enough to find for sale for $1500.00, it’s in near mint condition and works, it’s my understanding that the first 2 digits of the serial number is the year made if that’s true then it was made in 1986 listed is the information I have on the clock:
Ridgeway A.L. Latham Grandfather Clock
Dial Pg
Finish OKM3 U5
Setups 080586
Model 273
Registered Serial # 86036698
I have always want one and love to listen to them tic and chimes so based on what I’ve mention can you please tell me anything about this clock and if that is a good purchase value?
Thanks very much for any information you can share on this!
My response:
Hi and thanks for your email. The 1980s is correct judging from the last two digits. I would exercise a little caution on the price. If it was a particularly high end clock at the time it might be well worth the asking price but grandfather clocks of that period, the 1980s, have trouble fetching $500 to $1000 in today’s market.
The movements in these clocks do not last forever and if it has never been serviced it may already be very worn. Servicing, which involves taking the movement apart, addressing wear issues, reassembling and testing might be in the region of $400 or much more. If the clock has been serviced in the last year or two and the seller can provide receipts you can be assured that it will run reliably for a number of years. If the movement has been replaced recently with a brand new one (and that is not a bad thing) you can also expect years of reliable service.
For an unserviced clock of this vintage I would definitely haggle but even if serviced I would still haggle.
JB replied
I really appreciate your advice on the clock I mentioned in the email. Not knowing anything about something so tedious can be concerning especially when it is an item you’ve wanted to purchase. I did past the information on to the seller so she knows what she has because she too knows nothing about the clock only that it belonged to her late husband.
Bushing wear is a common issue that can occur on antique brass clock movements. A bushing is a small hole drilled into the plate that is used to support the pivots and reduce friction between the pivots and the clock’s plates. Over time, the bushings can become worn down or damaged due to friction, which can cause a clock to malfunction or stop. Other factors such as the environment the clock is in, the lack of periodic lubrication, and the build-up of dirt and grime combine to exacerbate wear over the years.
When bushing wear occurs, the clock’s pivots may become loose or wobbly, which can lead to the gears not meshing properly or becoming stuck. This can result in the clock losing accuracy or stopping altogether.
To repair bushing wear on an antique brass clock movement, the bushings or the holes must be drilled out and a new bushing inserted in its place. The new bushings must be precisely fitted to ensure that the clock’s pivots are properly supported and that the clock runs smoothly.
On my bench is a Sessions time-only schoolhouse clock made in the early 1920s. According to the label on the back, it is called the Office.
At only 21 inches high it is diminutive in size, unfortunately, the hands are incorrect
Factors at play when a clock stops
The clock stops when fully wound. There are essentially two factors at play when a clock stops. When the mainspring is fully compressed dirt and grime act like sandpaper and prevent the power of the mainspring from releasing. Some erroneously call this “overwinding” a term that has stubbornly persisted over the years. Worn bushing holes add to the problem when the holes are so worn the gears do not mesh correctly.
Curious, why is the trademark stamped on the INSIDE of the back plate?
Sessions movements are not new to me and I have worked on identical movements in the past. Compared to the others I have worked on, this one has minimal wear with one peculiarity detailed below.
Even before servicing, it looks clean
There is no doubt this movement has been worked on previously judging from pivot scratch marks around the bushing holes and a replacement click spring. The leader and suspension spring have also been replaced at some point in the clock’s life and judging from the condition of the suspension spring, it may need to be replaced in this servicing.
While there is some movement in all the bushing holes the worst is the 3rd wheel rear plate and the escape wheel front and rear plate. The holes in those three locations were drilled out and new bushings were installed in their place.
Despite slight wear on all other bushing holes, there is not enough to warrant new bushings at this time. Naturally, if I were in the clock repair business I would consider bushing the entire movement.
Using support to steady the escape wheel bridge
In this case, replacing bushings in the entire movement is not necessary as the clock will remain in my collection and as such will be inspected every 2-3 years for wear.
One of the unique features of clocks such as this is their ability to be hung and forgotten and continue to run quite well while very worn, a testament to their rugged design.
Plates on the left and gears on the right, a pretty simple movement
And now the eccentric repair. The click spring retaining tab/hook was snapped off for whatever reason. As a result, the replacement click spring winds its way through to the outside of the wheel by hooking into a hole drilled in the spoke. It is a little odd but as it works well there is no requirement for remediation. Aesthetics aside, some repairs do not need to be reversed if the part functions well.
Odd but it works
The mainspring has plenty of “spring” left in it which makes me wonder if it is a replacement.
On the test stand
During servicing the mainspring was unhooked from the main wheel arbour and using my Olie Baker spring winder, it was extended and thoroughly scrubbed with a Scotch-Brite heavy-duty scouring pad, and lubricated with Keystone clock spring oil. There was certainly enough dirt and grime to stop the clock in the spring’s fully wound position and a good cleaning solved the problem.
After a brief testing period, the movement was remounted and it is now on display on my kitchen wall where it rejoins its cousins.
As the tiny hands look rather silly, the correct clock hands will be added to my next clock supply order.
The Sessions Clock Company of America was one of the leading clock manufacturers in the United States in the early 20th century. Founded in 1903 by William E. Sessions and Aaron Lufkin Dennison in Forestville, Connecticut, the company quickly gained a reputation for producing clocks that were both reliable and affordable.
Over the years, the Sessions Clock Company produced a wide range of clocks, including mantle clocks, and wall clocks, and became known for their innovative designs.
A very popular model was the schoolhouse clock. Schoolhouse wall clocks have a rich history dating back to the late 19th century. Originally used in schools, and other public places, these clocks were designed to be reasonably accurate and reliable timekeepers, with large, easy-to-read dials and distinctive wooden cases with glass-paneled lower access doors showing a moving pendulum.
A comparatively small schoolhouse showing incorrect hands
Over time, schoolhouse clocks became popular in homes and offices, with various manufacturers producing their own versions of the classic design. Today, schoolhouse wall clocks remain a popular choice for those seeking a traditional timepiece and are often seen as a symbol of American craftsmanship and design.
Diminutive clocks were popular in their day because of the lower cost compared to a larger wall clock. This clock is 21 inches high by 13 1/2 inches wide with a 7-inch dial and it is difficult to envision how it could be seen clearly in a large classroom setting but for some school regions, the cost was an important factor. Standard schoolhouse clocks are typically seven to eight inches longer and have 12-inch dials.
Most schoolhouse clocks were designed to display only the time, with no additional features such as a striking mechanism or date displays. This simplicity allowed for a greater focus on reliability, which was essential in public spaces such as schools where good timekeeping and long periods between servicing were crucial.
Shown in the middle with a Waterbury on the right and Sessions on the left, all are time-only clocks
I have had this particular Sessions clock for over a year and it stops from time to time. It likely requires a good cleaning and it is time to put it on the workbench. The case is in excellent condition and I see no need for intervention aside from cleaning with soap and water.
We’ll see what we shall find. I’ll report back in a week or two but this should be a standard servicing job and I am not expecting any surprises.
I am not a huge fan of gingerbread clocks which were very popular in America at the turn of the 20th century. Every major manufacturer made them and they sold like hotcakes. Thousands have survived and a quick perusal of online auction sites any day of the week will reveal dozens if not hundreds of them.
The Sessions Clock Company of America was a prominent clock manufacturer in the early 20th century, producing a wide range of clocks that included mantle, wall, and grandfather clocks. Founded in 1903 in Connecticut, the company quickly gained popularity for its combination of both traditional and modern styles. Although the company ceased production in the 1950s, Sessions clocks remain popular among collectors and clock enthusiasts. Sessions gingerbread clocks were particularly popular.
The gingerbread designs were created by using high-pressure rotary presses on oak wood that had been pre-steamed to soften it.
The Grand Assortment 8-day time and strike gingerbread clock from around 1915 was a big seller for Sessions and the model was found in many American homes of the day.
And so, we have my Sessions clock won at auction in early 2022. This clock has had a hard life of neglect.
This clock took many months to complete. I was not quite certain what to do with the case so I worked on the movement initially. I have serviced a fair number of Sessions movements over the years so servicing was fairly routine with the exception of one small issue mentioned below.
Rather than leave the case as-is I knew I knew that invasive intervention was the only option.
Auction photo
The case was completely stripped, not something I wanted to do but it was in such poor condition. For example, note the bottom right base section shown below.
The entire case was similar to this
After much rubbing, scrubbing, using a commercial nontoxic stripper, and the application of 2 coats of traditional shellac the results were better than expected.
The clock is complete, the slight darkness on the right is my shadow
I can usually resurrect a dial but this one had too much foxing as they say in the clock world. Foxing is the gradual process of rust oxidizing through the paper dial over a long period.
Sessions dial pan
Rather than source a new paper dial I decided to go with a dial from an Ingraham gingerbread parts clock and since the diameter, the center arbor and winding holes are standard it was an easy fit.
Anyone familiar with the Grand Assortment line would note that they were fitted with Roman Numerals rather than Arabic dials but I don’t think the buyer of a clock like this would see it as an issue.
Here is the clock from a slightly different angle.
Straight on shot
The Movement
I began with new bushings on the escape wheel rear plate and third and fourth wheels on the time side and finally the second wheel back plate for a total of 4 bushings on the time side.
The movement, as found, note the pendulum leader hanging off the crutch loop
There was negligible wear on the strike side.
As I noted in a previous article the center cannon is quite stiff and I was never able to eliminate the stiffness completely but the clock runs well.
Final thoughts
Stripping an antique clock case should always be considered a last resort. While it may be necessary to remove old, damaged, or unsightly finishes in some cases, stripping can irreversibly damage the wood and compromise the value of the clock. It’s important to exhaust all other options, such as repairing and restoring the existing finish before resorting to stripping.
If stripping is the only viable option, it’s crucial to approach the process carefully and with the utmost care to avoid further damage to the clock case.
And so there you have it. A case that was completely stripped, a new top coat, a newish dial added, and a movement that required minor servicing and now the clock is ready to be sold at some point in the spring after a few weeks of testing.
I was very close to trashing this little Jerome & Co. time-only cottage clock but decided to give myself a real challenge and bring the clock back to something presentable. So far the project is progressing reasonably well.
The door trim has been completed, and the movement has been serviced. Serviced in the spring of 2022 the movement runs perfectly.
This post details the results of in-painting the dial and some work completed on the lower tablet.
Not in the best of shape
My first attempt at replicating the colour and tone of the dial produced passable results as the below photo shows. Since I had to build layers of paint I was not concerned that it was slightly off as each layer came closer to matching the rest of the dial.
As the paint dried I tackled some of the numbers using a Pitt fine-tipped artists pen, a straight-edge and a compass.
Initial work on the dial
I had better luck with the next batch of paint combining white with small amounts of red, brown, black and yellow, mixing and comparing as I went.
The number eleven is admittedly a little shaky because I was unable to smooth out the base paint in that particular spot. The number eleven was pretty much a crap shoot anyway as it was totally obliterated before I began.
The chapter ring and minute markers came out as well as could be expected.
in-painting and enhancement of the numerals
Close examination will certainly reveal that dial work has been done but once the dial is mounted in the case it takes a good eye to see the difference plus I have successfully preserved the overall patina.
Dial mounted in the case
The black sections of the lower tablet were reverse painted and there is a significant difference. I am not sure how to address the red, green, and gold tablet design which is in very poor condition. I may leave it as-is if I am unable to complete the fine detail work.
Dial, trim, and touchups on the lower tablet
So far so good! Next is the veneer work which should present an interesting challenge.
Well, it’s that time of the year. What is my best clock acquisition of the past year? You can decide for yourself and leave a comment but I will reveal my favorite at the end of the post.
As a clock hobbyist, I have had little difficulty locating interesting clocks and every year I have managed to find a winner or two. 2022 was no exception.
In the early days of collecting, time and strike vintage mantel clocks were my principal focus with the goal of taking them apart and making them work, an important part of my learning. Many of those clocks have been either sold or gifted. I have shifted my focus toward collecting interesting clocks, rare clocks, clocks that have a special provenance, and growing my collection of Canadian-made clocks.
My wife is my best clock finder. Our discussions may go something like this; “did you see that wall clock on Facebook/xxx auction house?”. “Let me see. Yeah, it looks good, what do you think? Make an offer?” and off we go. Sometimes I will accept the offer from the seller without negotiating because it is a fair price but there are times when a little wheeling and dealing takes place prior to the sale.
In no particular order, here are my finds for 2022.
Fusee gallery clock
Gallery or dial clock, unknown maker
The clock is also called a dial clock in England which is where it was made. There are no markings anywhere on the clock save an obscure trademark that I have been unable to identify. It is a time-only fusee clock with a 12-inch dial, a very common size. It might have had a chain drive at the beginning of its life but it now has a cable. I have not serviced this clock because I don’t know enough about fusee movements, particularly the method of preloading the powerful mainspring.
E N Welch marine clock
Marine clock by E N Welch
This 30-hour spring wound clock with a hairspring lever escapement simply tells the time. It was made in the 1870s and perhaps earlier. It has been serviced, bushed, and cleaned, but my challenge at the moment is setting up the hairspping. It will work but not well.
Hamilton clock co ogee
Hamilton time and strike ogee clock, Canadian made
Acquired in the spring of 2022 this ogee clock was made in Hamilton, Ontario (Canada). The movement was serviced but the case challenged my veneering skills. It looks quite presentable now but was in poor condition when I bought it.
Jerome and Co. Rose Cottage clock
Rose Cottage clock by Jerome & Co.
Quite honestly I was going to throw the case out after having serviced the movement. It simply looks too far gone. However, I have accepted the challenge of bringing back this clock to its former glory. So far it is a work in progress.
Jauch calendar clock
Jauch 8-day calendar clock
From a distance, this clock looks good but a closer examination reveals a cheaply made time-only movement and an equally inexpensive pine case. It is clear that this German company was attempting to cash in on the antique American schoolhouse clock that was popular in the 1970s.
Wag on the wall
Wag on a wall
This has a well-made German movement, possibly by Mauthe or Hermle. It is a time-and-strike weight-driven clock and keeps very good time. Its only negative is that it has a cheap 1960s look about it but the only thing missing is a bottom middle finial.
Sessions Grand Assortment
Grand Assortment by Sessions
Perhaps the ugliest gingerbread clock ever made. The photo is the exact clock I worked on two years ago since the clock is apart at the moment and I have stripped down the case (a last resort).
Sessions Mission clock
Sessions Mission clock, 8-day time and strike
I like this clock not only because it is a 10$ thrift store find but it has very nicely styled mission clock and it works very well, keeping decent time for a spring-driven clock.
Empire gallery clock
English gallery clockwith 10-inch dial
I was hoping this was a fusee clock when I bid on it on an online auction in the spring of 2022 but it is a spring-driven 8-day clock with a fairly robust movement that was intended for commercial use, a store, an office environment perhaps.
Daniel Pratt Jr woodworks clock
Daniel Pratt Jr woodworks clock
I have a couple of Danel Pratt woodworks clock. Unfortunately, this one is missing its topper. Servicing woodworks movements takes special care and attention and I may tackle this clock in the spring.
Ansonia 30-hour parlour clock
Ansonia 30-hour parlour clock
I seem to gravitate toward 30-hour clocks. This is a time-and-strike clock and is in decent condition requiring only a few touchups.
My favorite?
Well, it has to be the time-only fusee which is probably why I subconsciously placed it first on the list. It well built industrial-strength clock that was designed to last for years. It looks great on any wall, is very quiet, and quite accurate which is what fusee movements are known for.
It is always challenging to find time to work on projects when life is busy. I picked up some part-time work this winter, teaching at a community college so between that my clock hobby teaching has taken precedence, for now.
Since the post on extreme restoration a week or so ago, I have continued planning the work to be done and have actually managed to address two issues, the second one only partially.
For my first thoughts on this Jerome Rose Cottage 30-hour clock, see the post below. I am sure you will agree that this is a candidate for extreme measures.
The case has been cleaned of dirt and grime and I have removed some of the ragged pieces of veneer on the right side. The plan is to cover the exposed sections with new veneer but since the trim is curved I will have to work out some way to apply the veneer to the curved surface and clamp using some sort of curved block. I considered an old section of ogee molding but no, not the right shape.
The movement had been serviced in the spring of 2022 and is running perfectly.
One solid wheel on this tiny movement
Painting the door trim
In my collection of acrylic paints, I found antique gold which I believe is very close to the original trim framing the front access door.
Dark chocolate brown paint was used to cover the area between the glass and the gold trim and since it was a flat texture I applied a coat of shellac to give it a satin sheen.
The design of the small glass tablet will be a challenge to duplicate and I continue my search online for a cottage clock with the same design that I can pattern off, otherwise, I will have to improvise.
Before and after
Addressing the dial
The dial has been thoroughly cleaned but some of the dirt is embedded in the dial surface which is not an issue since I would like to retain some of the patina.
I haven’t quite found the exact paint match at this point, but I am not too concerned as building up layers is the first step in in-painting. With some experimentation I should arrive very close to what I am looking for. The real fun will be in-painting the Roman numerals and chapter ring.
In-painting the dial
Next steps
Next will be the veneer work but as mentioned clamping the veneer will be a minor challenge. I am sure I will find a way. The veneer looks like Rosewood and I have a small quantity on hand.
After the veneer work is completed the tablet will be addressed and that will unfortunately involve cutting or peeling the label on the inside, though I will preserve it as best I can.
Finally when all is done a coat or two of traditional shellac should make this clock very presentable.
This small clock has certainly been to hell and back but I do know one thing; whatever I do will be a vast improvement.
Look for more posts to come on this nice little cottage clock.
I worked on the movement in the spring of 2022 and even at that point I was not sure what to do with the clock case. The tiny movement intrigued me and I wanted to have it running but the case – what a total disaster.
A tiny movement
Chauncey Jerome was a prolific clockmaker and a true pioneer of the early American clock. Despite his success in clock manufacturing from the late 1830s to the early 1850s, a number of poor business decisions led to bankruptcy in 1856, and the assets of the bankrupt Jerome Manufacturing Co. were purchased by the New Haven Clock Co.
The copper wire soldered to the movement is actually a homemade bushing
While Jerome was involved in numerous clock-making activities after his bankruptcy and marketed clocks under his name and label, Jerome & Co. is not one of those. “Jerome & Co.” was a tradename used by the New Haven clock company to cash in on the Jerome name. Chauncey Jerome never oversaw the production of this particular clock. Still, in some eyes, the fact that it is a “Jerome clock” means something.
These clocks were only a dollar or two in their day and nobody expected them to last forever. Given that it was likely made in the 1870s it has certainly had a long life.
The movement was cleaned and the worst holes including the copper wire thingy contraption were bushed.
Black dots indicate new bushings, note the solid wheel in the back of the movement
One look at it would tell anyone that the clock has been through many hands and the case is well worn. In fact, some would consider it one step away from being binned. But I am looking for a challenge and I think this is it.
There are veneer losses on the right side of the case, the bottom corners, and the top left. Most of the “gilt” around the front access door has worn off. There is a large age split on the top-right and the reverse-painted lower tablet has significant losses. It looks very depressing.
Despite numerous issues with the case, the movement is likely original, the hands probably original, and the dial as well though the pendulum bob is a replacement.
There are significant losses on the dial and it will take a bit of work to put it right. The case issues are not unexpected given the age of the clock but it has obviously not had a lot of care over the years
Given the present condition of the clock case, I am curious to see what I can do. One thing I know for certain is that any work on the case will be an improvement. We’ll see what I can come up with.
Last week (January 20, 2023) I wrote about a wonderful little marine clock that I have just not had the time to service completely. A few weeks ago I cleaned the movement and polished the pivots and left it. All that was left was the bushing work. I spent a few hours on it today and it was worn as expected. Eight bushings for a time-only movement is a lot.
It is a 30-hour brass movement made by E.N. Welch in the 1860s. It has a balance wheel or hairspring lever escapement to use a more exact term. The movement is accessed by removing the dial and bezel (4 screws) and releasing 4 screws that hold the movement to the backboard.
Time only with balance wheel escapement, prior to cleaning
A balance wheel escapement should be no surprise to anyone who knows the purpose of this clock. It is a marine clock, designed to be used on ships and trains, not a ship’s bell or watchkeeper’s clock but a marine clock that simply tells the time.
I suspected part of the reason the clock was so slow was a combination of factors, a kink in the hairspring, the general wear of the movement plus all the dirt and grime that had accumulated over the years.
The arrow shows a little bit of kink after my best attempt to straighten it
I separated the plates to discover that the movement had been worked on previously. Sometimes the work is done well and other times questionable shortcuts are taken. In this case, a glued regulating cup screw and punch marks around some of the pivot holes. You play the cards you’re dealt.
A screw is glued, stripped no doubt
It is a pretty simple clock with not many parts.
The arbour with the lantern pinion in the middle is the “seconds” bit, before cleaning
As mentioned, the balance wheel adjustment cup screw in the rear is glued in place and there is only one reason for it, it is stripped. I am going to leave it as is as there remains a front adjustment screw on the front of the movement which also has the speed regulator wire.
Next, I am preparing for the first bushing by centering the bushing hole. You will notice that I am bushing from the outside of the place. The center wheel did no allow enough space to work from the inside of the plate.
Centering the hole on a Bergeon bushing machine
And on to the bushing work.
Using a reamer on a pivot hole
The only tricky bushing was the mainspring arbour which required a 5.5mm bushing, otherwise, the bushing work went smoothly
Mainspring and new arbour bushing
There was more bushing work than I realized. Yes, it was quite worn but I have seen worse.
Cleaned and in place, the lantern pinions and pivots were in excellent condition
The movement is a little tricky to put back together because of the small plates and how the wheels are close together but it went back together without much of a fuss.
Now for the fun part and that is remounting the balance wheel. I am not a fan of balance wheel escapements. If you have worked on old alarm clocks you know what I am talking about, getting the clock in beat. The problem I am having is lining up the impulse spring with the fork. Every time I try the spring is twisted.
Does the clock work? Yes but not well. It’s well out of beat and I suspect there is not enough impulse from the hairspring. This will take a little more time to figure out but I am not in the testing phase as yet.
Ah, the days when clock companies put a little time and effort into their designs. The Seth Thomas company, in its heyday, produced many attractive clocks and this eight-day shelf clock is one of the finest examples of the 1870s.
Seth Thomas round top
It is a rather large round top shelf clock measuring 15 inches in height, 10 inches wide at the base, and 4 inches deep. The attractive Rosewood veneered case has a mirrored rectangular lower tablet. I have seen some with clear glass but I believe the original design called for mirrored glass.
The grain is bold and striking. A sliver of veneer between the 9 and 12 o’clock position of the bezel which was missing when I bought the clock in 2019 has been repaired.
Veneer missing – before the repair
And after the veneer repair.
After veneer repair
Unique stylized hands with “S” on the minute hand and “T” on the hour hand give the clock the look of distinction.
A characteristic feature of the clock is a very attractive lyre 8-day Plymouth time and strike spring-driven movement on a bell gong with alarm. It looks like it is literally stuffed into the case but once the wood dial mount is removed it reveals just enough operating space for this movement which was obviously designed to be placed in a large variety of clock cases.
Side view of the caseTop view
The movement is die stamped “S. Thomas, Plymouth Conn.”. It is fitted with Geneva stops (stop-works) to improve timekeeping. It is nice to see stop works on clocks since they are often missing.
The plates are held together with taper pins rather than screws. The alarm mechanism is located just below the movement and to the left with the alarm adjustment wheel on the center cannon as was common in those days. Both the alarm and the movement strike an iron bell gong. The movement is mounted on the back of the case by means of wooden blocks top and bottom.
Back panel
To remove the movement from its case the rear panel must be unscrewed.
A good label is affixed inside the case and at the top, ”Spring Brass Eight Day Clocks”, “Made and Sold by Seth Thomas, Thomaston, Connecticut”. The label is largely intact save for a small piece missing in the lower right corner and slight water staining on the bottom quarter.
Without a doubt, this is one of the most beautiful clocks in my collection.
I have saved a few clocks that were one step closer to a garbage bin by taking an aggressive approach to clock case restoration. Is stripping a clock case a travesty?
Firstly, I am not a huge fan of gingerbread clocks which were very popular in America at the turn of the 20th century. Every major manufacturer made them and they sold like hotcakes. Thousands have survived and a quick perusal of online auction sites any day of the week will reveal dozens if not hundreds of them.
The designs were created by using high-pressure rotary presses on oak wood that had been pre-steamed to soften it.
Auction photo
Gingerbread clocks are quite large for a shelf clock and generally unattractive, in my opinion. The only other gingerbread I have, besides the Sessions clock which is the subject of this article, is an Arthur Pequegnat Canuk 8-day time and strike added to my collection in 2019. The Canuk is nicely balanced, well-proportioned, and mildly attractive for a gingerbread clock.
The Sessions Grand Assortment #1, is the ugly duckling of the clock world.
Arthur Pequegnat Canuk
The design of the top is not consistent with the side rails and the base. The crown looks overbearing. It is not very well-balanced and out of proportion but it was the style of the time and thousands upon thousands were sold.
This clock was acquired as part of an auction lot and was relatively inexpensive. I plan to revitalize the case and service the movement but I am not sure at this point whether or not it is worth keeping.
What to do with the case? Here are two shots of the case, the base, and the crown.
Base section
The mottling is what some call alligorating. Over time heat, moisture (stored in an attic or garage), dust, and dirt cause the shellac to coagulate into lumps or globules similar to the skin of an alligator. It is not fun to remove and drastic measures are required to put right.
Crown section
In the past when met with a similar situation I have tried a number of approaches; lacquer thinner, sanding, alcohol, a mixture of cleaners, and so on but the only way to get rid of it entirely is to strip the case. Does stripping diminish the value of a clock? Perhaps, but if done correctly it might even enhance its desirability.
Grand Assortment
The photo above shows a Grand Assortment I worked on in 2019. Obviously, someone added the colouring to the tablet making it somewhat worse rather than better. I cleaned the case of dirt and grime but left the finish as-is. This one has darkened with age but it looks acceptable.
For my Grand Assortment, the only thing that remains is a very aggressive approach. So, off to the shop it goes.
Hmm, is it a Grand Assortment #1 or #1 in an Assortment of Grand clocks?
Ten minutes per hour! That is slow. American-made spring driven clocks are poor timekeepers and if yours loses or gains a minute or two a week that is just about the best you can expect.
After having worked on the case a few months ago it is past time to work on the movement.
The clock was in running condition when I acquired it though it did manage to run its rated 30-hour cycle.
Welch Marine clock30-hour time-only wall clock
Something is definitely amiss. Wear, a good cleaning or something more serious. Read on and we’ll find out what is slowing this clock down.
A Ship’s Bell clock is a type of marine clock but in clock circles, there is a distinct difference between it and the clock you see here.
Marine clocks either tell the time or strike the hours like a normal domestic clock and because they have a balance wheel escapement they can be placed on a moving object such as a train or a boat whereas Ship’s Bell clocks originated in sailing ship days when the crew of a vessel was divided into Port and Starboard Watches, each on duty for four hours, then off for four hours.
An assortment of Marine and Ship’s Bell clocks at the National Association of Watch & Clock Collector museum in Columbia, Pennsylvania
One stroke of the ship’s bell indicates the first half hour of the watch. Then an additional bell is struck for each succeeding half hour for a total of 8 bells.
As seen when acquired
Based on a quick inspection I see nothing amiss other than a crimped hairspring on the balance escapement. I wonder if that might be the issue?
The movement is accessed by removing the hands and dial
Now, let’s take this apart and see what we have. Look for a future article as I detail the servicing of the movement.
The Waterbury clock hanging in my office brings back memories of my grandfather, a man I wish I had known better. Call it one of life’s regrets.
Now, I didn’t know my grandfather all that well and I’m not sure that many people did. He was shy and a man of few words. I don’t think many people really knew him. In fact, I don’t recall having a meaningful conversation with him.
Rank listed as driver although he was a private in the First World War
He passed in 1962 at age 82 when I was only 12.
My grandfather and his brother came to Canada in 1906. There were many British immigrants at the time as Canada offered new and exciting opportunities for young men. Grandfather came from Shoreham, England where most of his family originated, and was employed with the Postal Service but evidently, postal work was not for him and an adventure to the colonies was a better option.
When he arrived in Canada, he chose Ottawa as a place to live. At the time his future wife lived with her parents. Her mother operated a boarding house where grandfather stayed when he first arrived in Ottawa. You might say that my great-grandmother was a matchmaker of sorts, as she encouraged my grandfather and grandmother to spend time together. She must have thought that since he came from the old country he was quite a catch.
My grandfather spoke only English, and his bride spoke only French. So, how they communicated throughout their engagement and the first few married years is a mystery to this day. Perhaps words are not important after all!
When the First World War broke out in 1914 my grandfather did not sign up immediately but waited until 1916 at which time both grandfather and his brother made the decision to join the war effort. Grandfather was not particularly patriotic, and the purpose of joining was to take advantage of an all-expenses paid trip to Europe and more specifically England where he could reconnect with his family in the Shoreham area. At that point, he had been away from his home country for 10 years.
Imagine my disappointment when I saw this
Neither he nor his brother had any idea that the war would go on for two more years. In fact, they thought, and a lot of people shared the same feeling, that the war would end by Christmas, and they would be home in two or three months. Little did they realize how much longer the war would last and the impact the war would have on two young men.
The movement had been neglected for many years
My grandfather was a military driver during the First World War and was in Europe between 1916 and 1918. He witnessed horrific things and retained many of those memories. Today people would use the term Post Traumatic Stress Disorder but, in those days they called it “shell shock”. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder would stay with him throughout his entire life.
My grandparent’s home was very quiet but for the sound of the Waterbury time and strike wall clock. Grandfather suffered from anxiety/depression and it didn’t take much to bother him, most likely due to his experiences in the First World War.
The brass bezel was in poor shape and screwed to the case?
After the war grandfather worked for the Ottawa Transportation Commission for a number of years. He was a conductor on a streetcar and when the OTC switched from streetcars to buses, they eliminated the conductor position. Grandfather was told that he had to drive a bus and since he was unable to drive for anxiety reasons that stemmed from his experiences in the Great War, he left work at the age of 50 and never worked again. But he and my grandmother managed with the help of family.
Touch-ups were required and dirt was removed from the brass
My grandfather painted that old Waterbury clock case the color yellow to match the walls in the kitchen. I guess he thought it would blend in with the surroundings and the ticking of the clock would somehow subside into the walls. When they sold their home in Ottawa the clock was passed on to one of my cousins.
The clock case had no drop door so, a new one had to be made
The clock was tucked in an old barn for many years and when my cousin downsized and moved into a smaller home he wondered if I would have it. In 2018 he contacted me by email and suggested I retrieve the clock. At the time I imagined it was a complete clock with movement, case, and all the important bits but when I picked it up I was disappointed that it had suffered so much through the years.
Cleaned and ready for the next 100 years
I wish I knew what the clock looked like in its day because what I have left is not the clock I envisioned on my grandfather’s kitchen wall many years ago. I have the movement, dial face, and brass bezel. The case and a few other important parts are long gone. The case my cousin made some 40 or 50 years ago is a heavy homemade plywood concoction. He did the best he could but it was clear that he had little understanding of clock case construction and he got a few things wrong.
However, I was determined to do something with it. It now has new dial glass, a pendulum rod and bob, a verge and crutch, a winding key, and a new drop door. I cleaned up the dial as best I could, refreshed the case, and addressed wear issues on the movement.
Grandfather’s clock, plywood case and all
That old kitchen clock is in my office right beside my desk and ticking away and striking as it should. Although I remember it ticking loudly as a child in the back kitchen the truth of the matter is that it is not a loud ticker at all; it is very soothing.
I contemplated ditching the crudely constructed case and finding a period correct one but the clock with all its warts is what it is. The plywood case, as ugly as it is, is part of the history of the clock. So it will stay as it is and it will always be a reminder of a man I wish I had known.
Most mechanical clocks have an hour hand concentric with the minute hand with the hour hand making one full turn every twelve hours. The special set of wheels off the centre arbour is called the motion works. Attached to the centre arbour is the minute hand. The hour pipe fits over the centre arbour and to it is attached the hour hand. This set of gears, called the motion works, is driven by the time train and powered by a spring or a weight.
I am working on a movement made by the Sessions Clock Co. It is from a model called the Grand Assortment probably made sometime before 1920. This is Grand Assortment #1 in a series of three.
Slightly blurry auction photo
The case is in rough shape and certainly needs some tender loving care. I thought my major challenge was putting life back into a tired case (another story) but it appears the movement needs resuscitation as well.
Note from a previous owner, this clock is from around 1915 or so, not 1903
Adjusting the time on the clock is a challenge because the minute hand is very stiff and takes some effort to move it. Something is amiss with the motion works, the time train itself or both.
Motion works at the centre of themovement
I initially cleaned the movement, checked for wear and determined that the little wear I observed should not be enough to affect the running of the clock.
I reassembled the movement and while on the test stand the problem reoccurred, a minute hand that was just as stiff to move as before and after a few hours, the movement simply stopped. I later discovered that the homemade click spring on the time side had unhooked and caught on the second wheel.
As received. Hmm, the pendulum rod is missing
I am not an expert on the meshing depth of gear teeth but I suspect that there is enough wear in the motion works and the time train to prevent the gear teeth from engaging smoothly with the contact point of the next gear, the lantern pinion. The combination of wear in several locations might produce the stiff centre arbour condition. Based on this theory I went ahead with bushing work.
Drilling a hole in the plate with Bergeon bushing machine
This time I was somewhat more discerning concerning potential wear points and yes, a more careful inspection revealed there was likely enough wear to affect the running of the clock. I began with new bushings on the escape wheel rear plate and third and fourth wheels on the time side and finally the second wheel back plate for a total of 4 bushings on the time side; nothing on the strike side. It looked fine.
Reassembly
The main wheel arbours on this movement aren’t interchangeable. It is easy to confuse the two. After reassembling the movement I noticed that the plate did not go all the way down on the strike side. I compared the two arbours and the time side arbour is narrower at the top. Swapping them back to where they belonged fixed it.
Sessions mainsprings on this movement are not interchangeable
Setting up the strike side correctly on the first go-around is probably more luck than skill but this time there was no additional fiddling with the correct position of the warning wheel which is just below the fly.
I did not completely eliminate the stiff centre arbor but it is improved and the clock is running well. If I have to take it apart a third time I will check for a bent arbour in the train or the center arbour itself or a bent pivot.
Tick-Talk Tuesday is about the letters and comments I have received from readers concerning clock issues, challenges faced, a clock you would profiled or 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
ED writes
Good morning,
I recently bought a house and the previous owners left this clock behind. It ticks and chimes and seems to be in working order. I’m wondering if you could tell me more about it like what time period it is from and if it is of any value.
Dial face of the Westminster C
Thank you in advance for your time!
My reply
Hi and thanks for your email.
The Westminster C is an unusual clock because it has 2 gear trains to perform what is usually done with 3 gear trains in most clocks, rare but not unique. In most chiming clocks there are three trains or three winding points, one for time, one for strike and one for the chimes.
Two train patented movement
This model is based on patent designs filed in 1926 and 1930. Production of the patented movement began in 1927 so, your clock would be around that time and possibly a year or two later. There is a date stamp on the label but I cannot make it out. Could it be 2912, December 1929?
Possibly manufactured in December 1929
The sale price in 1931 was $29.95, a working man’s weekly salary at the time.
It is a very complicated movement that few repairers enjoy working on, because it is difficult to set it up correctly to have it run reliably. If your clock is running well, you are quite lucky because a repair can be very expensive.
They are uncommon enough that they can still fetch a good price on auction sites ($300-$400 or so).
Hope this helps.
ED write back
This is absolutely fascinating! Thank you for your quick reply. I am now looking at that clock through different eyes.
I appreciate your help, and I hope you have a wonderful weekend.
Tick-Talk Tuesday is about the letters and comments I have received from readers concerning clock issues, challenges faced, a clock you would profiled or 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
TM writes, “We have had a banjo clock in our family for multiple generations, and knowing my family’s history it would not surprise me if it was a Simon Willard original. I understand that is a long shot but it is so hard to find information about banjo clocks or reputable people to deal with. It is in relatively good condition, not knowing when my family acquired it exactly, but it is original to us. I am attaching a picture and would greatly appreciate your opinion.”
The family banjo clock
I am not an expert on Willard banjo clocks but have seen and read enough to inform me that Simon Willard clocks have distinctive features that separate his clocks from others.
My reply was, “Hi, and thanks for your email.
It may or may not be a Willard patent banjo. It would have to go through a process of authentication. An expert would identify the classic hallmarks of a Willard clock which would include movement design and construction, distinctive case features, door catch characteristics, construction of the dial, how the movement is mounted, design of the throat and lower tablets, and so on.
However, two things immediately strike me as odd. First, I have never seen a Willard patented timepiece (banjo clock) with an Arabic dial. Secondly, Willard banjo clocks have simple barbed spear hands, none as ornate as the ones on your banjo clock. Your clock could be a variant or the dial and hands could be replacements or the clock could have been crafted by another maker altogether.
Again, an expert in Willard clocks would provide the answer you are looking for.”
Simon Willard Patented Timepiece, C.1810; photo taken at the Simon Willard Clock museum in 2019
Simon Willard did little to protect his patent and as a result, many copies were made during the Federal period in Boston and in New England. Associates of Willard and apprentices to Simon and his brother Aaron produced clocks by the hundreds. Some of the copies were of high quality though they did not have the desired cache of a Simon Willard clock. And of course, many are fakes.
Willard clock; photo was taken at the American Watch and Clock Museum 2019
According to Robert C. Cheney, executive director and curator of the Willard House and Clock Museum proclaimed that the timepiece is “probably the most faked American clock found today.” Is TM’s clock an original, another maker, or a fake? An expert would immediately determine if it is real.
The photo at the beginning of the article is the only one sent to me and one photo is really not enough to make any kind of definitive judgment but I don’t believe TM has a Simon Willard Patented Timepiece.
I have been collecting clocks for over twenty years and for the past 11 years I have been building my collection of vintage and antique clocks, repairing them, and restoring them.
I often reflect back to that first “real” antique clock that my wife and I purchased at an antique store in Blockhouse, Nova Scotia in the fall of 2000. Blockhouse is about 2 hours from our home and during our Saturday excursion in the area, we stopped at various craft and antique stores to see what we could find.
The store is long gone but I remember the day we browsed through the store, looked at several antique clocks, and decided upon a Seth Thomas mantel clock.
The first photo of the clock was taken in December 2000
At the time we thought we were happy with the price we paid though as my knowledge of antique clocks grew I discovered that we paid far more than what it was worth. Still, no regrets.
It sat on an old Willis upright piano for a number of years and since then it has moved to our dining room where it is on prominent display.
The clock in 2016
The clock is an 8-day Seth Thomas time and strike. It is in an ebony case with adamantine features. These clocks are known to collectors as “Black Mantel Clocks”, and were popular from 1880 to 1931. The date on this clock is 1907.
Adamantine veneer was developed by the Celluloid Manufacturing Company of New York City and was covered by U.S. Patent dated September 7, 1880. Seth Thomas Clock Company purchased the right to use the Adamantine veneer in 1881. At that time Seth Thomas stamped the year of manufacture on the bottom of each case.
Type 89 time and strike movement
The movement had to be cleaned but it was in surprisingly good condition with one issue, a stripped regulating gear. Because the gear is stripped the clock cannot be regulated by inserting the small end of a 2-ended key into the front dial. However, it has an adjustable pendulum and I will stick with that until I find a donor movement.
Regulating gear cannot be saved
We ran it for a number of years until 2016 when I took the clock apart, cleaned it, and installed 4 new bushings.
It is not a clock that I keep running continuously but every month or so I wind it up and run it since antique clocks need to be “exercised” occasionally.
The clock todaywith gold scrolling restored
Given its sentimental value, it will stay in my collection.
This is the only mission-style clock in my collection. Made by the Sessions Clock Co. of America in or about the 1920s it reflects classic Mission design and is rather attractive. I was not searching for this clock but a $10 find in a Pembroke, Ontario thrift shop is hard to pass up.
Though this clock is a non-running Sessions movement they are simple enough to work on. The time side was easy to get running with a simple crutch adjustment but there was a good reason the strike side had not been working in many years. After servicing the movement I now understand why it ended up in a thrift shop.
Mission-style clock by Sessions
The case is in reasonably good condition requiring a light cleaning and there is nothing missing overall save the winding key which can be easily sourced. The minute hand fell apart while I was setting the time, probably as a result of being bent so many times but it can be easily repaired.
The movement is a conventional Sessions design with a between-the-plates escapement setup as opposed to earlier Sessions movements that had outboard escapements. The movement is complete and everything is there including a few extra parts thrown in for “good” measure.
Movement issues
I observed a number of “X” marks around bushings but absent are punch marks or replacement bushings. Was there a plan to install new bushings?
An X mark beside a bushing hole and why the mysterious drilled hole adjacent to the escape wheel bushing hole
An “X” mark usually indicates a bushing hole that requires remediation, and why is the mysterious hole perilously close to the escape wheel bushing hole?
The cam wheel pegs for the strike lever have both been soldered and although it is not the neatest work the repair seems solid.
Soldered cam wheel pegs
The actuator arm for the hour strike had been bent so many times that it snapped off when I tried to test the clock before disassembly. This can also be repaired.
The real fun begins
I make it a point to label the mainsprings so that the time and the strike mainspring return to the same location. At times it makes little difference but, at other times, as in the case of this movement, the difference is significant.
In this movement, there is a slight difference in the strike mainspring arbour design so that the arbours cannot be reversed. Because of the slight variation in the strike side mainspring arbour the gears do not mesh correctly if the arbour is reversed. A past repairer switched the two mainspring arbours, time to strike side and strike to time side, and bent wheels to make them fit.
The count wheel is shaped into a bowl to force it to engage the second wheel arbour
Because the mainspring arbours were switched, a previous repairer had screwed a small brass piece into the plate to push the arbour to the right and enable the second wheel to engage the count wheel.
Brass “fix”A brass piece (left) was screwed into the plate to push the second wheel toward the count wheel
A piece soldered onto the arbour to prevent lateral movement was unnecessary because the abours had been switched.
Brass piece soldered onto the time side mainspring (below hammer) to prevent the arbour from moving too much
It took a couple of assembling and disassembling tries to discover the problem, which is valuable time wasted on the bench.
In short, a past repairer did not understand what they were doing and made unnecessary changes complicating what would otherwise be a routine service. Home-cooked repairs are at times functional but often they are an absolute disaster and sometimes the most challenging part of clock repair is fixing other people’s shoddy repairs.
The remainder of servicing went as expected. There was some movement of the pivots in the pivot holes but not enough to justify bushing work at this time. As expected there is less wear on the strike side.
Minute hand fixed, hands, bob, and numerals polished and now on display
So, another clock was brought back to life and a satisfactory repair despite the challenges.
Jauch was related to one of the oldest Black Forest clock-maker families. The Gerbrueder Jauch company manufactured hall, wall, and mantel clocks and movements for the trade including those that were spring and weight operated. In late 1979, the company fell victim to a curtailed export limiting production. Gerbrueder Jauch GmbH eventually went bankrupt in 1986. The remaining stock was purchased by a leading clock/watch supply house in the USA.
The company was a respected supplier of relatively inexpensive but attractive clocks for the average home. This drop octagon schoolhouse-style clock is a prime example of an inexpensively made clock for the masses.
Drop octagon wall clock with the back panel removed
The clock is 23 inches high, 15 inches across, and almost 5 inches deep, dimensions that are very close to the classic American schoolhouse clock made over 100 years ago. Rather than an oak case which is typically found in antique American clocks, the case for this one is a much cheaper pine.
This clock’s bezel is hinged at the top with a flip-up design rather than one that swings to the right which makes winding the clock a two-handed operation.
Flip-up bezel
The clock has “Western Germany” on the bottom part of the dial and the movement which is also stamped July of 1979.
Magnetic catch
For all you history buffs, the Berlin wall was erected in 1961, and Germany was finally unified in 1989.
Standard Jauch time-only movement with calendar feature
I have worked on Jauch time-only movements in the past but never one with a calendar feature. One interesting aspect is the distance from the dial face to the winding arbour necessitating a long #7 key which I do not have.
This one is not in working order. Laying it down flat will cause the escape wheel to run but once on the wall, it abrupting stops after a swing or two of the pendulum. I suspect the anchor escapement is way off or there is serious bushing wear in the top part of the train.
A friend spotted this clock in a local thrift shop for $1.65. Why so little? Thrift shops deal with a constant flow of donated items so any price charged is pure profit. Vintage quartz clocks usually wind up at the thrift shop but not many mechanical clocks do. This is a good find since there isn’t anything fundamentally wrong with the clock save for a scuffed-up case which can be easily remedied with a cleaning and a fresh clear-coat finish.
Western Germany; why not simply “West Germany”
Unless there is something seriously wrong with the movement such as spring barrel bushing wear that I have seen on other Jauch movements, it should be an easy task to have this clock running again.
The hour hand is loose on my unmarked circa 1840s banjo clock. It is an unusual problem and I can’t say I have ever come across an issue like this in my years of clock repair. It is supposed to friction fit on the hour pipe but the hand is definitely quite loose.
I have attributed this fine precision-made weight-driven banjo timepiece to John Sawin or one of his apprentices or associates. John Sawin, who apprenticed under Simon Willard, made clocks in the Boston area in the early 1800s and it appears that this clock was made in or around 1840.
It is not the usual ornate clock with reverse-painted tablets, gilt features, and an American eagle finial that one would envision as a classic banjo clock. This mahogany-cased clock is simple with timeless lines.
Back to the hour hand. I posted the issue on an online clock forum site and the consensus seems to be that I must stake the hour hand in several places on the inside so that it would fit tightly on the hour pipe.
The hour hand is on the right
On most American clocks the hour hand has a collet and the hour hand/collect friction fits onto the hour pipe. No so on early banjo clocks.
Collet on the hour hand
The staking went well, the hour hand fits snuggly and I am pleased.
Between 1903 and 1933 the Sessions Clock Company of America produced 52 models of mechanical clocks ranging from simple mantel clocks and shelf clocks to wall or “regulator” clocks all designed for the home or small businesses.
Found in many homes across America Sessions clocks were regarded as relatively inexpensive, simple in design, and decently constructed aside from one noted design flaw, the clicks. After a hundred years many Sessions clocks are still running.
Mission style clock by Sessions
This is the only mission-style clock in my collection. I was not particularly looking for this one but a $10 find in a thrift shop is hard to pass up. Though this clock is non-running Sessions movements are simple enough to work on.
As there is no maker’s label I can’t tell you the model name or number of this wall clock but I assume that it was made in the early part of the 20th century.
The movement
The case is in very good condition and there is nothing missing save the winding key which can be easily sourced. The minute hand broke while I was setting the time, probably as a result of being bent so many times. That can be repaired.
Sessions movement with front plate off
The movement is a conventional Sessions design with a between-the-plates escapement setup as opposed to earlier Sessions movements that had inboard escapements.
I noticed many “X” marks around bushings but I did not see punch marks or replacement bushings. Was it meant to have had the bushings replaced?
Servicing the mainsprings
The cam wheel pegs for the striking lever have both been soldered and although it is not a very neat job the repair seems strong enough.
There is a hole adjacent to the escape wheel arbor which might have been made through manufacture but it is oddly close to the escape wheel bushing hole.
One more issue. The actuator arm for the hour strike had been bent so many times that it snapped off when I tried to test the clock before disassembly. This can also be repaired.
In short, this is a clock that has been worked on in the past and I would think, not by a professional. Sometimes home-cooked repairs are strong and functional and other times they leave a lot to be desired.
All is not lost and I think this movement can be saved.
Once the Sessions Clock Co acquired E. N. Welch assets in 1902 (for more on the history of E. N. Welch Clock Co. go here) the company was well on its way to becoming one of the biggest clock producers in America. Production began in 1903 and between that time and 1933 Sessions produced 52 models of mechanical clocks, ranging from Advertisers, large and small clocks with logos of various businesses, to wall, or regulator clocks, and shelf or mantel clocks, designed for the home.
The vast majority of Sessions clocks are generic types that have limited value today. I do not know one particular clock made by Sessions that is highly sought after by collectors today although if there is one, please let me know. Found in many homes across North America, they were robust and strong runners despite being inexpensive and plentiful. You might call them the Chevrolet of American clocks.
Of those, I have worked on, the one Achilles heel is the flimsy click design.
I did not have a Mission-style clock in my collection so, this is a long overdue acquisition. Items missing on this clock are the winding key, a #6, and a label which is normally affixed to the backboard. Hence I do not know the model’s name.
In the below photo, the minute hand is missing. I have it but it snapped in two when I attempted to set the time and it will need to be repaired.
Sessions Mission style wall clock
The mainsprings were wound tight. Rather than let the springs down I ran the time side of the clock during the summer. The time side appeared to be fine, a small matter of putting it in beat but the strike side was erratic and struck either at will or incessantly. Something is amiss on the strike side and that means servicing is in order.
I noticed almost immediately that there is what looks like homemade bushing on the second wheel strike side much like a Rathburn bushing but obviously done by a home handyman. It likely works okay but I will remove it to see what issues I find.
Looking over the movement I can see that it has been serviced several times. The pillar nuts are chewed up and there are X marks besides most of the bushing holes and of course one or two bushings with punch marks. I also see a bit of soft solder on the movements in various places such as the third wheel strike side, and time side main wheel arbor which tells me that the repairs were not professional.
I will have a more detailed description of the movement when I dive deep into cleaning and repairing it in the days to come.
Seven clocks in my collection have family connections, not necessarily with my own family but clocks that I am able to trace back through families mostly in Nova Scotia (Canada). No names are mentioned. The stories are sad in some cases but interesting nonetheless.
Let’s begin.
Waterbury wall clock
When I was a child back in the 1950s my grandparents had one clock in their home, a Waterbury drop octagon located in the kitchen above the sink. It was the only mechanical devcie that made a sound in their home.
Waterbury shot dropwall clock, homemade case
My grandfather was a veteran of the First World War and suffered from shell shock (PTSD) long after the war. His home had to be stone quiet with the exception of the time and strike Waterbury clock in the kitchen.
Not knowing much if anything about case constructionmy cousin decided to screw the bezel into the case
After he died my grandmother sold the house and moved in with one of my aunts. The clock went to one of my uncle’s kids. The original case was painted yellow to match my grandfather’s kitchen walls and either it was in poor condition or broken, and a new case was constructed by my cousin. He knew almost nothing about case construction but did the best he could. Because he did not know how to repair the movement the clock was stored in a barn for a number of years (chicken pecks on the dial face!). In 2020, he gave the clock to another cousin who was breaking up their home and asked if I would have it.
Rather than take the movement out of its homemade case and put it into something more appropriate I decided to leave it as is as the case with all its warts is part of the history of the clock.
Sawin Banjo clock from a collector in Wolfville NS
My wife found this weight drive time-only banjo clock on Facebook Marketplace. The photos were quite poor and I imagine the seller was not getting much traction on the ad. Knowing that it might be something special I made an offer, sight unseen.
Banjo clockby John Sawin or one of his associates
It had a few minor issues such as broken glass, and veneer losses but otherwise, the clock was intact including the original acorn finial.
Timepiece
I always ask the seller about a clock’s origin and in this case, the clock was from a collector in Wolfville, Nova Scotia. The seller said that her uncle had this clock as well as a number of quality clocks for as long as she could remember, perhaps 60 years or so but could not recall where the clock originally came from.
After researching this clock I discovered that it was made in or around 1840, in Boston and although unsigned has all the markings of a clock made by John Sawin (or one of his associates) an apprentice to the famous inventor of the banjo timepiece, Simon Willard.
Gilbert mantel clock Shawville
What attracted me to this clock was the condition of the case. For a 100+-year-old clock, it is in remarkably good condition.
Gilbert time and strike mantel clock
The design is simple but graceful and of course, it would have been one of the cheaper clocks in the Gilbert line.
Gilbert movement
Despite the pandemic, people were still engaged in the buying and selling of clocks. This was another Facebook ad. The price was very reasonable. The clock was bought from a family in Shawville Quebec. A family member had passed away and all household items were sold off. The seller said her mother loved the clock and polished it weekly though it had not run for years.
Because the seller did not wish to have physical contact with me the clock was placed in a recycle container on the side of the highway for me to pick up.
Mauthe Horse crown
Most would call this a Vienna-style springer. Made in or about 1885 it had been in a family since I bought it from a former superintendent of schools about 6 years ago.
In the early 1980s, his wife brought the family clock over from Holland in a suitcase. It had been in his wife’s family for several generations previously. The gentleman’s wife passed away 10 years ago and had she been alive today I would certainly have learned a lot more about its history.
Mauthe Horse Crown with replacement bottom center finial
The seller was reluctant to let this clock go since it was a happy reminder of his past life. But he was moving into the next phase of his life with a new partner and that meant divesting of furniture and other items. Like him, I think of life in phases.
Mauthe Horse Crown movement
The only issue was a missing bottom finial. I can only imagine that the finial had to be removed so the clock could fit in the suitcase.
Junghans wall clock Crispi
What happens when you get a clock in a box? Call it a collection of parts, pieces, and dust. To some, a box of clock pieces is discouraging but to me, it was a challenge.
Junghans clock in pieces
This is an antique German Junghans time and strike spring-driven clock made in the style of a Vienna Regulator. There is no serial number on the movement which dates the clock to 1899 or earlier (in 1900 Junghans began to number their movements).
Fully restored Junghans Crispi wall clock
This clock is a witness to the day of the Halifax Explosion in 1917. The result of the explosion from a munitions ship in the Bedford basin was apocalyptical.
This clock, owned by the seller’s wife’s mother caught the brunt of the blast.
Catalog photo of the Crispi, second from left
The blast not only shattered the glass panels but heavily damaged the box frame. Most of the parts sat in a box for 100 years. Since the box frame was damaged beyond repair, the seller, an amateur woodworker, built a new frame made of oak some 35 years ago. He was at a loss as to how to repair the movement, put the project aside, and lost interest.
Wag on a wall
The style of the clock is a “wag on the wall”. It is a strange name but basically, it is a clock with the movement enclosed in a small case and with a pendulum and weights exposed. It is so named because the pendulum appears to wag on the wall like a dog’s tail.
Wag on a wall, unknown maker
My wife’s uncle was an internist (internal medicine specialist) in Newfoundland and practiced for many years but dementia and its attendant complications finally got the best of him. He spent the last 5 or so years in a locked ward of a residential facility for the elderly.
The pendulum wags like a dog’s tail
As part of his practice, he set up a home office where he would receive patients and consult with colleagues. In his office was a wall clock given to him by a former patient.
When he passed away his possessions were distributed among his family members with the clock going to his brother who, himself passed away this past year. Unfortunately, there was not much interest in the clock and it spent 15+ years in a Rubbermaid container in the basement of his brother’s home.
His wife is currently in the process of moving to a smaller home, giving away what she could and since I have a keen interest in antique and vintage clocks she determined that the best place for the clock was in the hands of someone who would appreciate it.
Ingraham Huron
The clock is Rosewood “Huron” Shelf Clock, by E. Ingraham & Co., Bristol, Connecticut circa 1878.
Rare E Ingraham Huron found on a local online for-sale site
It has a paper-on zinc dial with a round glazed door and a lower glass access panel. It is a brass eight-day spring-powered movement, with a height of just under 41 centimeters.
Ingraham Huron balloon-style shelf clock
I asked the seller who was about 70 years old at the time, “what do you know about this clock?”. He extended his hand palm down out to about a meter from the floor and said, “I was this tall when I can first remember it in my grandmother’s home”. There is a penciled marking just inside the case indicating that it had been serviced by a person by the name of Hebb in 1944. The seller recalls a Hebb family who at one time lived in the Bridgewater area of Nova Scotia near where I purchased the clock.
He and his wife were in the process of dissolving their marriage and were selling off everything they own including many sentimental items.
Conclusion
I always make it a point to ask about the history of any clock I purchase. Sometimes, in the cases above I learn interesting things about the clock. In other cases, the seller knows nothing.
I wish I knew more about other clocks in my collection. Unfortunately many were passed on from seller to buyer and the history has been lost forever, but what stories some of them could tell.
I often get letters from my readers that begin with something like, “I picked this up in a thrift store” and marvel at what they find for next to nothing. Quite often the item they snagged at an unbelievable price needs a little love but that is to be expected.
Sessions wall clock
While on our summer jaunts my wife occasionally drags me into the odd thrift store because as she says, you’ll never know what we’ll find” and quite often she’s right. Over the past two or three years, we have bought a few jazz and classical CDs for next to nothing (yes, CDs are back).
Recently we stopped in a small town in an adjacent province to look around. We found a couple of classical CDs and were content to leave when my wife pointed out a mission-style clock hanging behind the cash.
“What’s the price on that? “, I asked. “I don’t know, the boss is in the back” I found him throwing items into a dumpster, obviously things that could not even be given away. “I’m interested in a clock”. “Show me”, he said. We both walked to the front of the store, he looked up at the clock, rubbed his chin, and said, “how about 10 bucks”. I mean, why dicker!
I don’t have a Mission-style clock in my collection and hoped that it was a Canadian-made Arthur Pequegnat, but I knew the hands were not the type used on Pequegnat clocks. Upon first inspection, the only things missing are the winding key and a label which is normally affixed to the backboard.
Sessions time and strike movement
I thought perhaps it was an Ingraham or Sessions. Once back at home I unscrewed the back panel and identified it immediately as a Sessions movement. Still a good deal. It also tells me that it was made after 1903 the year the sessions Clock Company was formed after a group of investors bought out the assets of the EN Welch Clock Co.
The mainsprings were wound tight. Rather than let the springs down I ran the clock. The time side was fine, a small matter of putting it in beat but the strike side needs a little work. There is nothing wrong with the passing strike on the half-hour but complete silence on the hour. Something is amiss on the strike side. I‘ll give it a nudge and see what happens.
It is a $10 cottage clock my sister picked up in a yard sale several years ago and gave to me after I serviced one of her ogee clocks. There is a label on the inside that says it is made by Ansonia Brass Co. and I would date it to around the early 1880s.
It likely cost no more than 50 cents in its day, the most inexpensive of mechanical clocks but enough to provide for a family of modest needs.
Ansonia cottage clock
Not many survive to this day as they were tossed out when they stopped working. When they do survive they are often in poor condition such as this one. So, it is not surprising that time-only cottage clocks, in very good condition, are sometimes worth more and have greater collector value than larger American time and strike parlour or kitchen clocks.
A very simple time-only movement
So, why is this clock not worth much more than my sister paid for it? It’s had a hard life and has likely been altered in several ways. Original movement? It’s hard to say as there are no markings on it. Well worn? Yes! Pendulum, crutch, the mainspring, pallets; probably replacements. And why the notches on the rear of the access door?
Notches on either side of door
My wife and I love the sound of a ticking clock when we sleep at night. We both find it very soothing. And this one ticks just loud enough to be heard over our window air conditioner.
Unfortunately, the movement cannot quite run its intended 30 hours, and either the mainspring is too weak, or it needs a good cleaning. It is certainly not worth replacing a mainspring that would exceed the value of the clock so, a good cleaning is what it will get.
Time-only movements are the simplest to work on. There is only one train with three wheels plus the escape wheel. It is a matter of letting down the mainspring (a clamp is not necessary) releasing the 4 pins that hold the plates together which exposes the wheels and then taking the parts out.
Bent and worn main wheel teeth
Two issues immediately tell me that this movement does not have a lot of time left. The main wheel and the centre cannon teeth are slightly bent and it is only a matter of time when one or more break. There is not a lot of stress produced by the mainspring on the wheels of a 30-hour clock so it could take years, or perhaps even tomorrow. In any event, a repair of the wheel teeth is just not worth it.
The movement is not especially dirty but there is blackened oil in some of the pivot holes necessitating remediation. A clean in the ultrasonic followed by rinsing the parts, drying them, and then reassembly, oiling, and testing. That is it.
It is clean and I hope it will run 30 hours after the cleaning. Will it last? Well, for as long as the wheel teeth hold out. Let’s hope they do!
Antique and Vintage Mechanical Clocks 
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