How to sell an antique mechanical clock If you are a collector like myself there will come a point when there are just too many clocks and not enough walls and mantels. I manage my collection in two ways, some clocks are gifted while others are sold. I am not in the business of selling … More How to sell an antique mechanical clock – preparation and advertising
While I admire the ingenuity and creativity of clock repairpersons many years ago some of the repairs are downright scary and dangerous. I say clock repairpersons because may were back yard mechanics with minimal clock skills that were paid to “just get his thing running”. In this article, I will describe some of the strange … More Interesting clock repairs, some good, some not so good
In February 2020 my wife was perusing an online auction house looking for interesting bargains and noticed a 170-year-old Scottish tall case offered for bidding. Over the past couple of years we had talked about acquiring an antique tall case clock but those we liked were either well beyond our reach or required extensive repairs … More English bell strike servicing Part I – the assessment
Don’t throw that old clock case or movement away. In this article, I will describe how I repurpose/reuse an old ogee clock case and how saving those old clock parts will come in handy someday. Some time ago I responded to an ad on our local online for-sale site from an individual who had four … More Don’t throw those old clock parts away
Among American clocks, the name Elisha Manross does not immediately come to mind unlike well-known clockmakers such as Seth Thomas, New Haven or Waterbury. However, Elisha Manross (1792-1856) was an important pioneer of the Connecticut clock. Brass mainsprings are very rare. It is possible for a clockmaker to go through their entire career without seeing … More A 1847 Elisha Manross steeple clock with rare brass mainsprings
It is time to take a little break. It has been a difficult first half of 2020 and we are all feeling the effects of isolation. For many the world-wide pandemic has been an adjustment not only with our daily routine but in our interactions with those dear to us. Hopefully things will change for … More Time to relax and slow down
It is not uncommon for a mechanical clock to run 25, 30 years or more with nothing more done to it other than the occasional oiling. How often should a mechanical clock be serviced? It is not as simple an answer as it seems. In this post, I will define what it means to service … More How often should I service my mechanical clock?
Restoring the case of an 1850s period Scottish tall case clock with an English bell strike is the subject of this blog. This is Part II of a two-part series. Check out Part I here. While the case was made in Scotland, the movement, dial and weights are all from Birmingham, England made at or … More Restoring an 1850s Scottish tall clock case – Part II
This is my first experience with a tall case clock from the 1850s and my first venture into English bell strike movement servicing. Let me explain. Although the case was made in Scotland, the movement, dial and weights are all from Birmingham, England made at or before 1850. The clock was in fair condition when … More Restoring an 1850s Scottish tall clock case – Part I
Older readers growing up in the rural areas of Canada and American have fond memories of the one-room schoolhouse clock located in the front or rear of the classroom. Just how did the schoolhouse clock get its name? As the teacher instructed the students to work quietly on their own students would look up furtively … More The schoolhouse clock – how it got its name
Putting together a list of all the clocks I desire really appeals to me. The more I research the antique and vintage clock world the more discerning I have become as a collector. Most clock collectors evolve as their tastes change and after collecting for more than 10 years I have changed my thinking on … More My antique and vintage clock wish list
Back in December 2019, I wrote about the challenges of adjusting the strike side of this attractive parlour clock, a Waterbury York, circa 1900. Despite many attempts the strike side refused to work. Though I was close to a solution but I did not realize it at the time. I put it aside to think … More Waterbury York parlour clock – a fresh approach to addressing a non-functioning strike side
In light of current world events the antiquevintageclock.com family wish to convey our sympathy and condolences to those effected by Covid 19 Tick Talk Tuesday #24 – key required for family clock. Tick-Talk Tuesday is about the letters and comments I have received from you, the reader, concerning your clock, issues you might have had, … More Tick Talk Tuesday #24 – key required for family clock
In light of current world events the antiquevintageclock.com family wish to convey our sympathy and condolences to those effected by Covid 19 Is this a German box clock? It certainly appears to be a typical time and strike German box clock with the addition of finials. I discovered it behind a bar at a resort … More Is this a German box clock?
In light of current world events the antiquevintageclock.com family wish to convey our sympathy and condolences to those effected by Covid 19 In this article, I will describe the steps taken to inpaint and restore the dial of an Arthur Pequegnat time and strike gingerbread clock. But first, what is inpainting? And what does it … More Pequegnat gingerbread clock and dial inpainting
In light of current world events the antiquevintageclock.com family wish to convey our sympathy and condolences to those effected by Covid 19 There are a fair number of Canadian clock enthusiasts that have various sized collections of Pequegnat clocks. Skip Kerr‘s extensive collection immediately comes to mind. Although my collection is modest by comparison with … More My collection of Arthur Pequegnat clocks
Hi readers, in light of current world events the antiquevintageclock.com family wish to convey our sympathy and condolences to those effected by Covid 19 Dating a clock can be a challenge and often an estimate within a range of dates is the best that can be accomplished. Dating some clocks can be relatively easy as … More Dating an antique Gothic Steeple Manross clock
The disassembly of an antique tall case clock need not be a daunting task. When I bought this clock at auction at the beginning of 2020 I put into practice some of the things I had learned when transporting a Ridgeway grandfather clock in 2013. My advice is to work slowly and methodically but think … More How to disassemble an antique tall case clock
Amid the health crisis ensnaring the world today finding escape is good for the soul. Social distancing, self-isolation, and sheltered-in-place are terms representing new realities. However, we must all use our time at home constructively engaged in meaningful activities and mine is the repair and restoration of old clocks. Horology allows me to drift into … More 7 reasons why a hobby is your oasis for the coming dark days
While waiting for movement parts I continued to work on the case of this antique Canadian cottage clock from the mid 1880s. The dial needs attention and in this article I will describe the procedures for in-painting the numerals and decorative elements. Decorative hand-painted antique dials need attention from time to time. Through environment and … More Canada Clock Co. Hamilton Cottage Extra – dial in-painting
For the past several years my wife and I have been searching for an authentic antique tall case clock. I finally found one at an estate auction an hour down the road from where I live and seized the opportunity to purchase a clock I knew practically nothing about. In this blog article, I will … More Scottish tall case clock circa 1850s
Servicing this clock from the Canada Clock Company was a real challenge as I encountered many issues that conspired to slow my progress. I found this clock in an antique shop in downtown Truro, Nova Scotia at basically a give-away price. The seller knew nothing about the Canada Clock Co. and that was fine with … More Canada Clock Co. – 30 hour time and strike needs some love
My clock hobby has evolved to the point that I am constantly looking for ways to increase efficiency and adapt space to suit my needs. What began as an upstairs bedroom has become my office/shop for the past 6 years. The acquisition of new tools and equipment means more space and, of course, more room … More Re-organizing my office/shop
Why does a mechanical clock movement require servicing? The answer is fairly straight forward. Keeping your clock in good running condition requires maintaining the movement’s working parts and maintaining the working parts reduces wear. Ideally, most clocks should be serviced every three to five years to maximize longevity and ensure proper functioning. This article describes … More Seven steps to servicing an antique or vintage clock movement
In this, Part II of my Seth Thomas time and strike shelf clock servicing I discuss bushing work, cleaning, final assembly and testing. In Part I, my observations (and preliminary repairs) concerning my Seth Thomas round top shelf clock were as follows.
events, fun
A blog on creative possibilities by a writer and musician.
Welcome to an attempt at capturing some of my everyday highlights: small, big, roaming, breathing, flying, floating, absorbing, learning, listening, laughing, crying, gaining, giving, living. Usually published on Sundays, depicting the week or month gone by. Hope you enjoy the words & visuals! Cheers, Camilla
Collecting, repairing and restoring antique and vintage mechanical clocks
Seventeenth- and eighteenth-century English and Irish furniture &c.
See that best, See the Ancient
Largest collection of Bulldog Collectables & Museum Listed
events, fun
A blog on creative possibilities by a writer and musician.
Welcome to an attempt at capturing some of my everyday highlights: small, big, roaming, breathing, flying, floating, absorbing, learning, listening, laughing, crying, gaining, giving, living. Usually published on Sundays, depicting the week or month gone by. Hope you enjoy the words & visuals! Cheers, Camilla
Collecting, repairing and restoring antique and vintage mechanical clocks
Seventeenth- and eighteenth-century English and Irish furniture &c.
See that best, See the Ancient
Largest collection of Bulldog Collectables & Museum Listed
"Cel mai bun lucru la colecţionarea mărcilor poştale este că entuziasmul care apare în tinereţe creşte cu trecerea anilor" (Harry D. Thorsen)
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