I have had my eye a clock timing machine for a while but I was recently encouraged to accelerate my plan to buy one. My Timetrax model 50 beat amplifier stopped running for some reason. Okay, I dropped it and it made a strange rattling noise when I picked it up. Now it doesn’t work! … More Do I really need a clock timer?
I acquired a number of clocks at auction this past winter (2022). All were antiques and all were in poor to fair condition but each one had potential. The auction notes simply said the movements were untested which can mean just about anything from a failed, irreparable movement to something that might have been serviced … More Ansonia 30-hour parlour clock with a very worn movement
The movement was pulled out of a 30-hour shelf clock made by American clock-maker E. Ingraham and Co. in the 1870s (the name the company used from 1861 to 1880). The clock was bought at auction in mid-March 2022 along with 3 other clocks. This is one of those situations where the case looks distressed … More E Ingraham and Co. 30 hour movement cleaning
Honestly, an entire book could be devoted to the topic of dating clocks. Some time ago, I published an article titled “How to Date an Antique or Vintage Clock – Part I,” in which I used specific examples from my own collection. I’d like to explore this topic further, and this post will discuss additional … More Dating an Antique or Vintage Clock – Part II
Ten years have flown by very quickly. Just the other day I was cleaning a clock I serviced over 5 1/2 years ago and it struck me that I have been at this for over 10 years and loving it. Three years into the hobby I decided to begin blogging and have been at it … More Lessons learned from 10 years of clock collecting, repair, and restoration
Those of you who work on mechanical clocks regularly must have run into this situation at least once. Everything went perfectly until the very end. Sessions time and strike movements are very common and I have worked on quite a few over the years. They are reasonably well constructed with the exception of a well-documented … More The count wheel is on backward – oops
This banjo clock project has been an ongoing challenge for nearly a year, a very enjoyable one that has taught me so much. The movement has been serviced, 4 new bushings installed, the case has been cleaned, veneer issues addressed on the two bottom corners, a new post was made for the final, dial glass … More Sawin banjo clock – wood dial bezel fix
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 S. writes; This clock was … More Tick Talk Tuesday #40 – identify Junghans bracket clock
I am an avid collector of antique and vintage clocks which means I cruise the online auction sites regularly, about once or twice a week. This spring I checked out offerings from a local online auction site that deals with estate items, placed bids on 4 clocks (actually 5 since one lot had two clocks). … More Several clocks bought at auction this spring
There is a thin line between restoring a clock case to its former glory and ruining it forever. While the intent is to make them look like the day they were made, many clocks get stripped and poorly refinished and the results are beyond sad. Although there is much debate in the world of antique … More The thin line between restoring a clock to its former glory and ruining it
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 GB writes: Yesterday I pick … More Tick Talk Tuesday #38 – Swigart replacement dial
Daylight saving time in Canada begins March 13th and ends on Nov. 6, 2022. Do we need it! Daylight Savings Time has no place in our modern world. Of 195 countries in the world, approximately 70 countries observe Daylight Saving Time in at least a portion of the country. Japan, India, and China are the … More Daylight savings – let’s get rid of it
I have written about this clock several times in the past 10 months but I am making good progress which I will detail in this article. This is how it arrived at my house last spring, dull and lifeless but with good bones and most everything original. First, some background information about the clock. This … More Sawin banjo clock – almost done, 3 more items to address
This morning I posted an article that was not quite ready for publication. Some of you might have seen it and it certainly looked like a lot of gibberish. I had been working on a number of other articles and just forgot to do my final edits for this one. My apologies. The article has … More Not ready for prime time – incorrect posting
There is no single method of dating an antique or vintage clock but there are some strong clues in some cases and subtle inferences in others that help determine when a clock was manufactured. Occasionally, the exact month and year is displayed somewhere on the case, and in other instances the clock by way of … More Dating an antique or vintage clock – Part I
A mainspring’s purpose is to provide motive power for the wheels to move in a clock train. All mechanical clocks require a power source and the power source may be by weight or spring. Mechanical clocks that have mainsprings will have one, two, or three winding points which, once wound provide power for a clock’s … More Should mainsprings be routinely replaced on an antique clock when servicing?
A mechanical clock is more than just a sum of its parts; it is a remarkable machine designed to measure, verify, keep, and indicate time. These devices allow us to measure intervals shorter than the natural units of the day, the lunar month, or the year. How many machines can you name that run almost … More How does a mechanical clock work?
Traditional shellac may provide the ideal finish you are looking for when deciding whether or not to finish that newly acquired antique clock. A modern polyurethane finish is not a substitute for traditional shellac. Polyurethane is tough and easy to work with but not reversible. Unfortunately, many people resort to using modern finishes on antique … More Traditional shellac may provide the ideal finish for your antique clock
A century ago, clock manufacturers understood the power of marketing, and the word “Regulator” became a key tool in their strategy to boost sales. By simply labeling a clock with “Regulator,” they could make it appear more precise and desirable, even if it wasn’t a true regulator. But is this a hard-and-fast rule? Let’s take … More If it says Regulator on your clock it is likely NOT a Regulator?
Will antique and vintage clock prices go up or down in 2022? Is this the time to buy or sell? Read further for my thoughts and observations. First off, some definitions. According to the United States Government, the term “antique” is reserved for items that are over a century old. Webster’s dictionary defines an antique as a … More Will antique/vintage clock prices go up or down in 2022?
A few weeks back I published an article on clock testing stands. While a single clock stand would be ideal for all movement testing purposes there are so many different types and styles of movements that one size does not fit all. The one stand I was missing was for testing weight-driven ogee style clocks … More A custom test stand for weight driven ogee style clocks
WordPress comes with an interesting dashboard. The dashboard provides me as author and developer with a back-end tool that provides a wealth of statistical information. The information allows me to track viewership and tailor my articles according to interest as shown by the number of clicks which is a measure of the level of interest. … More Where do our readers come from?
The results are in. By a small margin, your pick for the best clock of the year is the Sawin banjo clock. A great choice and one I would have picked had I not been frustrated with it during the restoration process but at the end of the day, my favorite is the Gilbert Shawville … More Readers pick for the best clock of 2021
The time has come to determine the best clock acquisition of the past year. As a clock hobbyist, I have had little difficulty locating interesting clocks over the years, and despite the seemingly never-ending pandemic, I have scored a few in 2021 though the past year has been leaner than most. In the early days … More Best clock acquisition of 2021
Ringing in the New Year is for reminiscing, reliving, looking back, and looking forward. However, I’ll be honest; let’s hope that 2022 is a whole lot better. We got through 2021 but for many of us, the ongoing pandemic has left an indelible mark. Promises were made and broken, plans were made and altered, hopes … More A Happy New Year to all
Antique and Vintage Mechanical Clocks 
You must be logged in to post a comment.