While antiquing some time ago I came across boxes of clock movements in a shop. Some were fairly new though I found a Gilbert time and strike date stamped 1906 which piqued my interest. In the box was the key, the coil gong, clock hands, pendulum and movement mounting screws. A movement without a case. … More Gilbert time and strike – why I am putting the movement aside for now
The following is an article that was featured on the Chelsea Clock blog I have always had a fascination with clocks. As a young boy I can remember the schoolhouse clock in my grandparents’ kitchen and the ticking sound it would make that echoed through the entire house. We all have busy lives and despite my … More Featured article on Chelsea Clock blog about my blog
This spring driven 30 hour New Haven Ogee clock is a loud ticker and rapid striker so distinctive that I can hear the ticking outside the room it is in like a mischievous puppy who wants to remind you where it is. Judging from other New Haven clocks I have researched from this period, 1875 … More New Haven Ogee clock – attractive but not without issues
This 30 hour Ogee clock was purchased in the fall of 2017. I was eager to add this clock to my collection as it is the one particular style of clock that I do not have. From my research on Waterbury clocks I determined that it was made in or around 1870. I decided to … More Waterbury 30 hour Ogee clock – servicing Part II
My hope was that it would be a relatively straight forward exercise This is Part 1 of servicing this 30 hour Waterbury time and strike movement. I honestly thought it would be relatively straight forward exercise. Dis-assemble, clean the parts, polish the pivots, do a little bushing work and voila! Not so. I have worked … More Waterbury 30 hour Ogee clock – servicing Part I
In a previous article I described some of the challenges I had with this E.N. Welch clock movement. The clock ran for about 48 hours and suddenly stopped. It seems that every time I think everything is going well, something else crops up. I dis-assembled the movement (again) and installed three more bushings, one of … More E. N. Welch Whittier model parlor clock Part IV – final word
So you want to fix a clock – a beginner’s toolkit. This article will describe some of the tools required to tackle the repair and/or cleaning of mechanical clocks. Disclaimer. While not a trained horologist I have some advanced skills-sets but I am still learning as I go Based on 5+ years of clock repair … More So you want to fix a mechanical clock – Part I – a beginner’s toolkit
We have a couple of antique stores in our small town. Calling them antique stores is a bit of a stretch because there is usually more junk inside than actual antiques. We were shopping in the area of one of those “antique” stores and my wife turned to me and said, “Let’s go in”. I … More Canada Clock Co. – a cottage clock from the early 1880s
There is no maker’s mark anywhere on the case or the movement The clock is an unsigned 8-day carriage clock in a rectangular brass case. This attractive little clock has a white enameled dial with Roman numerals, blued steel hands and a spring driven time-only movement with platform lever escapement visible through the top beveled … More French Carriage Clock – servicing
Regulating your clock is the act of making repeated adjustments to your clock with the intent of achieving a desired affect, that is, making your clock a more reliable timekeeper. Three things will affect the running of your mechanical clock, and neglect, friction & environment, and these three factors will influence whether or not your … More Regulating your mechanical clock – its easier than you think
Regular reader and contributor JC suggested a few more clock terms I thought readers and fellow horologists might find interesting. My source for this article is the Watch and Clock Encyclopedia by Donald de Clarke, published by Bonanza Books (1984) which is still available on Amazon. Gridiron pendulum: A pendulum consisting of alternating steels and … More More fascinating terms – the language of clocks
Do you like the challenge of working on a mechanical clock? This one might have you ripping your hair out. These are not the best clocks to start on and can be a headache for the experienced clock-maker. You will find Part I of this project here and Part II, here. In August 2015 I … More Sessions Westminster A mantel clock Part III – re-assembly and cursing the chime drive
The clock is a “Canadian made” New Haven Octagonal short drop wall clock. It was assembled at The New Haven Clock Co. of Canada plant established at Brantford, Ontario (Canada) in 1906. The New Haven Clock Company of Canada was a subsidiary of the New Haven Clock Company of America. Both mantel and wall clocks … More Servicing a Well Worn New Haven Schoolhouse Clock
I am servicing the first antique clock I ever bought. After having serviced many others it is time to give this clock a little love. Some years ago (2000) my wife and I were traveling around Nova Scotia and stopped in a little village called Blockhouse. We found an antique store, walked in and never … More Seth Thomas Adamantine mantel clock – time to give it a little love
The Ansonia octagonal short drop wall clock was (is) commonly known as a schoolhouse clock. This clock was manufactured in 1912. The number “12” , the year stamp, is found on lower front plate of the movement. The letter “N” is also on the movement. In this post, Part II, I will proceed with cleaning … More Ansonia Schoolhouse Clock – Part II – cleaning, bushing work and final testing
This is Part II of a multi part series on the Sessions Westminster A chiming mantel clock. Inside the plates they are a conventional Sessions clock. Outside the plates is an entirely different story Sessions Westminster A clocks are true chiming clocks that play the Westminster chime sequences on the quarter hours and strike the … More Sessions Westminster A mantel clock Part II – Dis-assembly
This is Part I of a multi-part blog wherein I explore the challenges of repairing a Sessions Westminster A tambour style time, strike and chime mantel clock. This part is the introduction. In August 2015 I wrote, “This a good project clock that is not for the inexperienced. As I gain more knowledge I will … More Sessions Westminster A mantel clock Part I – Let’s explore this clock a little further
This is an antique German Junghans time and strike spring driven clock made in the style of a Vienna Regulator. It came to me as a box of parts. To some a box of clock parts and pieces is discouraging but to me it is a challenge. Part II of a three part series on … More Halifax Explosion and the Junghans Crispi clock – Part II – servicing the movement
My recent acquisition of another schoolhouse clock stimulated my curiosity and prompted me to do some research on the origin of the name. In this article I will describe my thoughts on how the schoolhouse clock came to be and my most recent Sessions wall clock purchase. During my research I found it very interesting … More The schoolhouse clock that was never called the schoolhouse clock
I prefer time-only clocks above anything else. They are simple to work on and because they are less complex they tend to be more accurate, relatively speaking. Most are easy to service but this little guy has me stumped. Thousands of these relatively small German movements were made and some found their way into small … More Stubborn little plate clock movement
When I bought my Ingersoll-Waterbury clock a year ago I knew that it had not been serviced but the price was reasonable and it was running. I got a lot of other projects out of the way and have finally gotten around to giving this clock a little care and attention. Ingersoll-Waterbury clocks were sold in … More Ingersoll Waterbury mantel clock servicing and a little mystery thrown in for good measure
I had a discussion with David, a horologist acquaintance who is currently working on my 138 year old Ingraham Huron mantel clock (pictured above) about clock repairs in days gone by. He said he had happened to have a conversation a few days ago with an 82 year friend who had been in the clock repair … More Clock repair in days gone by
Everybody appreciates a serviced clock when they are making a purchase. However, there is no acceptable definition for the term “Fully Serviced”. Fully serviced may mean one thing for the amateur clock collector and repairer and another to a professional clock repair shop. The other day I was responding to a FaceBook post which offered a … More What the term a “fully serviced” clock really means
In this fourth and final entry of the series I will discuss bushing work, re-assembly and finally, testing and mounting the movement back into it’s case. Part I of this series can be found here, Part II here and Part III here, Once the pivots are inspected, cleaned and polished it is now time to install any bushings required as result … More Servicing a Sessions American No. 2 mantel clock Part IV
The movement is disassembled and now it is time for further inspection, cleaning, servicing the mainsprings, pegging the pivot holes, polishing the pivots and installing bushings where needed. In this, Part III we will cover cleaning and mainspring servicing. I have a small ultrasonic cleaner so I tend to clean parts in batches since this … More Servicing a Sessions American No. 2 mantel clock Part III
Ominous The Spirit is an artist that makes music, paints, and creates photography. He donates 100% of profits to charity.
Progressive old soul wordsmith
Rare Finds & Collectables
Antique and Vintage Clocks 
You must be logged in to post a comment.