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I do not normally promote auctions sales and derive no benefit from mentioning them however something special is happening on June 8th 2019. It is not often that so many clocks from one maker are on sale at one specific time. In New hamburg, Ontario (Canada) 200 Arthur Pequegnat clocks are on the auction block. … More Special Pequegnat clock auction on June 8, 2019
I discovered this wall clock in an antique store in Victoria, British Columbia and the store shall remain nameless to protect the guilty. I have been on the lookout for a calendar clock and from a distance it looked like this was it. As I neared I realized that what I was looking at was … More Suspicious Pequegnat clock found in antique store
This is the only true gingerbread clock I have in my collection, temporarily. By this summer (2019) it will be returned to a family relation. Can you get this thing working, my sister said? Sure, I said. Grand Assortment is an odd name for a Sessions clock, I said. The name certainly lacks imagination, but … More Sessions Grand Assortment #3 gingerbread clock
Mechanical clocks do not last forever and every now and then a movement should be inspected for wear and to address any other issues if required. A cycle of 2-4 years is a good rule for checking on the health of your mechanical clock. In the case of this clock perhaps 5 years is a … More Arthur Pequegnat Brandon II wall clock – inspecting for wear
I was asked to take a look at this German made wall clock from the 1980s. The owner said it had not been running for 3 years. It is a German made Jauch wall clock from the late 1970s. Sadly, the doors of the Jauch clock company closed many years ago. Jauch was not a … More Jauch wall clock – the end of an era
I discovered this sad case in an antique shop near my home. What was once a gingerbread clock is now a repainted case with shelves at the ridiculous price of $35. Just a few steps away was a similar parlour clock for only $20 more and it was largely intact. Some would argue that a … More What a shame! – a clock disaster
The four free-standing turned columns of the New York style Sperry and Shaw clock immediately drew my attention. The style reflects the decorative period of the Empire style popular in the mid 1850s. In a previous blog post I discussed servicing the movement. I thought long and hard about what to do with the case … More Sperry and Shaw New York Style shelf clock – refreshing the case
This Victorian period Seth Thomas mantel clock was in very good condition when I bought it close to 20 years ago. It sat on an upright piano until it was serviced in December 2017. During servicing 4 bushings were installed. The clock was then relocated to another room. The model is not actually called the … More Seth Thomas mantel clock – detailing makes a difference
My wife was going through the online catalogue of an estate auction recently and found an attractive vintage Gilbert tambour style clock. “Are you interested?” she said. “Sure”, I said, “put a maximum bid of $35”. We won the bid at $25 + tax and buyer’s premium, so, still under $35 CDN. Would I have … More Gilbert model 2038 8-day mantel clock with Normandy Chime
I do not come across many antique E Ingraham & Co. clocks and have just one other in my collection, the Huron from 1878, but I came across another recently that I found in a local antique shop. The price was right so, I snapped it up. The”S” shaped logo on the dial led me … More E Ingraham Mystic parlour clock
I was on a Facebook clock collector page recently and I was intrigued by the work someone had done on a clock that was surely destined for the garbage bin. The transformation was given an apt phrase, “Trash to Treasure” and so I thought I would write about my own experiences resurrecting old clocks. Preserving … More Trash to Treasure – when clock restoration is the only option
One of the few clocks that I have had professionally serviced is an Arthur Pequegnat kitchen clock (Fan Top). In the early days of clock collecting and repair I had not acquired the necessary skills and experience to perform my own work and had some of my special clocks serviced by a skilled clock-maker. I … More Arthur Pequegnat clock stops after 4 days
This is Part III of a three (3) part series. In Part I I discuss disassembly and servicing the mainsprings. In Part II, the movement and in this, Part III we will look at restoring the brass case.
This is Part II of a three (3) part series. In Part I, I discuss disassembly and servicing the mainsprings. In this, Part II, the movement and in Part III we will look at restoring the brass case. My wife found this 1910 Ansonia Crystal Regulator in the late summer 2018 while antique shopping. What … More Ansonia crystal regulator clock – Part II – the movement
This is Part I of a three (3) part series. In Part I I discuss disassembly and servicing the mainsprings. In Part II, the movement and in Part II restoring the brass case. My wife found this 1910 Ansonia Crystal Regulator in the late summer 2018 while antique shopping. In the 1905 Ansonia Crystal Regulator … More Ansonia Crystal Regulator clock – Part I – disassembly
Winter, along with the dry conditions of a typical Canadian home, can play havoc with wooden clock cases. In Canada we generally shut the doors and windows to keep the cold air out from mid November to mid March and we may stay inside for days at a time. During our Canadian winter we have … More Dry home and clock case issues
What other machine have you acquired that has worked continuously since it was made 150 plus years ago and still does the job it was intended for? Mechanical clocks revolutionized people’s perception of time by displaying neutral, uniform units that showed the passage of time. Though not as accurate as the modern electronic timekeeper the … More Appreciating simplicity – the mechanical clock
One cannot deny the classic style of an American Ogee clock. This one is in great shape and required almost nothing to get it to top form. 30-hour shelf clocks are abundant but not many cases survive years of wear and tear. This George H. Clark 30-hour shelf clock is a very good example of … More George H Clark Ogee clock – movement and dial work
I asked reader and fellow horologist Bob G. if he could kindly give me permission to profile one of his favorite clocks, an Ansonia Marquis crystal regulator circa 1904. This is a very impressive clock that showcases the best of Victorian style at the turn of the twentieth century. The photos are Bob’s and I … More Ansonia Marquis crystal regulator – a reader’s clock
These three 30 hour clocks in the opening photo were serviced in the fall of 2018. The fourth (shown next) is a Waterbury Ogee from about 1870. It was never my intention to collect 30-hour clocks but I am attracted to this style of clock. Thousands were made, they are surprisingly cheap and come up … More 30-hour clocks – four for your consideration
For sale Gilbert antique mantel clock If you are going to sell a clock tell me more about it and why is it sideways? It does not take much to orient a photo! Very annoying. Is it mechanical or electric? Looks like it is key wound from the rear.
This Gilbert tambour style mantel clock is model 2038 with a bim-bam strike or what Gilbert called a Normandy chime. The model number along with the words “Normandy Chime” are stamped on the bottom of the case. Gilbert called this the “Normandy Chime” as it was reminiscent of the old bells of Normandy (Corneville) in … More Gilbert tambour clock with Normandy Chime – movement servicing
Although there are two dozen clock books in my collection I am always on the look out for more. Some of my books profile various types and styles of clocks, some explore the history of horology while others are concerned with clock repair and case restoration. Part of every vacation or daily outing in my … More John Plewes and clock repair – a must have reference for Canadian collectors
The problem; a run-on strike. The solution; remove the movement, poke around looking for the cause, find it almost immediately and apply a quick fix. The story My winter (2017) project was an antique German Junghans Crispi time and strike spring driven wall clock made in the style of a Vienna Regulator. It was manufactured … More Junghans wall clock – Sometimes a small thing can be a pain in the, well, you know
Antique and Vintage Mechanical Clocks 
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