A small change makes a big difference on a Junghans mantel clock from 1911. Let me explain. Back in September 2020, I bought a German-made Junghans bracket style clock. It is 14 inches high by 10 inches wide by 6 inches deep, mahogany veneered, attractive brass accents, and a carrying handle on a curved domed … More Junghans bracket clock – a small detail makes a big difference
This year especially has taught us to be very thankful for family, friends, and relationships. Although we will all be celebrating Christmas in a very different way in 2020, minus the get-togethers with family and friends, we must still be thankful for what we have by extending best wishes in a virtual way. It is … More Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays
Tick-Talk Tuesday is about the letters and comments I have received from you, the reader, concerning your clock, issues you might have had, challenges you face or a clock you would like me to profile or my responses to your questions with advice on your particular clock concern. For those comments and questions that stump … More Tick Talk Tuesday #28 – What’s it for? The double ended key
I posted the first look at this clock a while back. The Regency style veneered mahogany case of this Junghans time and strike bracket clock is in reasonably good shape save for a small piece of veneer missing on the front right corner and replacement chrome feet which look decidedly out of place. The movement … More Junghans bracket clock – servicing the movement
Let me start by saying that opinions on torsion clocks are divided—some people have great success with them, while others absolutely loathe them. Despite their seemingly simple design, they can cause endless frustration, which is why many clock repairers tend to avoid them. Fortunately, I seem to be one of the lucky ones. I gifted … More Anniversary clock repair – a replacement suspension spring
A cuckoo clock will happily run and strike without bellows but it is the bellows that create the unique sound. When a cuckoo clock requires servicing the bellows should be inspected and if they are in poor condition they should be replaced. The constant, every hour and half-hour strike of the clock combined with the … More Cuckoo clock bellows repair
I found this German mantel clock on a local online buy and sell site. The seller had two clocks, one, a generic German-made Westminster chime and this, a Junghans bracket-style clock. I knew right away that this was the better deal. It appeared to be a higher quality clock compared to the other one. I … More Junghans bracket clock – first look
How do you get those wonderful macro shots, a reader asked. Photography easily becomes part of almost any hobby and in my view, a camera is essential for clock repair. Describing a process on paper is one thing but it cannot replace a well-crafted video or a series of detailed still images. A picture is … More Macro photography images and clock repair
Back in October (2020), I wrote about the challenges of working on this mantel clock by Forestville. Recap so far It is a nondescript Art Deco-style German mantel clock made in the 1960s sold under the Forestville name, a Toronto-based company that assembled clocks up to the 1970s. The rack and snail movement is relatively … More Forestville mantel clock servicing – not fun when things go wrong! Part II
It is that time of the year when you begin searching for that unique gift. Of course, there are a multitude of choices but have you considered a mechanical clock as a gift? Let me provide you with a few tips. Mechanical clocks harken back to the old days when life was simpler; no mobile … More Choosing a mechanical clock as a gift
Five years ago I attended a workshop on WordPress at our local community college. It taught me more about blogging than I ever knew. The idea of a clock blog intrigued me but it is a lot of work, there is much learning and it was not something I wanted to design from the ground … More Approaching 200,000 views and 58,000+views so far this year
This post is about a mantel clock made by the Forestville Clock Company of Canada and some challenges servicing the movement. In 2013 we were on a visit to the Thousand Islands and stopped at an antique store in Gananoque, Ontario. As my wife and I were strolling through the store and she noticed this … More Forestville mantel clock servicing – not fun when things go wrong! Part I
A 400-day clock, also known as a torsion clock, is a type of mechanical clock designed to run for about a year (400 days) on a single winding. It features a unique suspension system, where a rotating pendulum or torsion spring controls the movement. The clock’s long running time is achieved through a very slow, … More Horolovar guide and how to determine the correct suspension spring for a 400 day clock
The final step in the repair/restoration of my tall case clock are the top finials. This clock had top corner finials at one point in its life. There is evidence that something was there on either side of the crown. I have no idea what they might have looked like but judging from photos of … More Scottish tall case clock with new top finials
Some time ago I wrote an article on an interesting acquisition, an Ansonia Extra Drop, a true barn find. This Ansonia Extra Drop time-only Rosewood veneered wall clock was manufactured in the early 1880s by what was then known as the Ansonia Brass and Copper Company. It was in pretty rough shape when I bought … More Ansonia Drop Extra does not run and a rusty mainspring is the culprit
The Simcoe is one of 8 Arthur Pequegnat clocks in my collection. It is very similar in dimensions and style to the Jewel produced around the same time but a few dollars more at the time. The Jewel is an unadorned box while the Simcoe has more bling, a piecrust dial bezel, claw feet on … More Pequegnat Simcoe – servicing the movement
Tick-Talk Tuesday is about the letters and comments I have received from you, the reader, concerning your clock, issues you might have had, challenges you face or a clock you would like me to profile and my responses to your questions with advice on your particular clock concern. For those comments and questions that stump … More Tick Talk Tuesday #27 – Feet for my Gilbert mantel clock
On the bench is an Arthur Pequegnat time and strike kitchen clock which is part of the popular Maple Leaf series produced up to 1941 when the company closed its doors for good. In Part I of this two-part series I discussed disassembly and assessment of the work to be done. In this Part II … More Pequegnat kitchen clock servicing – Part II – cleaning, pivot polishing, bushing work and testing
On the bench is an Arthur Pequegnat time and strike kitchen clock which is part of the popular Maple Leaf series produced up to 1941. Among collectors it is know as the “Pointed Top”. This Canadian made clock was bought at an antique store in Bloomfield, Ontario the summer of 2018 and presumably spent its … More Pequegnat kitchen clock servicing – Part I – disassembly and assessment
It is time to service the movement on this mid-thirties German box clock. It was purchased at an antique mall in Peterborough, Ontario in May of 2017, and other than oiling, nothing has been done to it. While it has been running well since then, it is due for servicing. Plus, this little project is … More Mauthe box clock movement servicing
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 Selling an antique mechanical clock – preparation and advertising – how to
The only way you can safely disassemble a clock with an open mainspring is by using mainspring restraining clamps. 4 piece sets, which will accommodate various mainsprings sizes are available from all clock suppliers. Wind the mainsprings tightly enough so that you can work the clamps around the springs. Move the rachet click aside and … More What is this clock thing for? #5 – the mainspring clamp
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
While refreshing the case of this relatively nondescript mantel clock assembled by a short-lived Canadain clock company I ran into two interesting surprises. Here is a garden-variety vintage Westminster chime mantel clock from the Fleet Time Company of Montreal (Canada). Many of these clocks were sold at department stores across Canada during the pre-war (WWII) … More Fleet Time company of Montreal – case refinishing and 2 surprises
Antique and Vintage Mechanical Clocks 
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