Tag: regulator #1

The Arthur Pequegnat Regulator No. 1: A Canadian Collector’s Dream

Clock face Arthur Pequegnat Canadian Time clock

One clock that’s high on my wish list is the Arthur Pequegnat Regulator No. 1. It’s a single-weight, 8-day, time-only wall clock, and it’s a rare one. Every so often I’ll see one for sale, but the price tags are usually well out of my reach—for now, anyway.

Pequegnat as a clock company was Canada’s answer to the big American clockmakers, especially Seth Thomas. Their wall clocks often borrowed design cues from their U.S. counterparts, but Pequegnat also came up with some distinctive styles of their own. One thing they were known for was their use of quarter-sawn white oak. If you’ve ever seen the way the ray flecks shimmer in that wood, you’ll know why collectors admire it so much.

The Regulator No. 1 is often compared to the Seth Thomas Regulator No. 2. While Seth Thomas sold thousands of #2s into schools, offices, and railway stations across America, Pequegnat’s No. 1 didn’t reach the same production numbers. But here in Canada, it served the same purpose—and today it’s one of the most sought-after Pequegnat models. In fact, a well-preserved example will usually bring twice the price of a similar American regulator.

The photo below of the Regulator No. 1 was taken at The Canadian Clock Museum in Deep River, Ontario, back in 2013.

Arthur Pequegnat Regulator #1
Arthur Pequegnat Regulator #1

The Pequegnat Story

Arthur Pequegnat was born in Switzerland in 1851 and came to Berlin, Ontario (now Kitchener) in 1874 along with his wife, parents, brothers, and sisters—a total of 18 family members. By the late 1870s, he was running a jewelry and watch repair shop, and before long, he and his brother Paul were in business together in Berlin. After about a decade, they each went their separate ways, both staying in the jewelry trade.

In 1897, Arthur took a bit of a detour and started making bicycles. That worked well for a few years, but as the market declined, he pivoted once again. By 1904, he was using his bicycle factory to make clock movements, marking the start of Canada’s best-known clockmaking venture. At first, local furniture makers supplied the cases, but Arthur eventually brought case production in-house.

One detail that helps date Pequegnat clocks is the town name. Berlin, Ontario, was renamed Kitchener in 1916 because of anti-German sentiment during the First World War. So, if a dial or movement is stamped Berlin, you know it’s pre-1916. If it’s marked Kitchener, it’s from 1916 or later. Of course, since many models were made for years, you’ll only get an approximate date—but it’s still a handy clue.

Arthur passed away in 1927, but his family continued to run the company until 1941. When brass became scarce during the war, production stopped and never started up again. The factory was demolished in 1964, and today all that’s left is a commemorative plaque in Kitchener—fitting recognition of Canada’s most famous clockmaker.

Where to See Pequegnats Today

If you want to see Pequegnats in person, The Canadian Clock Museum in Deep River is the place to go. They have the largest collection in the country, and it’s well worth the trip.

Canadian Clock museum
The Canadian Clock Museum, Deep River, Ontario

On the East Coast, the Macdonald Museum in Middleton, Nova Scotia, has a smaller but very nice display too.

Macdonald Museum in Middleton Nova Scotia
Macdonald Museum in Middleton Nova Scotia

My Own Collecting Dream

For me, the Regulator No. 1 is about as good as it gets in Canadian wall clocks. Is it the best Canadian clock ever made? No, it has its faults, but it’s got the look, the history, and the craftsmanship that make it stand out. I can’t quite justify the price of one right now (my wallet insists on reminding me of that), but that’s part of the fun of collecting—dreaming about the ones that might join the collection someday.

Who knows? Maybe one day I’ll stumble across a Regulator No. 1 tucked away in an antique shop or sitting quietly at an auction, waiting for the right bidder. Until then, it stays on my wish list—one of those “holy grail” clocks that keeps the hunt exciting.

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Regulator #1 by Arthur Pequegnat

One clock that holds a special meaning and one that I would like to add to my collection someday is the Arthur Pequegnat Regulator #1, a single-weight eight-day clock. This clock is truly a rare find, though the prices I’ve encountered thus far are a bit steep for my budget.

Arthur Pequegnat Regulator #1
Arthur Pequegnat Regulator #1, photo taken at The Canadian Clock Museum in Deep River Ontario, Canada

The Arthur Pequegnat Story

The Arthur Pequegnat clock company was a formidable contender to American wall clock manufacturers. While their wall clocks often mirrored American models, some of their designs boasted a unique touch. The company favoured the heartwood of quarter-sawn white oak for their cases, showcasing the stunning visual appeal of this choice of wood.

The story of the Arthur Pequegnat clock company is one marked by distinction. Born in Switzerland in 1851, watchmaker Arthur Pequegnat immigrated to Berlin, Ontario, Canada, in 1874 with a substantial entourage of 18 family members. Initially establishing himself as a jeweler and watch repairman in the late 1870s, Arthur and his brother Paul operated a successful shop in Berlin, Ontario, by the mid-1880s. After a decade, the brothers pursued independent ventures, each managing prosperous jewelry shops in Southern Ontario.

In 1897, Arthur expanded his Berlin Jewelry shop to include bicycle manufacturing. However, as the demand for bicycles waned by 1904, he shifted focus back to the clock industry, manufacturing his clock movements at his Berlin Bicycle Manufacturing plant. Initially, wooden clock cases were sourced from local furniture makers, but over time, Arthur began crafting his own cases.

Despite Arthur’s passing in 1927, the company, guided by family members, persevered until 1941. The scarcity of brass during the war effort led to the company’s closure. The factory, where these exceptional timepieces were crafted, never produced another clock and was eventually demolished in 1964. Today, Kitchener pays tribute to this great clock manufacturer with a commemorative plaque.

The renaming of Berlin to Kitchener in 1916, amid World War I anti-German sentiments, serves as a helpful dating marker for Pequegnat clocks. Movements or dials marked “Berlin” indicate a clock dating to 1916 or earlier, while those marked “Kitchener” are from 1916 or later. Due to the long production life of many clocks, precise dating of Arthur Pequegnat clocks remains challenging.

For a fascinating journey into the world of Arthur Pequegnat clocks, The Canadian Clock Museum stands as a treasury, boasting the most extensive museum collection of Arthur Pequegnat clocks in Canada. Additionally, the Macdonald Museum in Middleton, Nova Scotia, offers a modest yet noteworthy collection of Pequegnat clocks—a worthwhile stop for those journeying through the Canadian province of Nova Scotia.

The Regulator #1

The Regulator #1 is frequently likened to the Seth Thomas Regulator #2. While the Seth Thomas counterpart found widespread use in offices and rail stations across America, the Arthur Pequegnat Regulator #1, though less prolific, met the demands of many businesses in Canada.

The dial removed showing the movement

Although sought after by collectors the Regulator #1 has interesting technical quirks according to Canadian clockmaker John Plewes, author of Repariring & Restoring Pendulum Clocks. Plewes cites three design issues with the clock. Two are minor quibbles but the third involves the weight. Despite its similarity to the Seth Thomas Regulator #2, it requires a heavier weight (1/2 lb more) to drive it reliably. A lighter weight such as the one found on the ST#2 causes the clock to stop after a short period particularly when the minute hand is rising. The hands are simply too heavy for the clock as they influence the force applied to the train.

Plewes, therefore, takes issue with Arthur Pequegnat’s claim that the #1 is the “finest office clock made”.

Lower section of the clock case

Regardless, the clock is highly sought after among Canadian collectors, and commands a premium, often doubling the price of similarly styled clocks from well-known American counterparts such as the Seth Thomas Regulator #2.

Ah, some day!

The Pequegnat story & the Maple Leaf series of kitchen clocks

Arthur Pequegnat Simcoe mantel clock

The Pequegnat name may not be familiar to international readers but it was a significant Canadian clock company that manufactured both movements and cases beginning in the early 20th century.

The Pequegnat Clock Company was a Canadian clock manufacturer that operated from 1904 to 1941. The company was founded by Arthur Pequegnat a Canadian immigrant who brought his family from Switzerland to begin a new life in Canada.

Pequegnat was a skilled clockmaker and entrepreneur, and he saw an opportunity to start his own clock company in Kitchener (then Berlin), Ontario. But the story actually begins prior to 1904.

In 1897 Arthur expanded his Berlin Jewelry shop to include the manufacture of bicycles. However, by 1904, with the decrease in the demand for bicycles, Arthur began to re-focus on the clock industry by manufacturing his own clock movements at his Berlin Bicycle Manufacturing plant and the motto, “Buy Canadian – Pequegnat clocks are better than foreign-made ones”” struck a chord with Canadian buyers.

At first, the wooden clock cases were made by local furniture makers, however, in time, he manufactured his own clock cases.

Pequegnat Clock Company produced high-quality clocks, and its products quickly gained a reputation for their accuracy and reliability. The company produced a wide variety of clocks, including wall clocks, mantle clocks, and grandfather clocks.

Clock face Arthur Pequegnat Canadian Time clock
Clock face with maker’s name

During the early years, the company faced a lot of competition from American clock companies, but Pequegnat was able to differentiate his products by designing and manufacturing unique clock cases that appealed to Canadian tastes.

The company continued to grow, and by the 1920s, it had become one of the largest clock manufacturers in Canada.

The Great Depression hit the Pequegnat Clock Company hard, and the company struggled to stay afloat during the 1930s. In 1941, with brass in short supply as a result of the war effort the company was forced to close due to financial difficulties, and its assets were liquidated.

Despite its relatively short lifespan, the Pequegnat Clock Company played an important role in the history of Canadian clock manufacturing. The company’s clocks are still highly sought after by collectors, and its products are considered some of the finest examples of Canadian clockmaking.

The Maple Leaf – a symbol of pride

The maple leaf slowly caught on as a national symbol in 1868 (the year after Canada’s Confederation) as it was included in the coat of arms of Ontario and the coat of arms of Quebec and added to the Canadian coat of arms in 1921. The maple leaf is a symbol of our national identity.

Arthur Pequegnat Maple Leaf kitchen clock
Arthur Pequegnat Maple Leaf kitchen clock; the “fan top”

Canadian readers and perhaps those abroad with a connection to Canada would instantly recognize the maple leaf as distinctly Canadian.

Cashing in on Canada’s identity as a nation, Pequegnat saw the value in naming clocks after Canadian cities, cities such as Stratford, London, Toronto, Moncton, Montreal, and so on. Indeed, most homes and businesses in Canada had a Pequegnat clock.

Arthur Pequegnat Maple Leaf kitchen clock; the “round top”

Berlin, Ontario was re-named Kitchener Ontario in 1916, due to anti-German backlash during WW I. This becomes a useful tool when dating Pequegnat clocks as labels, movements, or dials marked “Berlin” date the clock to 1916 or earlier, and those marked “Kitchener” are 1916 or later. However, many clocks had a long production life and it is difficult to date any Arthur Pequegnat clock precisely as there were no production numbers on the movements.

Pequegnat’s interpretation of the kitchen clock

The Maple Leaf series was Pequegnat’s interpretation of the popular American kitchen clock.

Arthur Pequegnat Maple Leaf kitchen clock; the “curly top”

The Maple Leaf Series was a line of clocks produced by the Pequegnat Clock Company of Canada in the early 20th century. The series was named after the maple leaf, a powerful symbol of Canada.

The Maple Leaf Series was first introduced in 1911, and it quickly became one of the company’s most popular product lines. The series included several different models. The clocks were made with high-quality materials and brass movements.

The door of a Maple Leaf clock

There are 2 notable features of the Maple Leaf Series. One was the clock tablet, which featured a stylized array of 36 maple leaves framed by half moons and with an opening to display the pendulum bob. Why the number 36? In some cultures, it is considered a lucky number.

The second feature was a brass maple leaf pendulum bob.

The clocks in the Maple Leaf series did not have specific names and are referred to by collectors as the pointed top, the round top, the fan top, the curly top, and so on.

The Maple Leaf series of Pequegnat kitchen clocks (photo courtesy of The Canadian Clock Museum)

The clock depicted above may or may not belong to the Maple Leaf series but the maple leaves within the tablet design are considerably more stylized, and the edging is understated. Like the Canuck pictured below, this design could be a variant.

Arthur Pequegnat Maple Leaf Pointed Top
Arthur Pequegnat Maple Leaf kitchen clock; the “pointed top”

The dials were typically paper on tin and some had a gold center accent.

Many would not consider the Canuck to be a “Maple Leaf” kitchen clock though some variants had a maple leaf tablet. The Canuck also stood out from other kitchen clocks due to its use of steamed pressed oak in its construction.

The Canuck kitchen clock

The Maple Leaf Series was a significant part of the Pequegnat Clock Company’s success, and the clocks from this series are still highly prized by collectors today.

Overall, the Maple Leaf Series represented a major contribution to the Pequegnat Clock Company’s prosperity, and its models remain a sought-after collectible for clock enthusiasts.

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