Every clock owner wants to know what their clock is worth, and every seller hopes to sell for as much as possible. This guide offers a framework to evaluate antique and vintage clocks for both buyers and sellers, starting with insights into the unpredictable clock market. The Unpredictable Clock Market Determining the value of a … More Assessing Antique and Vintage Clock Values: Key Factors
I often wonder about the stories behind my clocks. Antique and vintage clocks evoke a time when life seemed simpler, a stark contrast to today’s frenetic pace. Old clocks serve as living memories, cherished relics of people and places that are long gone but not forgotten. Ideally, they should be passed down through generations. Yet, … More The Stories Behind My Antique and Vintage Clocks
Tick-Talk Tuesday is a special time when I respond to readers’ letters and comments about clock issues, challenges, and recommendations for specific clocks. When the comments and questions are especially complex, I consult with fellow clock enthusiasts within my circle to ensure I offer the most precise and helpful answers possible. RK writes: I am … More Tick talk Tuesday #55 | Mauthe wall clock runs fast
A museum is an institution dedicated to the display of objects of lasting interest and historical value. While museums can showcase a wide variety of items, The Canadian Clock Museum, located in Deep River, Ontario, (Canada) focuses specifically on Canadian clocks and clocks with a Canadian connection. I first visited the museum in 2013, and … More Discover Canadian Clocks and clocks with a Canadian connection at The Canadian Clock Museum in Deep River
Martin Cheney is not typically the first name that comes to mind when considering the impact of clockmakers on Canadian horology. Martin Cheney, born in 1778, was part of a prominent American clock-making family. He was one of four sons of Benjamin Cheney (1725-1815) and Elizabeth Long Cheney, who hailed from East Hartford, Connecticut. Benjamin … More The Legacy of Martin Cheney: Clock-Making in Early Canada
In a previous article on servicing this clock, I mentioned the challenge I faced with the mainspring. With only minimal tools at my disposal and no spring winder, I was determined to find a solution and successfully service the mainspring. This clock was manufactured by New Haven and boasts a classic design with a twelve-inch … More How to Service an Open Mainspring Without a Spring Winder – Step-by-Step Guide
My collection of wall clocks includes several schoolhouse models and I am continually impressed by their resilience despite their age. While many of these clocks spent their lives in school rooms, some ended up in commercial establishments and offices, often neglected until they stopped working. I’ve seen clocks with bushing holes so enlarged it’s a … More Challenges of DIY Antique Clock Repair with Minimal Tools | Lessons and Limitations
Accepting the schoolhouse clock as a restoration project, I was prepared for the inevitable wear and tear it had endured over time. Despite its condition, I wondered what it would look like if the case was rejuvenated. Decisions, decisions. My collection of wall clocks includes several schoolhouse models and I am continually impressed by their … More New Haven schoolhouse clock | The case is in poor condition but what about the movement?
It’s time to inspect the movement on this mid-thirties German box clock. Purchased at an antique mall in Peterborough, Ontario, in May of 2017, it was serviced in 2020. This clock is part of a small collection at our family cottage and runs for about three months each year. However, the cottage environment can be … More Optimizing Care for a Vintage Mauthe Clock: Inspection and Oiling
Mechanical clocks, especially older or larger ones, can pose various dangers during operation and maintenance. In this post, we will cover some of the risks and hazards. Mainsprings Do not underestimate the power of a clock with mainsprings. Mechanical clocks often use powerful mainsprings to drive their mechanisms. If these components are mishandled, they can … More How to Safely Operate and Maintain Mechanical Clocks: Tips and Hazards
My collection of clocks is divided between my home in Nova Scotia and our cottage in Central Canada. Part of my collection is there because I am not the type of person who abandons a hobby; I make it a part of my everyday life. Although not an even split, about 15% of the collection … More A Collection of Antique Clocks at Our Summer Refuge
Occasionally I have clocks gifted to me as in the case of this lovely Art Deco-style German round-top wall clock made by Kienzle. The gift was greatly appreciated, although there was a small condition attached, which I will explain later. There are times when people consider gifting me a clock but hesitate because of the … More 1930 Kienzle Box Clock | A Heartfelt Gift and Memorable Encounter
When my wife’s parents sold their home in a small town in Nova Scotia in 1996, they passed on a wall clock, which had been given to my father-in-law by a patient and had hung on the wall in the main hallway of their home, to his son, my wife’s brother. It has been in … More German Box Clock Restoration | A Family Heirloom
Kienzle might not ring a bell for many clock enthusiasts, but it was a major German producer of clocks for the general public. Kienzle Uhren GmbH, was founded in 1822 by Johannes Schlenker in Schwenningen, in Black Forest region. Jakob Kienzle joined the family by marriage in 1883 and became the sole owner in 1897. … More Troubleshooting a Time-Side Mainspring Issue in a Kienzle Wall Clock
Tick-Talk Tuesday is a special time when I respond to readers’ letters and comments about clock issues, challenges, and recommendations for specific clocks. When the comments and questions are especially complex, I consult with fellow clock enthusiasts within my circle to ensure I offer the most precise and helpful answers possible. LS writes: I ran … More Tick Talk Tuesday #53 – A stolen Ansonia wall clock
Tick-Talk Tuesday is a special time when I respond to readers’ letters and comments about clock issues, challenges, and recommendations for specific clocks. When the comments and questions are especially complex, I consult with fellow clock enthusiasts within my circle to ensure I offer the most precise and helpful answers possible. GF writes: I inherited … More Tick-talk Tuesday #52 – My father’s Forestville advertising clock
While many might not initially favour the idea of having a ticking mechanical clock in their bedrooms, its presence can actually offer significant benefits. Let me elaborate on why. Before I go further let me say I understand that some individuals may find the ticking sound disruptive to their sleep. The therapeutic value of having … More Having a ticking clock in a bedroom may be the answer to a restless night
Eight years ago I came across an intriguing find not far from where I reside—an antique Ansonia octagonal short drop, commonly referred to as a schoolhouse clock. While I estimate its manufacturing date to be around the turn of the 20th century, pinpointing the exact year eluded me. The movement bears the stamped number “12,” … More An ordinary schoolhouse clock that had an ordinary life in an ordinary shoolhouse continues its ordinary life
My collection boasts more than 90 clocks, with 51 on display throughout my home, 6 at our summer cottage, and 19 running non-stop. The majority of my 90 clocks are operational, although I periodically switch out some of them to maintain the 19 that run continuously. One clock remains in its place in an upper … More The homeliest clock in my collection is also one of my favorites
American clocks with double dials, often referred to as “double dial” or “two-dial” clocks, were common in the 19th century. There are two categories of double-dial clocks but first, let’s talk about the calendar clock. These clocks typically have one dial for the time and another for the calendar. The reason for this design was … More The American double-dial clock
Jauch had ties to one of the oldest clock-maker families in the Black Forest. The Gerbrueder Jauch company, known for manufacturing hall, wall, and mantel clocks, faced challenges in late 1979 due to export restrictions, ultimately leading to bankruptcy in 1986. Renowned for providing affordable yet attractive clocks for average households, Gerbrueder Jauch GmbH produced … More Thrift Shop Treasure for $1.65 – will it sell for more!
People often ask me about the value of their mechanical clock(s), but the reality is, that many of them turn out to be either common mantel clocks, clocks made in China, or clocks that have little resale value. Of course, there is the odd gem! Expressing that the clock may not be worth as much … More The awkward task of telling someone the true value of a Common Clock
I stumbled upon this Arthur Pequegnat Moncton in an antique store located in Bloomfield, Ontario, Canada during a visit in 2018. Certain wall clocks from the Arthur Pequegnat Clock Co., which operated in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, between 1904 and 1941, are rare finds, making this particular piece appealing. The company, initially founded as Saas & … More A Close Look at the Arthur Pequegnat Moncton Wall Clock
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. The Arthur Pequegnat Story The … More Regulator #1 by Arthur Pequegnat
In the heart of North End Halifax, on December 6, 1917, a Junghans Crispi clock fell off a wall in a house on Princess Court. Unbeknownst to it, this simple clock would become a silent witness to one of the worst man-made disasters in Canadian history – the Halifax Explosion. As the Belgian relief ship … More Honouring History, One Tick at a Time – the Halifax Explosion Dec 6, 1917
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