The Waterbury clock hanging in my office brings back memories of my grandfather, a man I wish I had known better. Call it one of life’s regrets. Now, I didn’t know my grandfather all that well and I’m not sure that many people did. He was shy and a man of few words. I don’t … More A very special Waterbury wall clock – my grandfather’s kitchen clock (a personal journey)
Seven clocks in my collection have family connections, not necessarily with my own family but clocks that I am able to trace back through families mostly in Nova Scotia (Canada). No names are mentioned. The stories are sad in some cases but interesting nonetheless. Let’s begin. Waterbury wall clock When I was a child back … More 7 Clocks in my collection that have family connections
Some years ago I had this brainy idea that I would have a trio of time zone clocks above our main computer in the kitchen so, when one of our children called, all we had to do was glance at the wall to see what local time it was in their region. Back then we … More Three small drop octagons that match – finally!
I never actually went to this auction but participated online. It is not quite the same as the rush of bidding in a live auction hall but exciting in its own way. This particular auction had quite a number of clocks but I would say that most were in rough or what I would call … More Clocks won at auction – at a fair price
The time has come to determine the best clock acquisition of the past year. As a clock hobbyist, I have had little difficulty locating interesting clocks over the years, and despite the seemingly never-ending pandemic, I have scored a few in 2021 though the past year has been leaner than most. In the early days … More Best clock acquisition of 2021
While I have over 85 clocks in my collection twelve are 30-hour or one-day clocks. One of the twelve is a relatively modern clock. The history of mass-produced clocks in America began in the 1820s and 1830s with 30-hour clocks that had woodworks movements. While the clock business was booming with many companies selling clocks … More 30-hour clocks in my collection – a complete list
This clock is an antique store find not too far from where I live. It was high on a shelf and the price was not visible. I asked the shopkeeper to take it down so that I could check the price ($40) and verify that it had a mechanical movement. I opened the back panel, … More A marriage of two makers, Waterbury and Seth Thomas
Tick-Talk Tuesday is about the letters and comments I receive from you, the reader, concerning your clock, issues you might have had, challenges you face or a clock you would like me to profile. I give my responses to your question(s) and provide advice on your particular clock concern. For those comments and questions that … More Tick Talk Tuesday #28 – How do I fix my Waterbury ogee?
Back in December 2019, I wrote about the challenges of adjusting the strike side of this attractive parlour clock, a Waterbury York, circa 1900. Despite many attempts the strike side refused to work. Though I was close to a solution but I did not realize it at the time. I put it aside to think … More Waterbury York parlour clock – a fresh approach to addressing a non-functioning strike side
This attractive parlour clock, a Waterbury York, circa 1900, was bought at auction in the spring of 2019. Though inexpensive it is certainly worth servicing which is the subject of this article. The time side was running but the strike side did not function at all. Usually these sorts of problems amount to simple lever … More Waterbury York parlour clock servicing – a few surprises but ultimately a disappointment
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
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
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
I’ve thought about this clock, dreamt about it, wondered where it was all these years……and now I have it. I was confident that I could do something with this clock since I had just finished a major restoration project. I had no idea that the clock I was getting was a movement in a homemade … More Lessons learned restoring grandfather’s old clock
It has taken me 6 years to assemble my collection of antique and vintage clocks. Although I have many clocks, wall clocks are my particular favorites. Check out my collection of antique and vintage wall clocks in this YouTube video I made in January 2019. Feel free to comment.
This is the fourth and final article on this curious and somewhat homely Waterbury time and strike schoolhouse clock. I have a vivid memory of this Waterbury octagon short drop schoolhouse clock that hung in my grandparent’s kitchen when I was a young boy. Now that I have it what do I do with it. … More Grandfathers clock – the drop door, the movement and other things – Part IV
This is Part III of a 4-part series. I have a vivid memory of this Waterbury octagon short drop schoolhouse clock that hung in my grandparent’s kitchen when I was a young boy. Now that I have it what do I do with it. I have devoted two previous articles to this curious and somewhat … More Grandfathers old clock – Preserve a memory or restore it – Part III
Is this attractive 30 hour weight driven Ogee a Waterbury, a New Haven or an E.N. Welch? All of the above, actually and perhaps more. The older the clock and the greater the number of owners means there is an increased chance that there have been minor and even significant changes to the clock Is … More Waterbury, New Haven or EN Welch – A true Frankenstein clock
I posted Part I of a four-part article on this curious schoolhouse clock recently. In this, Part II I discuss the what I like and what frustrates me about this project. I have a vivid memory of this Waterbury octagon short drop schoolhouse clock that hung in my grandparent’s kitchen when I was a … More Grandfathers old clock – now what do I do with it? Part II
I’ve thought about this clock, dreamt about it, wondering where it was all these years…….and now I have it. Now, what do I do? I have a vivid memory of this Waterbury octagon short drop schoolhouse clock that hung in my grandparent’s kitchen when I was a young boy. After church on Sundays, my … More Grandfathers old clock – I asked for it, now what do I do? Part I
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
Why are these clocks so cheap? Discounting the wild prices some seem to be asking on online for-sale sites, a good example can be had for almost nothing. Why? Allow me to explain. This 30 hour time and strike Waterbury Ogee clock was discovered at an antique store an hour’s drive away. The store has … More Waterbury Ogee (OG) 30 hour weight driven clock and why they are so undervalued
It this day and age it is very common to have family scattered to the four winds. What time is it is such and such? Why not create timezone clocks? I live in Canada and I have one daughter in Calgary, Alberta, one of our mid-western provinces and one in Victoria, BC, on the … More Timezone clocks – keeping track of family across the country
I recently purchased a vintage Canadian made New Haven 8-day short drop octagon time and strike clock. It is in the familiar style of a schoolhouse clock. The New Haven Clock Company lasted just over 100 years. Sadly, The New Haven Clock Company lasted just over 100 years. Much of the history of the New … More New Haven Short Drop Octagon – two curious features
Ominous The Spirit is an artist that makes music, paints, and creates photography. He donates 100% of profits to charity.
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