If These Shirts Could Talk: The Tantalizing Tales Behind Used Clothes
The mysterious packages kept arriving, some from eBay, others from the Home …
Jockeying for Position: How Boxers and Briefs Got Into Men's Pants
Just as underclothes are shielded from public view, the evolution of men's most intimate apparel is shrouded in secrecy. But the story of men's underwear is about more …
Gloriously Grotesque 19th-Century Pipes
The meerschaum pipes carved in Eastern Europe at the end of the 19th century are among the most bizarre and improbable concoctions in decorative art. Some feature …
In the Hot Seat: Is Your Antique Windsor a Fake?
While researching her book, "Killer Stuff and Tons of Money," Maureen Stanton came across all sorts of characters. For years, she shadowed her antiques-dealer friend …
Love at First Kite: How Pizza and Pente Led to One Oklahoman's High-Flying Obsession
Vintage kites from all over the world hang from the ceiling and walls of Richard Dermer’s popula…
Blood, Sweat, and Steel: My Afternoon with the Ace of Swords
“When I got this sword, it was completely covered in blood rust.” Sword maker Francis Boyd is showing me yet another weapon pulled from yet another …
'The Great Gatsby' Still Gets Flappers Wrong
Have you heard? There’s a new swell in town named Gatsby, and he’s bringing flapper flair back into fashion. Baz Luhrmann’s latest cinematic spectacle—his take on “Th…
Say Ahhh: An Oral Surgeon's Quest to Reimagine the Garage-Band Guitar
It’s not unusual for men of a certain age to have a soft spot in their hearts for the look of vintage guitars and the sound…
Forget TV Pickers, Meet the Real Mavericks of the Antiques World
Long before Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz swaggered into the spotlight with "American Pickers," writer Maureen Stanton …
Coveting The Craziest Cat-People Collectibles
The memes are endless—Grumpy Cat, Nyan Cat, Keyboard Cat, Maru, and all the Lolcats. Last year even witnessed the first ever Internet Cat Video Fe…
Veinna regulator Grande Sonnerie | Weight Driven Clocks5 of 11 |  |  |
pops52 loves this.
ticktocktime100 loves this.
BELLIN68 loves this.
bratjdd loves this.
toolate2 loves this.
Bruce99 loves this.
Pop_abides loves this.Create a Show & TellReport as inappropriate
Posted 1 year ago
nwclocks
(7 items)
This is a altdeutsch style grande Sonnerie Vienna regulator circa 1880 it is a large clock at 54" tall as you can see it has a nicely carved walnut case. Clock face, weights, pulley's and pendulum bob are all hand engraved brass.
thanks for looking
George
Create an account or login in order to post a comment.
Weight Driven ClocksThere are two basic types of mechanical clocks, those powered by weights an…
Wall ClocksWall clocks represent the largest category of antique clocks and are among …
This is definitely an heirloom quality clock. The man's children that you mentioned probably didn't know how rare a valuable it was or maybe they just wanted their father to enjoy it one way or the other. Maybe it was just a painful reminder, who knows? At least they found a good home for it.
Wow! Now that's a beauty! Have you done any work to it?
thanks toolate2, just disassembled the movement cleaned, inspected polished a couple of pivots, pegged the plates and made a new shaft for one of the hammers. It was broken and someone tried to solder it back together. Dusted the case with lemon oil, that's it.
regards
George
Wow, that family must have really taken good care of this clock through the generations. The finish looks "French Polished" at the very least. Lemon oil, or lemon oil with Bee's Wax is a great way to maintain a finish. You do fabulous furniture work too George! When I grow up, I want to be like you... and if that is ever going to happen, I'm gonna have to start growing instead of just aging! LOL!
Just like a boat,Another ones life always looks good with a fresh coat of varnish, But will it hold up to the seasons o(•¿•)o
Actually the case has been refinished but not by me. apparently it was stripped and a sprayed finished was applied. It was done well but I don't know what was used. If I ever run out of projects I would prefer a traditional cut shellac finish applied with brush or padded and polished.
Thanks again Bruce for the wonderful complements, I'm humbled.
George
Definitely one to be proud of!
Ditto that toolate2! I doubt that you'll ever run out of projects George, but if you did, I'd look elsewhere for a new one. Like you said, whatever they used, they did a good job. I also prefer working with shellac and hide glue, but whatever is on there looks hand-rubbed, not plastic. Definitely it is something that will seal the wood and "hold up to the seasons"! It's very ornate woodwork, why strip it? Lemon oil is perfect for it.
Thanks toolate2, we do enjoy it it's a keeper.
George
Thanks Bruce, I guess I'm just nit picking it does look nice. I suspect the finish is either shellac or lacquer it's thin and applied well but a trained eye can tell it's not original.
Circa 1880? Finishes degrade and no longer seal the wood, then joints loosen and begin to loose their tight fit and sharp definition. Perhaps that is fine and even desirable for a museum but this is a prized, working piece in your collection.
Even an untrained eye can see that it has been, and is being well cared for.
I think that anyone who appreciates highly skilled wood work would not care just so long as the finish does not detract from, or obscure what it is supposed to help preserve. Of course, anyone who loves and collects antique clocks might just want to touch and feel it, possibly drooling on it by accident in which case an intact, protective finish is highly desirable! :D
very highly desirable is right :) love the clock and very beautiful :) and stunning :)
Thanks Bruce well said, I have never been a follower of deteriorated crumbly finishes either. As w woodworker I really appreciate seeing the wood in it's full glory as the maker of the piece had originally intended.
Seems like most pieces we have that still have their original finish only look good after a good cleaning and a massaging with brie wax or similar.
Thanks again
George