Posted 10 years ago
gdavies
(1 item)
Hi all,I was wondering, (of course like pretty much all the requests here), on this clock I acquired from helping a friend move his antiques. I know it is early 1900's, maybe sooner. It has the movable dial pendulum, with the Dec 10th 1857 patent on it. Also has unusual clock face, possibly it was replaced some time back, but it does not have the Waterbury symbol on it, only an "S" shown in unusual script. Unfortunately the paper tag on the back is long gone.
Does anybody have a clue on the age of it and value. I do not plan on selling it, just curious. It works surprisingly well, and is keeping perfect time . I have the musical symphony of clocks on the hour, and it is now included.
It's a beautiful case unusual shape proportion wise though..there's a lot of works in there, I wonder if it always started life as a short case clock?, case looks a little nouveau/Edwardian or late Victorian....Edwardian to me or slightly later with the turned sides maybe?
I'm not clock expert but just know some from family clocks of the time.
Questions that might help others.
how many days is it, 8? or is it 12 or 24 or 30 something hours?
Also I wonder why the face is so yellow because it's in a case.? It looks like this face has been exposed to cigarette smoke to get that colour.
You may be right about it being a replacement face.
What is the face made of? I think too as the winding mechanism sits right through the 8 the numbers probably would have been smaller, roman or something else .
Just my ideas anyway...
What's the rim made of, it's hard to see, in one photo it's looks silver but in another it looks like porcelain or stoneware? Now, don't do this, but the only way to tell would be to take the works out or the paper off the face but unless you're planning on spending a few hundred plus to restore it then leave it until you know exactly where you are at..my advice but not instruction.
You haven't shown the workings or the jewels, usually there is engraving on these as to maker, so maybe pop in a works photo?
A lovely present like that and in working order I think you've scored well. It's hard to know if it's a total "build" of bits and bobs but hearing that chime must be very enjoyable...I would think the case is a little "crafts" or by an enthusiast.
Thanks for the response.
It is an 8 day clock. Maybe it is common of this vintage, but it seems to slow just a bit before it needs a winding, which I try to do to all the clocks on Sunday.
The face seems to be a thick paper type, as it it has some warping going on. Luckily the hands miss the high spots of the warp. Good point of the winder being in the area of a number. Kind of a bad location.
I have not taken it apart yet, waiting for the guts to do so. I have had my Grandfather clock apart to repair the chimes and oiling, so it is not out of my know how, just do not want to disturb anything, being it works well, and the face is in one piece. By the way, the ring of the face is worn brass, and the workings going from pics I have found, definitely tells me it is a Waterbury. As mentioned earlier, the pendulum is marked Waterbury with the 1800's patent.
It may sound goofy, but I think the yellowing face gives it a bit of character. Kind of fits the 1800's theme, the the fonts looks like they fit well with the wild west.
The person I got the clock from, drove a truck cross country a lot, so no telling where he got it from. I could ask I guess, see if he remembers.
Funny thing is, is when others wanted the clock, he told them (family too) it was off limits. When I showed up to help move stuff, he told me, if I see anything I want, just let him know. I told him I wanted the clock, and he said "sure", after just meeting him 10 minutes earlier....go figure.