Posted 9 years ago
mikelv85
(1232 items)
I found this little Waterbury clock sitting on the top of the jewelry case at Goodwill. Didn't have to think twice about snatching it up. It's only 7" tall and the white onyx base is 4" x 2.5". Made out of nice gilt metal it's quite heavy for it's size. A beautiful French rococo design of a young women with birds. The porcelain clock face is a pocket watch size 1.75" in diameter. It was already tightly wound so I figured I would see if I could revive it. Looks like someone else had a try so I figured it couldn't hurt to check it out. Two tiny screws hold the movement to the frame. I tried a bit of clock oil and I did get it to tick a little bit but it really needs a complete overhaul. It wasn't hard to take apart but putting it back together was a pain. The hands would not go back on so I just taped them to the base for safe keeping. They actually hold the dial to the movement until you get it back in the case. The movement has a few patent dates on it. They're stamped into the main spring cover. One is for 1891. They were too small to get good pictures though. I've not been able to find this exact clock online but it seems to fall into Waterbury's novelty clock category. Waterbury would eventually morph into the "Timex Group USA" by 2008. I'm not sure what it's worth or if repairing it is even cost effective. It would be awesome to have it running again though. -Mike-
Waterbury Clock History
Courtesy of nationalclockrepair.com
In 1854 Connecticut's Naugatuck Valley, was known during the nineteenth century as the "Switzerland of America." Waterbury, CT based brass manufacturer Benedict & Burnham created Waterbury Clock Company as a clock-making subsidiary in the advent of brass gears being introduced to clock-making.
Waterbury Clock Company was legally incorporated on March 27, 1857 as an independent business with $60,000 in capital. Sister company Waterbury Watch manufactured the first inexpensive mechanical pocket watch in 1880. During World War I, Waterbury began making wristwatches, which had only just become popular, and in 1933 it made history by creating the first Mickey Mouse clock under license from Walt Disney, with Mickey's hands pointing the time. This was made under the Ingersoll brand.
In 1940, the company came under the ownership of Thomas Olsen and Joakim Lehmkuhl and was renamed the Time Corporation in the United States. Watches with the Timex brand name were first used in 1946 with a small shipment of nurses' watches. The "X" suffix "was used to evoke a sense of technological advancement.
Very cool mike!
Thank you Caper :)
Thanks for the "love" Bruce :)...it's been a while !
at Goodwill...some relatives need having their brains looked at.
It's wonderful, well found...
Thanks Anne...my thoughts exactly...who gives something like this away working or not ! So I figured this damsel in distress needed to be rescued. :)....lol
Oh the joys of Goodwill et al.!
Thanks Sklo...I find it's usually feast or famine with them though but in this case they surprised me. Salvation Army and Volunteer's of America are my favorite go to places. :)
Thanks Ken :)..I really hope that I can get it fixed eventually.
I believe cost to repair might not exceed value.....but that's a scary issue sometimes. Look at photos appears all intact as far as nothing missing for hand attachment, are hands loose fit or just to tight to replace on shafts?
I think they are just press fit Kerry. I was very careful and rocked them off one by one with my finger nail. The hour hand stays in place on it's ring but the minute one seems like it's too big for the shaft now. It won't stay in place. Maybe I lost a tiny ferrule or something but I don't think so. I should have left it alone but I wanted to get pictures of the movement and the face was covering them. I could kick myself...lol.
probably just elongated the hole, when ready to reinstall, put a drop of black enamel model paint inside hole and allow to almost dry, then reinstall
What a clever trick ! Thanks for the advice Kerry you're the best ! :)
You'd be surprised what comes in the doors of thrift stores. Yesterday I was at one and saw a wind-up mantle clock with key. It wasn't functional at first, but suddenly it came to life after only a minute of checking it out-- the chime went off and it began ticking and it really embarrassed me. LOL.
Wonderful find. Just as art it would be great.
Thanks SpiritBear ...yes it is a pretty little thing if even just for it's looks. :)