Posted 14 years ago
Becky
(8 items)
This is another beautiful clock that was passed down to me. This being from my fathers side of the family. The french furniture and mantel clock is from my mothers side, I'm searching for information on the history,if there is one, on this clock. Not sure where it was purchased or when???
Strange, I was going to take off the back of this clock for a better look for a name or number, but the back is nailed shut! Thats strange isn't it? Any thoughts if I should just leave it alone or take off the back...? Thanks for your input.
The case looks fairly shallow. Perhaps the movement is inserted from the front (and thus removed the same way.) Check inside to see if it can be easily removed.
Thank you! I'll try that. We just found out my other grandmothers mantel clock is a Japy Freres by looking underneath the rusted metal springs. So I'll try it with this one! Thanks again!
Do NOT!!! remove the back. These clocks were all assembled by attaching the movement to the back, and placing the dial last. Remove the hands (note which way the pin is pressed in, because it and the hole in the minute arbor are tapered). Then, being careful not to let the screwdriver slip, undo the screws around the outer edge of the dial (probably four, but possibly six). Then it will become obvious how the movement is attached. Probably, when you remove the dial, you will find a maker's mark stamped into the front plate of the movement, but even if you don't, posting a picture of it may allow some of us to identify the manufacturer.There is an excellent series of books on American clocks (which I am almost certain this is) by Tran Duy Ly. BUt his books are titled by manufacturer, so we would have to have that first, in order to look the case up, and find when it was first offered. Tran's books are put together by duplicating catalogs from the various makers. OH - almost forgot: Take the pendulum bob off before laying the clock on its back. Otherwise, you will likely bend or kink the suspension spring.
And be careful of the door hinges - the screws attaching the hinges to the front of the case are very short, and fairly small. They are aeasily pulled out, especially when the wood of the case is old and dried out. Whenever you take wood screws out of older wood, it is best to keep them in order, and replace them into the same holes in reassembly. There are minute variations in screws, and in older wood, mixing the screws up can make the difference between having them grip as intended and stripping the threads in the hole.
Thank you PR!
My husband, again with his good eyesight, found the name on the face plate and we looked it up. The maker of the woooden clock is E.N. Welch and was made in Connecticut. I'm just having fun learning the history of all these wonderful things that were given to me when I was younger. It's like solving great mysteries of my childhood and of course I can't just say how pretty it is and move on.... I have to know and learn all about it! Again if you know of any clock repair shops that would fix my beautiful clocks- near the Champaign, IL area- please let me know! Thanks again!
I have a mantel clock much like that of Becky's (posted August 7) except that mine is black and has a pendulum. The winding key is attached and is inside of the glass front, to lower right of the clock face. It is a Seth Thomas Clock Company clock, as stated on the inside floor of the clock. It also states this on the lower face of the clock. "Manufactured in the United States of America" is on the clock face by Seth Thomas name, and on the inside floor of the clock, again by the company name. I am 55 and this belonged to my great grandparents. It still works. Does anyone have an idea of the value and what I could hope to get from an antique dealer if I sold the clock?? Thank you.
These so-called "kitchen" or "gingerbread" clocks usually run from about $100 to $200 in value, depending oon the specifics of the case and movement. It also makes a difference if the clock has a thirty hour or an eight day movement. The eight day movements command a slightly higher price, all other things being equal. There were literally hubdreds of thousands of them made and sold by all the major American manufacturers, starting in about 1880, when the machinery to steam impress wood was first invented. They wre in continued production by most of the firms until the advent of World War I, when brass was designated by the government as a necessary war material, and much clock production was slowed or stopped altogether.