Posted 6 years ago
Bravo44
(1 item)
This clock was given to me many years ago and has spent much of that time on a shelf in the basement. It measures 26" x 16" x 4.5". I don't know if it works or even if some parts are missing. Don't know if it has any value. Can someone advise me?
Wood works OG 30 hour run time. Time, strike, and alarm. Made between 1835 and 1838. Condition is very good, especially the dial and label. Take the hands and dial off and add a pic. The part on the right is the verge, for this clock or an extra? Amusing clocks in form as common as dirt. Yours is earlier not later time frame. Perhaps value up to $200, running condition. Get it running and have fun !
Oops, thought that I had included the photo of the wood workings behind the face. Can't figure out how to revise my posting to include that.
Do an advanced search for "Sold" listings on eBay. "Daniel Pratt Ogee (and/or 'OG') Clock". Looks nice.
Who do I go to to get it running? (I'm in the NYC area.)
Figured it out. Now a photo of the wood works is shown.
This is a rather common style of clock called an ogee (or OG) for the ogival molding.
The inner back board bears the label of a Boston area retailer named Daniel Pratt, Jr. He was not a true clock maker. He purchased clocks whole from CT makers, placing his own label in them. Pratt also purchased movements from CT makers and placed them in locally made cases also bearing his label.
It is a wooden works clock. Most likely runs for 30 hours. It would strike the gong on the hour. The motive power for both trains would be those 2 cast iron conical weights you show. They wind up with that crank.
This is a late example of a wooden works clock. By the time this was put together, most people were buying brass works clocks. So, these wooden works were being dumped by their makers and bought for cheap by guys like Pratt.
Overall, a rather common clock and alas, not particularly sought after in today's market. I think the previously stated value for the clock, even if running, is optimistic.
What does set your clock apart some from most examples and might help the value a bit is that this movement was made with an internal weight driven alarm! Note the extra components on the lower front plate and that 3rd winding arbor. There would have been a small 3rd weight to drive it. The alarm would have been set with a pressed brass alarm setting disk which fit over the cannon arbor (the part the hands fit on to). The setting disk and the weight appear to be missing. When triggered, that "T" shaped thing would rapidly wag to and froe striking the inside of the cast iron bell. It made a real racket!
Overall, survives in pretty decent condition. Don't think the reverse decorated lower glass in the door is original but it is 19th century. Looks okay.
By the way, with the verge (that bit just to the viewer's right of the pendulum bob) removed from the clock, it's not going to run. The weights would need to be restrung. Wooden works gears and pinions are prone to losing teeth, getting out of round (wood shrinks across the grain) and other maladies. May just need some simple TLC or much more. Repairing or replacing wooden works gears and or teeth is not for the amateur and can quickly send the costs of repair > the value of the clock.
I would go to the NAWCC Message Board and see if one of the participants can direct you to someone in your area who might fix this clock? By the way, once you join the Message Board, you can access a lot of information about this clock and others.
Good luck!
Groveland