Posted 13 years ago
Shadowbrook
(1 item)
The clock has been in our family it's entire life. It has brass gears, and was made in Thomaston, Conn. I'm guessing 1845-1875. A label identifies it as being sold in our home town of Alton, Illinois, by J. H. Booth, Jeweler.
We are seeking additional information about this clock.
What a fantastic thing to have had it in your family for 150 years!
It is called an ogee mantle clock. Seth Thomas is a great maker.
Does it still work?
Scott
Not sure Scott, I've kept my hands off it. As I become more knowledgeable, I may investigate. My wife remembers it working.
So, it's a mantle clock. That makes sense, because the weights are in the clock body and do not come out the bottom. Thanks!
Mike
They are nice decorative items. I have one on my mantle that I don't run.
The ticking is usually fairly loud when compared with modern clocks and the regular winding was something that I often forget to stay up on!
Scott
Seth Thomas has quite a line of Ogees. What are your case dimensions?
Does your wife remember how often it needed to be wound?
These are neat pieces of American History. They have a couple on display at the Museum and Visitor's Center at Gettysburg. One that I clearly recall had a mini-ball hole through it's glass and case. Probably a very good time to be down in the basement!
Here's mine: http://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/7588-1840-1850-ogee-clock?in=user
It only runs 24 hrs on a winding so I don't keep it running constantly. It does have a very loud tick and the gong it strikes on isn't the most melodious... but when you think about the fact that it was ticking away like that all through the Civil War and before! These are very cool old clocks!!! Thanks for sharing yours...
15 3/8 x 25 1/4. Hey... toolate2, I think it's just like yours, except for the front glass. I removed the face-plate and on the reverse side was the same older looking face-plate as your. Cool!
I found a couple of models measuring that height in my references. Everything that I can see in your photos leans toward the Seth Thomas O.G. circa 1863. That would fall right within your estimate. It is a 30-hour, strike, weight driven with a height of 25 inches. It was also offered as a small 8-day in 1868. The 30-hour models were most recently appraised by Tran Duy Ly at $350. The 8-day movements are a little harder to find and were appraised at $575. Of course there's the heirloom value that you can't put a price tag on. We have a Kroeber China No. 22 circa 1898 in the family that goes back three generations including me, but nothing this old! I agree with toolate2, thanks for sharing!
Thank you so much for your time on this. Great information. So cool...
In behalf of myself, scottvez and toolate2: You're very Welcome! It's a very nice heirloom.
Ditto!!