1800s french mantle clock | ||
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Posted 12 years ago
Southernsl…
(3 items)
dont know much more than whats in the title, except its cased in slate bronze and gilt brass. anybody that can help me identify the maker,would be much appreciated.
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What happened, was this is a fire? It might really clean up nice.
You're probably going to have to look closely at the movement. There may be markings on it that could at least tell you who made the movement.
Good luck with your search.
it was in the floods of hurricane Katrina.the numbers 4380 are stamped on the side of the movement, and 6 ? 4 at the very bottom center.the only other markings are very faint scratches that read PEC or PFC and numbers 57095
Sorry, that doesn't tell us much at all does it? Looks like a beautiful clock. I'd be very careful trying to clean it up. Mild, non-abrasive agents are probably not going to do much...but it can't hurt to try them. Beyond that, this looks like a job for a professional.
So no Idea who may have made a clock like this? Do you think its possible its a seth thomas? i read he sometimes dint sign his work. I also notice he used a lot of slate and brass. If there are anymore pictures i can take and show, to help id this clock let me know.I am going to have professionally restored but I want to know what I have and what its worth before i do.
Nope, sorry.
You listed it as French, you probably know that Seth Thomas was an American Clock manufacturer, right? Of the American models I'm familiar with, this looks most like an Ansonia to me, but I don't think that it is.
I certainly could be wrong, but I think that chances are pretty good the clock is going to cost more to restore than it's worth. Get an estimate or two. If no collector here can help you, whoever gives you an estimate or restores it for you should be able to give you more information.
Good luck.
The guy I got it from told me it was 19th century french. I got it at a storage sale and I was so busy making sure his helpers dint drop it while putting it in my van i dint think to ask the owner the makers name. I paid $20 for it and thought I hit the jackpot. lol.
Easy money, huh? :) A $20 bet wasn't bad. There were a lot of antiques and family heirlooms that were lost to Katrina. I know a metal plating business owner who says he's still doing restorative work from that storm. The standing contaminated water and high humidity that some of these items were exposed to over a long period of time really took a toll on them.
Restoring your clock probably only makes sense if it has heirloom, or collection value to you. You won't know for sure until you get estimates, preferably free...but remember the old axiom, you get what you pay for. If you still want to try and get a better handle on what the clock would be worth in good condition I suggest that you provide the following:
Any and all information printed, stamped or labeled on the dial, movement, case and pendulum. This includes names, trademarks, serial/model/patent numbers and dates. Sometimes there is information on the dial, but the finish on yours looks pretty badly damaged. If you have a black light, you can sometimes see faded information that's not visible under normal light.
Does it still work? If so, how often does it need to be re-wound?
Measurements of the dial and case. Please take measurements at the longest, widest, and deepest points only.
Well lit photos of the entire case, with close-ups of the dial, movement and any distinctive decorative feature(s) or labels.
Please note what materials the clock is made of. Is it really heavy? Is that slate, or some other mineral the case is made from?
Any provenance information.
This information will be very helpful, but it still may not lead to a definitive model or date...especially if it is French.
There are a lot of good, knowledgeable collectors here, but no one here recognizes it, perhaps you could try the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors' message board. It's free, but you'll need to register. Do NOT ask value questions in the general area. They have an area for value questions, but you'll need to pay for access. You could also go to the NAWCC's "Library and Research" area and submit a formal request for research on your clock. They charge $20 for the first 30 minutes and $40 per hour of work after that. The library staff are very good and knowledgeable. They also have access to the NAWCC's museum curators. No doubt they can give you some good, reliable information and possibly some good suggestions for further research you can personally do.
I wish I could be more direct help to you. Looks like it was a beautiful clock. If you elect not to restore it, don't throw it away. You may find a collector who will take it off your hands. Try to store it in a cool, dry place.
Typo correction: "but no one here recognizes it" above should read "but IF no one here recognizes it"
" It is very heavy, I believe its made of slate or black marble it measures 19" x 15" x 6.5". the clock itself is 5.5" might weight 60lbs. my plans are maybe to keep the clock and restore a little at a time I had an estimate just from pics $1500- $5500 from a partial to a full restoration. I have experience polishing stone and all kinds of medals so I can handle the cosmetics myself.Dont know if I want to keep it or sell it but it defiantly wont be thrown away.thanks for all your help bruce and ill be sure to keep you updated.
You're very welcome Southernslang. I hope that your restoration project goes well and that you get to enjoy the beautiful clock you've rescued.