Russell & Jones Hanging Oak Parlor Clock
September 27, 2007 . by BillI just overhauled a lovely Russell & Jones hanging oak parlor clock. Height: 28 inches. It has a beautiful glass tablet with an image of a lighthouse. (My repair job no. 4341.)
The movement is 8 day time and strike, with plate size approx. 5-3/8 x 3-3/8
The original strike mainspring was 0.016 inch thick, it was broken so I replaced it with a Empire 280-19-009 mainspring. The new spring is 3/4 inch wide, 0.0146 inch thick, and 120 inches long. The strike mainwheel has about 10% wear on its teeth. The strike speed is plenty fast enough with this new spring. (Note: I had tried a Merritt’s 3/4x .0155 x 96 inch mainspring, but the striking was WAY too fast).
The original time mainspring was replaced by a previous repairer with a spring that was too strong - 0.0178 inches thick. This strong spring had caused about 50% tooth wear. I installed a Merritt’s Antiques P1496 in the Red and Yellow box. The new spring is 3/4 inch wide, 0.0157 inch thick, and 96 inches long. The pendulum motion is satisfactory and is approximately twice the escape arc. (The movement runs well in spite of the large time mainwheel tooth wear.)
Words on label on back of clock
THE BELLE
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EIGHT DAY HALF HOUR STRIKE, CA
THEDRAL GONG AND ALARM
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Manufactured by
Russell & Jones Clock Co., Pittsfield, Mass, U.S.A.
— For —
N. Y. INSTALLMENT CO.
Chicago, Ill.
History of Russell & Jones
With the failure of the Terry Clock Company at Pittsfield, Mass. in 1888, the Pittsfield businessmen who were large investors, particularly brothers Hezekiah S. and Solomon N. Russell and Edward D. G. Jones, took over the operation. These men and their associates had supplied funds to buy, the bankrupt Terry firm at Waterbury, Conn. in 1880 and move it to Massachusetts in the summer of that year. They built a new factory for the operation in 1883.
By January of 1889, the firm’s name had been changed to Russell & Jones Clock Company and a trade catalog was issued with few changes, if any, from the old firm’s line. In 1890, the new firm issued a new catalog with a substantial number of new and unusual models. As far as can be determined, the firm discontinued manufacture and was disbanded in 1893.
(History written by Chris H. Bailey of the American Clock and Watch Museum, Bristol, Connecticut)
Time train tooth count
Center wheel: 26 teeth
T2: 60/8 (wheel teeth/pinion wires)
T3: 40/8
T4: 40/7
T5 (escape wheel): 39/7
8277.55 beats per hour
Hi, I have this same Russell & Jones clock. It is not in as good of shape, but in runs just fine. I would like to find out how much it is worth, how would I go about doing this?