ClockInfo.com

I just repaired the movement of this Birge, Peck & Co. standard 8 day cornice and column shelf clock. The addrss of the printer of the label (Press of Elihu Geer, 10 State Street, Hartford) dates the clock to 1850 – 1855 (see ClockHistory.com) for reference).

The case is 32 3/8 inches tall, 16 9/16 inches wide and 4 7/8 inches deep at the bottom. The dial has a 7 inch time track. The dial and lower glass are original. The movement is a later version of that invented by Joseph Ives, having roller pinions instead of fixed trundles, and the plates are riveted strap brass instead of one piece stampings. It is weight driven with a recoil escapement.

Here are some movies of the clock and the escapement (showing the escapement before and after the adjustment for entrance drop):

Here is a slideshow of photos:

Repair job 4865.

I recently repaired this Schatz standard 400 day clock. It needed to have 5 pivots polished, and the suspension spring replaced. I polished and lacquered the base and pillars. This clock is unusual in having aluminum leveling discs. I have seen only brass or plastic disks before (I think the brass ones came first, and were changed to plastic as a cost reduction).

Repair job 4862.

This 30 hour OG is the most recent addition to my collection (I don’t buy very many clocks these days, but I couldn’t resist this one). This clock was made about 1845, the fourth year that Seth Thomas made brass movement OG clocks. It has the early features described on my ClockHistory.com web site, and the unusual feature of a brass nameplate on the dial.

Here is a slideshow of photos:

• Ogee case, non-original lower glass, made in Plymouth Hollow, glasses held with wood strips. Height 26″, width 15 11/16″, depth 4 5/16″;
• Dial: metal, two rings drawn around time track, dots for minute marks;
• Early features of dial: tapered numerals 3, 4 and 8, small winding holes (8.2 mm);
• Unusual feature of dial: brass nameplate with S. THOMAS PLYMOUTH CONN U S A;
• Label: printed by Elihu Geer, Hartford, Connecticut, no address given. This dates it to 1842 – 1845;
• Movement: type 1.241, early.

I recently repaired this wall clock. The case is about 42 inches tall. The rear of the movement has the crossed arrows symbol of the Hamburg-American Clock Company, Germany. The dial is metal and porcelain.

The movement needed most of the pivots polished, 14 bushings installed, and the entrance pallet smoothed and polished.

The strike train is unusual in having 6 gears.

This movement does not have the best escapement design. The escape arc is quite large, with a small amount of supplementary arc or overswing. Thus, this clock must be carefully leveled (by ear) when setting it up.

Repair job 4853.

I recently repaired this Seth Thomas tambour mantel clock. It needed to have the pivots polished and 14 bushings installed.

This clock was a good example of original thin Seth Thomas mainsprings. The time mainspring is 3/4 inches wide and 0.0159 inches thick. It is in good condition and was retained in the clock. The strike mainspring was 0.0164 inches thick. I intended to keep it in the clock, but it broke after cleaning, so I installed a 3/4 inch wide, 0.0165 inches thick, and 96 inches long, Merritt’s Antiques part no. P-1956.

Here is a slideshow of the clock and its movement, and also the label on the bottom of the case:

Here is a movie of the clock ticking and striking:

Repair job 4854. The clock is 19 1/2 inches long.