This time-only long drop octagon clock by Ansonia Clock Co., has an oak case 31 3/8 inches tall and 17 1/4 inches wide. The minute hand is 5 9/16 inches long and the paper dial’s minute track is 11 inches outside diameter.
The movement is 8-day time only, and it is interesting that the pendulum is hung from the case backboard a couple of inches above the movement.
The original mainspring is 3/4 inches wide and 0.016 inch thick.
I just repaired this Ansonia “Queen Elizabeth” mahogany wall clock. The top piece to the case is not shown in the photo, but the catalog illustration below shows the complete clock. The overall height with the top is 37 inches, and the width is 13 5/8 inches. The dial in this example has a replacement paper face, and the minute hand is not original (but similar to the original).
The top piece to the case is not shown in this photo
Ansonia “Queen Elizabeth” wall clock as shown in the 1906 – 1907 Ansonia catalog.
The movement is the 5-pillar Ansonia 8 day time and strike, with plate dimensions 5 7/8 by 3 5/8 inches. Repairs included polishing the pivots and replacing improper bushings (3 Rathbun and 2 screw-in) with KWM-sized American system bushings. I replaced the strike click rivet.
I retained the original strike mainspring, which measured 3/4 x 0.0175 – 0.0185 inch. The original time spring was very thick (0.019 inch) and causing mainwheel tooth wear, so I replaced it with a 3/4 x 0.016 x 120 inch mainspring, part no. 280-19-003 from Colonial Clock Shop.
This Ansonia mantel clock has a black enamled iron case, and was made around 1890 – 1910. It has Ansonia’s 4 pillar rectangular movement that uses thinner (weaker) mainsprings than most other American clocks. This reliable movement was used in many Ansonia mantel clocks.
The case is 10 7/8 inches tall, 11 1/2 inches wide, and the dial’s minute track is 4 1/4 inch outside diameter. The length of the minute hand is just under 2 1/8 inches.
This clock has its original, thin mainsprings: both are 3/4 inch wide and 0.0155 inch thick.
Manufactured by the: Ansonia Clock Co., New York, United States of America
This Ansonia oak cased shelf clock is called the “Bedford” according to the label on the back. The 8-day movement strikes the hour and half-hour on a heavy wire or Cathedral gong. The case is 22 1/2 inches tall and 14 7/16 inches wide. The dial has a 4 7/8 inch minute track (outside diameter). The minute hand is just over 2 3/8 inches long from center to tip.
Manufactured by the Ansonia Clock Co., New York, United States of America
Label on back. “Bedford” is the model name.
I first repaired this clock in 2004. The time mainspring recently broke, so my customer brought the clock back to me. I disassembled and cleaned the movement, and replaced both mainsprings (the strike spring was not broken but had a rough action that could indicate breakage in the near future). These Ansonia clock movements use thin mainsprings, so don’t let your clock repairer install the typical strong mainspring (this could cause undue wear).
Dimensions of the original mainsprings: Both are 3/4 inch wide and 0.015 inch thick.
Replacement mainsprings:
Time: 3/4 by 0.0138 by 120 inches (Empire 280-19-009)
Strike: 3/4 by 0.0147 by 120 inches (Empire 280-19-009)
Note: Empire is out of business and I have only a few of these springs left. I need to find another spring suitable for these Ansonia movements.
This Ansonia mantel clock movement was sent to me for repair. After examining it, I thought it might be too far gone to be worth repairing. The customer really wanted it done, and sent me a down payment on the repair, so I proceeded. After lots of cleaning and repair work, it operates like new and looks great too!
The movement has the patent date of June 18, 1882 and says 4 1/2 on the right rear movement leg.
The pendulum is not original to the clock, but it is an old Ansonia pendulum of the correct style that is probably about an inch longer than the original.
The movement before repair
The completed movement
The parts after cleaning.
I disassembled the movement, and let the parts run in the cleaning machine for most of the day. Every half hour or so, I scrubbed the parts with a fine brass bristle brush. (I don’t use a motor driven brush, because the resulting finish doesn’t look right.)
The mainsprings were rusty, so I replaced them. Here are the measurements of the original mainsprings:
Time: 3/4 by 0.0159 inch, Strike: 3/4 x 0.0156 inch. Notice that these are thinner spring than user in many antique American clocks. I replaced them with mainsprings from Empire Clock, part number 280-19-009, measuring as follows:
Time: 3/4 x 0.0142 x 120 inches, Strike: 3/4 x 0.0147 x 120 inches. Notice that these are even thinner than the original springs, but they provide plenty of power, as you can see in the video below. Unfortunately, Empire Clock is out of business, and I have only a few of these springs left in stock.
I made the following repairs to the movement:
Install a new crutch loop (the original had been cut off!);
Shape strike locking lever correctly (it had been badly bent);
Straighten and smooth strike warning lever;
True the escape wheel teeth;
Polish the pallets to remove wear, then adjust the escapement;
Install new pins in 5 pinions (the small gears with wires instead of teeth) and polish and reverse the wires in one pinion;
Replace the click rivets in the main wheel (they were loose);
Made new tension springs for the strike hammer and warning lever;
Straighten the center arbor (the shaft the minute hand goes on);
Replace the suspension rod (the rod that the pendulum hangs on);
This clock with a nice oak case came in for minor adjustments. I think it is a great looking clock! The label inside the back door identifies the model as “Seneca”. It was made around 1894. Tran Duy Ly’s book “Ansonia Clocks and Watches” illustrates a whole series of these cabinet clocks.
The case is 15 1/2 inches tall and 11 3/4 inches wide. The minute hand is 2 3/32 inches long center to tip. The paper dial has 4 1/4 inch time track (outside diameter). Movement has number 5 1/2.
I recently repaired this pretty clock. The back of the case is labeled:
PORCELAIN
Dresden
8-Day Hour and Half Hour
Cathedral Bell Strike
Manufactured Expressly For
The American Wringer Co
No 99 Chambers Street
New York
No. D-. 363
The number 363 is hand written.
The movement is Ansonia’s efficient running 8 day time and strike with the original thin mainsprings.
Time Mainspring: 3/4 x 0.0157 inch loop end
Strike Mainspring: 3/4 x 0.0153 inch loop end
I polished the pivots, installed 11 bushings, replaced the click rivets (so the winding mechanism will be reliable), installed new wires in one pinion, and made and installed new return springs on the hammer and count lever.
This Ansonia “Sharon” cabinet clock has an oak case, an enamel dial, and an 8-day time and strike movement. The case has a top piece that isn’t shown here. The height of the clock (as illustrated without the top piece) is 14 1/4 inches. It is 13 5/8 inches wide, and the enamel dial has a 4 1/4 inch minute track.
This clock is shown in the Ansonia 1894 catalog having a metal dial. The height is given as 17 inches. The list price was $7.50.
The movement is labeled on the back:
ANSONIA CLOCK CO.
USA
NEW YORK
5 1/5
PATENTED
JUNE 18, 1882
I didn’t do a full repair job on this clock. I disassembled the movement, cleaned it, and replaced the broken time mainspring. I installed a 3/4 by 0.0167 by 120 inch mainspring, Timesavers part no. 15959. If I had done a general service and repair, including pivot polishing and bushings, I would have installed an even thinner spring, about 0.0145 inch thick. The original strike mainspring is 0.0155 inch thick.
Note: Shortly after the customer took this clock home, the orignal strike mainspring broke. I replaced it with the same type spring as I used for the time mainspring (3/4 x 0.0165 x 120″ Timesavers or R & M type). If I had done a complete repair, I would have used a thinner mainspring, about 0.0155 inch thick.
