Help With an Old Clock

[fyrffytr1]

My wife inherited this clock from her father when he passed away 33 years ago. According to family history it was passed down to him from his father who got it from his father who got it from his father. So that makes it my wife's great great grandfathers clock. There are no markings on it other than "Made in USA" on the front of the dial. The original key is broken but we have a replacement. The small glass held kerosene which was placed in the bottom of the case to lubricate the movement. The clock does work and will chime on the hour and half hour.

 

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[fyrffytr1]

A few more pictures.

 

[BosnMate]

We have one that's a family heirloom, and it has 1877 penciled on the back along with some other writing. We were told by an antique dealer that penciled 1877 was a repair date. The
dealer also said those clocks were given out by feed stores. You purchase so much feed and you get a clock. The dealer also said some of our best antiques, china, etc. were also
given as gimmicks to get people to buy more feed and seed.

 

[duggap]

If that is to date back to the middle of the 1800s, would it have used the term "made in" that far back?

 

[huntsman53]

If that is to date back to the middle of the 1800s, would it have used the term "made in" that for back?

I wonder that as well! However, the clock has a look of 1870's to 1890's, so I guess it is possible. The clock can likely be identified and/or dated by the movement by having the maker's name engraved on it or by the type of movement it has. If I can find my' "Complete Price Guide to Watches", I will look for some info. However, without a pic of the movement or a name, it would be a futile search! It would be best to take the clock to a Watch/Pocket Watch/Clock Repair Shop as most of these folks that repair old clocks will be able to identify and date the clock's movement, may even know the maker's name. The clock can be serviced at the same time as the servicing will probably not cost much more than opening it up to try to identify the maker, the movement and date it was made.

Also, I believe that the Watch/Pocket Watch/Clock Repair Shop can repair the original key, so that it works.


Frank

 

[Mackaydon]

I'm with 'huntsman 53' on the date range; possibly to 1900.
The pattern looks like what is termed 'gingerbread'.
You may wish to check out on Goolge-- Ansonia Clock Co. (NY), Waterbury Clock Co. and E.N. Welch who each made gingerbread mantle clocks with the 'gingerbread' pattern in this time frame.
Don...

 

[sutphin]

AH HECK THAT OLE CLOCK IS WORTH NOTHING GO ON AND SEND IT TO ME.THAT IS A BEAUTIFUL CLOCK WITH PRETTY MOVEMENT OLD OR NEW WHO CARES DANG THING SURE IS NICE . WHAT A FAMILY HEIRLOOM COOL.

 

[Johncoho]

The clock could be made be Seth Thomas, Waterbury, Ansonia, or any of the known clock companies. It was called a kitchen clock, or shelf clock and some had alarm mechanisms mounted below the movement. Late 1800's to early 1900's would date it reasonably close.. I have serviced and repaired many of these early clocks for years. Fairly simple 2 train movements. Time and strike. Some models and manufacturers are more collectible than others. There was usually a paper label mounted inside the case, but not many labels survive the test of time. Also the kerosene actually did nothing to lubricate the movement. The correct way to lubricate it is to disassemble the movement, make any necessary repairs, rebush, repivot, etc. then clean it and reassemble it and oil it with good clock oil.