A Piece I Hope to Inherit.

This clock was owned by my grandfather and gifted to my father who lovingly keeps it in good order. I found a clock maker to fix it up about a year ago and was lucky enough to see the movement ticking away inside. It was fixed last year in time for Christmas and I hope one day it will inhabit my own home. 

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It's got two key holes, so I assume it strikes the hour?

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PoorMansRolex

It's got two key holes, so I assume it strikes the hour?

Yes yes! The hour and the half hour! I love it so much. It’s the oldest time piece in the family collection. 

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HooliganIX

Yes yes! The hour and the half hour! I love it so much. It’s the oldest time piece in the family collection. 

Mine only strikes the hour. Supposedly the pedantry is that counting of the hour is a strike, whereas a musical ditty is a chime. 

More crap I've learned in the last few months after getting my inherited kitchen clock is that the the opposing keys (one for the bell, the other for the actual timekeeping) typically turn from the top toward the center. And if you are a malcontent that somehow doesn't want bell strikes, you can simply not wind that part.

I heard that these things typically can expect accuracy within a minute a week. Mine seems to be there. Accuracy nerds will have a field day making sure the hour strike is as dead on as possible. Tweaking is done by adjusting pendulum length with a thumb nut. Longer pendulum takes longer, goes slower and shorter goes faster.

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Love it!  I recently took possession of this beauty from my grandparents when they sold off their vacation home:  

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Unfortunately, the mechanism keeps stopping.  I strongly suspect that it requires lubrication.

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PoorMansRolex

Mine only strikes the hour. Supposedly the pedantry is that counting of the hour is a strike, whereas a musical ditty is a chime. 

More crap I've learned in the last few months after getting my inherited kitchen clock is that the the opposing keys (one for the bell, the other for the actual timekeeping) typically turn from the top toward the center. And if you are a malcontent that somehow doesn't want bell strikes, you can simply not wind that part.

I heard that these things typically can expect accuracy within a minute a week. Mine seems to be there. Accuracy nerds will have a field day making sure the hour strike is as dead on as possible. Tweaking is done by adjusting pendulum length with a thumb nut. Longer pendulum takes longer, goes slower and shorter goes faster.

Haha that’s what I understand from this. My father isn’t one for accuracy. He’s just happy to have it running. This one loses time but I think it’s because the pendulum is too high. I love that it strikes, it makes me happy to hear the gong go off. I don’t know if I’d ever want one that chimes. Like music I play for myself eventually I will get sick of it. If it’s a chime it has to be something I can hear every hour on the hour. 😅

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JBird7986

Love it!  I recently took possession of this beauty from my grandparents when they sold off their vacation home:  

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Unfortunately, the mechanism keeps stopping.  I strongly suspect that it requires lubrication.

It looks beautiful! If you’re in the South California region I can share the name of the clock maker with you. Wasn’t to expensive! 

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HooliganIX

It looks beautiful! If you’re in the South California region I can share the name of the clock maker with you. Wasn’t to expensive! 

Other side of the country, unfortunately.  South Florida.

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I've only been there once and know nothing about the watch community! Sorry! 

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JBird7986

Love it!  I recently took possession of this beauty from my grandparents when they sold off their vacation home:  

Image

Unfortunately, the mechanism keeps stopping.  I strongly suspect that it requires lubrication.

Amazing 

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Nice timepiece

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PoorMansRolex

Mine only strikes the hour. Supposedly the pedantry is that counting of the hour is a strike, whereas a musical ditty is a chime. 

More crap I've learned in the last few months after getting my inherited kitchen clock is that the the opposing keys (one for the bell, the other for the actual timekeeping) typically turn from the top toward the center. And if you are a malcontent that somehow doesn't want bell strikes, you can simply not wind that part.

I heard that these things typically can expect accuracy within a minute a week. Mine seems to be there. Accuracy nerds will have a field day making sure the hour strike is as dead on as possible. Tweaking is done by adjusting pendulum length with a thumb nut. Longer pendulum takes longer, goes slower and shorter goes faster.

Oh no... I can feel a new rabbithole approaching, pray for my wallet...

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Nuclear1711

Oh no... I can feel a new rabbithole approaching, pray for my wallet...

If one is an antiquarian or true mechanism lover, vintage clocks are great. Like many things (low end cameras, typewriters, pocket watches, sewing machines, etc) the supply is huge and the demand for commonplace examples is low, so it needn't be too pricey. 

These were household items and meant to be generally maintained by everyday people. As with watches, if something is of unknown history, it's probably best to pay for full service and know where you stand.  IME that's about the same as a basic watch service, as the labor is pretty much the same. 

As I mentioned to someone recently, it seems that most clock repair places will have several around for sale. As with many of the aforementioned items, shipping can be risky. And presumably the stuff a clock repairman sells has been serviced and is good to go.

I'm obviously biased. I took another clock that a family member was using as decoration and am having it serviced. I go berserk when I tour historic homes and there are several non-functioning clocks around. Well, I think one knows if this sort of thing is for them or not.

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RaulC1984

Nice timepiece

Thank you! 

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Do you know more about it make, age, etc?  Looks like an american style from the first half of the 20th century but I'm not sure?

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This is my inherited clock; an American (Connecticut) Gingerbread from the turn of the century.  It belonged to my Grandfather and later passed to my Mother.  I asked if I could have it and she initially said no.  About a year later I had forgotten about it, and over the holidays my Mom asked me if I still wanted the clock.  It went home with me that very night about 25 years ago.

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SurferJohn

Do you know more about it make, age, etc?  Looks like an american style from the first half of the 20th century but I'm not sure?

You are right about the century. It is almost a 100 years old according to the papers and my father. From what I've been told my grandfather bought it in Mexico. But the brand is from Germany. I am not sure more than that. My grandfather passed some time ago so I can not get anymore details than that.   

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SurferJohn
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This is my inherited clock; an American (Connecticut) Gingerbread from the turn of the century.  It belonged to my Grandfather and later passed to my Mother.  I asked if I could have it and she initially said no.  About a year later I had forgotten about it, and over the holidays my Mom asked me if I still wanted the clock.  It went home with me that very night about 25 years ago.

That is gorgeous! I am glad to see that it is also remaining in your family! I even love the name! 

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This is my grandfathers, though technically was my great grandfathers.  Dad passed it on to me last year, and hopefully my daughter wants it when she’s an adult

keeps amazing time despite being mid 1800s and with a hand hewn gear train 😂🥰

made in Amlech Wales, where my family is from a couple generations ago 

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Great that you’re looking to keep your dads clock in the family.  The art deco style numerals and gong are fantastic 

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SurferJohn
Image

This is my inherited clock; an American (Connecticut) Gingerbread from the turn of the century.  It belonged to my Grandfather and later passed to my Mother.  I asked if I could have it and she initially said no.  About a year later I had forgotten about it, and over the holidays my Mom asked me if I still wanted the clock.  It went home with me that very night about 25 years ago.

Great clock!  Love these old ones and those of us keeping them in the family 

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PoorMansRolex

If one is an antiquarian or true mechanism lover, vintage clocks are great. Like many things (low end cameras, typewriters, pocket watches, sewing machines, etc) the supply is huge and the demand for commonplace examples is low, so it needn't be too pricey. 

These were household items and meant to be generally maintained by everyday people. As with watches, if something is of unknown history, it's probably best to pay for full service and know where you stand.  IME that's about the same as a basic watch service, as the labor is pretty much the same. 

As I mentioned to someone recently, it seems that most clock repair places will have several around for sale. As with many of the aforementioned items, shipping can be risky. And presumably the stuff a clock repairman sells has been serviced and is good to go.

I'm obviously biased. I took another clock that a family member was using as decoration and am having it serviced. I go berserk when I tour historic homes and there are several non-functioning clocks around. Well, I think one knows if this sort of thing is for them or not.

If we are ever allowed to do videos I’ll put up one showing my great grandfathers clock.  Mid 1800s from the UK.  Keeps better time than some modern watches and watching the gong go is beautiful 

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Fieldwalker

This is my grandfathers, though technically was my great grandfathers.  Dad passed it on to me last year, and hopefully my daughter wants it when she’s an adult

keeps amazing time despite being mid 1800s and with a hand hewn gear train 😂🥰

made in Amlech Wales, where my family is from a couple generations ago 

Image

Great that you’re looking to keep your dads clock in the family.  The art deco style numerals and gong are fantastic 

That is so beautiful! I hope that I can say the same with my clock as your family has done with yours! My father's clock runs a little slow, but she is easy to adjust! I hope your daughter wants to inherit your family's clock!