ANTIQUE CLOCKS

There was a time when key-wind clocks ruled supreme. The Industrial Revolution brought about the biggest of names in clock manufacture such as Ansonia, New Haven, E. Howard, Chelsea, Seth Thomas and many, more. There is a romance in collecting old clocks just listening to the tick tock.

Clocks are either 30 hour or 8 day. This means when you have to re-wind the clock.

Shelf-clocks go above the mantle and tall clocks or grandfather clocks are just that. Some early grandfather clocks tower some 8 feet or even taller. The best survivors may be found in New England museums such as the museum of fine arts in Boston.

Clocks are made up of their brass movements. Gears drive the movements which are dictated by the springs. Cabinetmakers fashioned their talents on the wood cases. Oak is the predominant form of cabinet wood. Talented carvers fashioned dynamic finials and splats and paw feet. as an antique dealer and estate auctioneer I have delighted in handling hundreds of key-wind and weight-driven .. mostly American clocks.

The listing of antique clock designs include 1. Banjo 2. Regulator 3. Gallery 4. Schoolhouse..5. Calendar..6. Power House..7. Advertising..8. Connecticut Shelf..9. O-Gee..10. Jeweler's Regulator..11. Gingerbread..12. Grecian..13. Cottaage..14. Parliament (English) ..15 Onion..16. China Case..17. Angelus..18 Novelty and Automobile..19.Steeple..20.French....21. Cast Iron Front..22. Chelsea (Ships Clock) 23. Cuckoo..

This is a great beginning to horology or the study of clocks. ;American Shelf and Wall Clocks is a marvelous book to own. Written and illustrated by Robert W.D. Ball Schiffler Publishing, Atglen, PA. 1.610.593.1777.

It never ceases to amaze me how  old clocks keep surfacing centuries later. Most of the time clocks are stored in dry attics... no pun intended. When you least expect it a horological beauty surfaces. It is wonderful. The antique clock hobby is worldwide. As one antique dealer's sign said "Seek And Ye Shall Find." Be careful as I got "bit by the dog" early on. I wound up my grandfather's cobbler's regulator and it exploded in my hands requiring stitches to my left thumb! OUCH. But that was back in 1954.

I love old clocks and old coins and old stamps and old watches...these can be hobbies that last a lifetime... and it is never to late to own your first antique clock. The Digital Age brinks old clocks to new light. BONG!