Tick Tock

-
Okay I thought to myself, do I need another hobby? Well, it appears that I do. Ever since picking up our Ridgeway, Hamilton Country Grandfather clock  in the fall of 2012 I have been awestruck with clocks.  About ten years ago we bought a Seth Thomas Adamantine and while very attractive to look at it has not been run much largely due to the fact that it really does not keep very good time and yes, maybe it needs a good cleaning.

So, we are driving up to Malgash Saturday last and just for a lark we stop by a thrift shop in Wallace. We walk in and there is everything imaginable complete with that certain thrift shop odor. Lots of clocks, mostly electric but what I want is a mechanical wall clock.

What I found in a corner ticking away was a Daniel Dakota from I think would be around the 60s. Whereas the Ridgeway would be considered the Buick of clocks, the Daniel Dakota is more like a Kia. It works but I really do not expect it to last long and if it breaks I think I'll dismantle it so that I can learn more about the mechanicals. It looks pretty good on the wall and the case is in reasonably good shape. It actually keeps good time and it gongs on the hour and half hour.

While researching the net I found that originally they came with a bottom trim piece. I can only imagine that the previous owner took it off so that it could be placed on a shelf or mantle. I think it looks okay without it. At just over $50 the price was right.

Anyway, I am now on the hunt for other clocks. My goal, a Seth Thomas #2 Regulator in Mahogany.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Seth Thomas Round Top Mantel Clock

-
Image
Seth Thomas Dome clock I wrote about this clock a few months back and at that time it was only running for a couple of days. I was pretty happy with my purchase since I had picked it up at a junk / antique store just about a 1/2 hours drive from here. It has, in fact been running wonderfully for several months now. It's a bit idiosyncratic in that despite being an 8-day clock it does not like being wound right down because the count wheel for the strike gets confused and strikes the hour on the half hour instead. Could be it needs some adjustment. Keeping it wound without it stopping has proven to work. It also ticks quite loudly but it is in our dining room and certainly not intrusive in that location. It has been oiled and seems to runs just fine. The walnut case is in excellent condition and a good rubbing with Murphy's Soap has virtually restored the cabinet. I make it a point not to redo the clock finish if it has minor nicks and scratches. I have an assortment of ...
Read more

Seth Thomas Gothic Beehive Mantle Clock

-
Image
Seth Thomas Beehive Mantle clock circa 1928 This is a Seth Thomas Gothic beehive mantle clock. The face has Henry Birks & Sons inscribed on it and obviously the company contracted the clock out to Seth Thomas at that time. The movement is an 89AL which was used in a variety of clock between 1922 and 1928 so I would put this clock at around the 1928 period. There is a little plaque inside the back access door giving the reseller location which in this case is Amherst, Nova Scotia. I has been running all day now and I am just waiting to see whether it gains or loses time. I will know in about 24 hours. The beat is good but the clock chimes the hours on the half hour which is obviously not supposed to happen. It means a minute hand pin adjustment once I know that the clock can run steadily. As is typical of these old clocks there was a lot of dirt and grime on the finish. Rather than take the dramatic step of refinishing the clock it is far easier to take a good cleaner, in my...
Read more

Photography Rant – Is It A Rant Or Just Some Observations?

-
Image
Panasonic G6 with 45-175mm zoom On my last holiday trips outside this country I was surprised to see so many people using cell phones to take photos. Perhaps I shouldn’t be surprised, the world of technology is changing and changing very rapidly. I was also equally surprised to see so few people using cameras and most of what I saw were larger DSLRs (I am a mirrorless user myself). Some were even using their iPad which in and of itself is rather amusing to watch. Cell phones have virtually hosed the lower digital camera market and must be a blow to the bottom line of camera companies who saw much of their profit in these small entry level cameras go out the window in recent years. So, along comes the cell phone, the new Kodak Instamatic.  If you are into a phone contract as most people are you might as well take advantage of as many features of the phone as you can and that includes taking photos and immediately posting them for all the world to see. Cell phones have o...
Read more