I Acquired It, But I Don't Know What It Is...

[mlcampbell]

On the markdown table at goodwill yesterday. Amazing stuff you find. I do know it's a clock because it looks like one, ticks, tocks, and keeps time.

Here are the pics:

(Mostly) all together:

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d1/okchemyst/full.jpg


The octagonal face assembly, which is pinned with wooden dowels to the clock assembly itself. Never saw anything like that before.

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d1/okchemyst/face.jpg

The back of the front. Metal face, it would seem.

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d1/okchemyst/back.jpg

The "bottom half", so to speak. The little square door flips upward for access to the pendulum bob.

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d1/okchemyst/bottom_half.jpg

Finally, the movement. It is stamped A40 on the lower right. Not sure whether it's original to the clock or not.

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d1/okchemyst/movement.jpg


Weird things about it:

1) No half hour gong
2) Glass broken, but apparently used to reside inside a double brass ring assembly (included and partly visible, not sure how that'd work...)
3) The movement "sets up" at around the 49.5 minute mark and it strikes the hour at 54.5 minutes.
4) The face (once you unpin and remove the hands) comes off by pulling four wooden dowel pins behind the octagonal trimwork.

No label anywhere, no distinguishing markings, except for what was stamped on the movement, and since it's running, I didn't take the movement out to see what was on the back.

[Richard T.]

Looks like what is called an "Anglo American" clock. These have been discussed several times here and a search should locate the threads.

Many of these earlier clocks did not strike the half hour.

I searched for some of the past threads on this topic but didn't find the ones that I was thinking of. Will post a couple of pictures from "Evolution of The Anglo American Clock".

Best,

Richard T.

[laprade]

MIC,

The clock is fairly standard, wooden pegs, no 1/2 hour, etc. I always preferred the dials with the inner brass ring.

[mlcampbell]

Richard and laprade, thanks for the info, I have something to go on from that.

It's probably worth the 39 bucks I paid for it, and it does run.

I'm not sure how to go about replacing the glass, or what that inner brass ring is for, but it was an unexpected find at the Goodwill shop, for certain.

Any idea on age/maker? As I said, the stamp on the brass plate is all I could find.

[laprade]

The brass ring on the dial, is just decoration. Any decent hardware shop that does glass, will cut you a circle. Go for the thinner picture glass (2mm, here), as it would originally have had the older thinner glass, and the modern favourite 3mm in Eire and UK, might not allow the "press" ring to click into place and hold the glass.

As to age: looking at the "tram lines" it is probably quite late. The tram lines, as we in the furniture trade called them, were 1890s to past 1900. It's a "grey area". Someone with a good catalogue book, will be able to be more precise.

[mlcampbell]

The brass ring on the dial, is just decoration. Any decent hardware shop that does glass, will cut you a circle. Go for the thinner picture glass (2mm, here), as it would originally have had the older thinner glass, and the modern favourite 3mm in Eire and UK, might not allow the "press" ring to click into place and hold the glass.

So, it's just a flat piece of glass, then, not curved? That'll make things easier...

I think the ship may have sailed on the click part of the rings working, they look pretty rough.

[mlcampbell]

As to age: looking at the "tram lines" it is probably quite late. The tram lines, as we in the furniture trade called them, were 1890s to past 1900. It's a "grey area". Someone with a good catalogue book, will be able to be more precise.

That's not too bad, though. Over a century at least, and since I wasn't even looking for a clock when I went in, let alone an antique in running order, I'll call it a victory, lol.

I take it by 'tram lines', you're referring to some feature of the case itself that makes you place it in a given time period?

Thanks for the assistance.

-Les

[laprade]

Sorry, keep forgetting that terms vary. Tram lines refer to lengths of machined wood, with parallel grooves. Featured a lot, in sideboards and chests of drawers.

[mlcampbell]

Sorry, keep forgetting that terms vary. Tram lines refer to lengths of machined wood, with parallel grooves. Featured a lot, in sideboards and chests of drawers.

Thanks. And my dyslexia kicked in. The movement is stamped 40A, not A40.

[Thyme]

Interesting Anglo-American clock. (I think Richard collects these, as do I.)

The dial is hand-drawn and inked. It's in fairly good condition and restorable. Your photos are slightly blurred, unfortunately. Maybe we can identify the movement. :?|It would help to see a clear photo of the pendulum.

[Steven Thornberry]

The movement appears to be a New Haven "Y" movement. I'm not sure if it is marked with the New Haven logo; it's not clear.

[mlcampbell]

The movement appears to be a New Haven "Y" movement. I'm not sure if it is marked with the New Haven logo; it's not clear.

I didn't pull it out of the case, but the front of it just has "40A" stamped on it, with no other visible markings.

Thanks for the information. I'm resisting the urge to pull the movement out of the case and turn it over for further ID at the moment because it seems to be running happily.


---Les

[Steven Thornberry]

Looking at the movement again, the position of the EW bridge seems strange for a New Haven Anglo, and the 40A suggests Seth Thomas, but I'm not sure. We need to see if there are markings on the back. I need to look at a couple of mine.

[mlcampbell]

Looking at the movement again, the position of the EW bridge seems strange for a New Haven Anglo, and the 40A suggests Seth Thomas, but I'm not sure. We need to see if there are markings on the back. I need to look at a couple of mine.

I took the movement out of the case tonight and there's not a single solitary mark of any kind on the back plate. 40 A is it, on the lower right side of the front.

[Thyme]

I took the movement out of the case tonight and there's not a single solitary mark of any kind on the back plate. 40 A is it, on the lower right side of the front.

What is the distance between winding ports and the distance from center to either port? Sometimes that can help identify the manufacturer.

Again, a photo of the pendulum might also provide a clue.

[Jeremy Woodoff]

I found this photo on Antiqueclockspriceguide.com. It has similar trim to Les's clock. It was listed under "New Haven," though since I do not currently have a subscription I couldn't find out any other information on it.

[mlcampbell]

What is the distance between winding ports and the distance from center to either port? Sometimes that can help identify the manufacturer.

Again, a photo of the pendulum might also provide a clue.

Distance between ports: 3 1/4", distance between center to either port, 3" even.

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d1/okchemyst/pendulum.jpg

[Steven Thornberry]

The pendulum is definitely a New Haven, and the distances you mention match those on an Anglo I own with a New Haven movement.

[Thyme]

The pendulum is definitely a New Haven, and the distances you mention match those on an Anglo I own with a New Haven movement.

Same here - Two of my Anglos have New Haven movements and the same dimensions. The pendulum is classic a New Haven design and was widely used on Anglos that are not mirror backed.

[mlcampbell]

Thanks again to all who helped with this. I've certainly gotten my money's worth out of entertainment just messing around with it and it's still contentedly ticking away keeping good time.

So, to recap, we're looking at a New Haven, Anglo-American drop dial clock of indeterminate age, but probably around 1890 to 19?? ish.

[Thyme]

Thanks again to all who helped with this. I've certainly gotten my money's worth out of entertainment just messing around with it and it's still contentedly ticking away keeping good time.

So, to recap, we're looking at a New Haven, Anglo-American drop dial clock of indeterminate age, but probably around 1890 to 19?? ish.

Most are from 1880 to 1900. :smile:

[RJSoftware]

Hey mica.

Don't know if you already know this, but, you can bend the J lever so the clock will strike at the top of the hour (12).

You don't even have to disassemble the movement as you can reach in with small needle nose or screw driver and fingers and give that lever a small tweek.

Here's a link to parts terminology.
http://mb.nawcc.org/showthread.php?t=39874
Look near the bottom.

RJ

[mlcampbell]

Update:. I "polished" the rings that hold the glass (bezel??) with steel wool. That left them sort of 'antique' coppery looking and not shiny then went to a custom glass shop where the guy cut a piece of glass 11 7/8 in diameter. It was such a small job, he didn't even know what to charge me, he said just give me five bucks and call it even...

So, the clock is all back together, running, striking at the correct time, etc and my total cash outlay on this deal is $44.99

[Thyme]

Update:. I "polished" the rings that hold the glass (bezel??) with steel wool. That left them sort of 'antique' coppery looking and not shiny then went to a custom glass shop where the guy cut a piece of glass 11 7/8 in diameter. It was such a small job, he didn't even know what to charge me, he said just give me five bucks and call it even...

So, the clock is all back together, running, striking at the correct time, etc and my total cash outlay on this deal is $44.99

Find a few more at that price for me...:D