Antique clocks that are still in service.

[Robert Ling]

Do any of you ever see antique clocks that are still in service in a public place ?
I never do, that I can think of.

 

[itbme1987]

our town library has a beautiful really old tall case clock, and the library in the next town has a weight driven seth thomas clock...i couldnt tell you what it was

 

[eskmill]

For one, the Church of the Angels Seth Thomas #16 tower clock in Pasadena California installed June 1889 still keeping time and tolling the hours.
Photo below of the church circa 1991 and another the ST clockworks with the Bishop, Vicar and the late J. Wilbur Spears who coordinated putting the clock back in service ca 1986.

 

[eskmill]

Photos that belong in the previous reply.

 

[lkjjkl]

I make it a point to encourage my favorite businesses to put one up. Especially in restaurants. It raises awareness of these clocks and people love them. Plus if I was a local clock shop it would be an advertising opportunity for me.

 

[Les harland]

In the UK there are quite a few Church clocks that are antiques
Most people who see them have no idea what is on the other side of the face
One I used to wind , Welwyn. Hertfordshire, is dated 1803
It is by no means the oldest in the area

 

[new2clocks]

My alma mater, Drexel University, in Philadelphia, has an Astronomical Musical Clock, circa 1773, in the Main Building of the University. It was created by David Rittenhouse. To my knowledge, it is still there ticking away.

I will try to link the web site. Check it out.

http://www.drexel.edu/univrel/drexelcollection/decorativearts.asp

Regards.

 

[jacks61fd]

In Cape May, a resort town at the southern tip of New Jersey I saw an "Ansonia General" in the lobby of one of the hotels.

 

[gvasale]

are you talking the real 100 year + level of antique clocks, or the generic 25 year fluff? Original condition or helped?

 

[Les harland]

My alma mater, Drexel University, in Philadelphia, has an Astronomical Musical Clock, circa 1773, in the Main Building of the University. It was created by David Rittenhouse. To my knowledge, it is still there ticking away.

It should be still ticking
When it was made clocks were designed and built to last

 

[Ansomnia]

I had to make a trip to Toronto the other day to have my car repaired. As I wandered around town like a lost soul to kill time I noticed several tower clocks. These two kept accurate time.

The tower clock was on an old low-rise office building north of Yonge and College and the church clock was on St. James Cathedral.

Interestingly, both clock faces looked similar - had a segmented 6-pointed star glass(?) dial centre. I wonder if there is a historical connection.

I think there are actually quite a few public clocks if you look for them. Quite a few are old and antique. But I suspect most are now using some form of electrical timing and power source.


Michael

 

[Sooth]

I have seen a beautiful regulator in the Kingston Ontario Via Rail station. Other than this, there are a few working tower clocks in a few places (Kingston, Prescott, Morrisburg, etc).

 

[Sooth]

That church is St James in downtown Toronto. I visited, but they wouldn't let me see the clock without an appointment.

 

[J. A. Olson]

Fond Du Lac library has a large gong chime clock. It still works, but, the chime measures are thrown off sequence every week.

Nearby is a WELS church with a vintage clock tower that strikes the hour on a real bell.

 

[Robert Ling]

I have seen some tower clocks and street clocks, some running and some not.

I've also seen a few at the Huntington library in Pasadena ( or is it San Marino ? ) And I think they keep them running ?

 

[Russkcpa]

When I worked for my father at E. Howard in Waltham back in the 70's there was a Number 6 figure 8 in the main entrance that I wound each Friday
What a massive clock-so beautiful
I always remember when Beckman tried to burn down the factory they caught someone (I believe Beckman's brother) carrying the clock out the door
At least Beckman knew the value, even in the 70's of the clock
Russ

 

[itbme1987]

oh i forgot to mention in my dinky small town...we have a tower clock that was just installed in the church....a few of the chaper members i belong to restored it and put it in, the only thing is that they dont have the strike hooked up since the bat dung hasnt been cleaned up yet

 

[Jeremy Woodoff]

The Ottendorfer Branch Library is located in the East Village of New York at 135 2nd Avenue. It is the oldest library building in the New York system, having been built in 1883. The exterior and interior are New York City landmarks. There were two non-working Seth Thomas No. 2 regulators in the building when restoration work began on the interior several years ago. When the work was completed, I noticed that the clocks had disappeared. It turned out they had been stored in a work room and no one knew what to do with them.

I offered to see if I could get them running and reinstalled. The first one pictured is on the first floor and had been electrified. The movement and weight were gone and the pendulum stick was broken. Since the library did not want to fund the purchase of an old or reproduction mechanical movement, I installed a quartz movement with a remote seconds and replaced the later hands with a design similar to the originals. I repaired the pendulum and fixed it in place.

The second clock is on the second floor and was complete. The movement just needed a typical servicing. Though the clock is pictured at the foot of the stairs, it has since been moved back to a more central location on the floor, where it was originally.

Besides many functioning tower and sidewalk clocks in New York, there are a number of antique clocks in City Hall that are still in service. At one time I could have taken photos of them for posting, but these days I doubt I could even get in to see them.

Jeremy

 

[clocks4u]

There is a Seth Thomas #18 hanging in the only bank in Independence Oregon, which is a small town southwest of the Salem (state capital). It's original to the bank and is owned by the Historical Society of Independence, or so I was told. If the bank changes hands, the clock stays. Next time I'm down that way, I'll see if I can take a picture of it.

There also is a nice 4 sided E. Howard street clock in the West Moreland neighbor area in Portland. Also, the Union train station has a working tower clock, which I have been fortunate enough to have seen in person. Long climb, but very cool.

Chris

 

[gvasale]

There is in Boston an old clock made in 1760, still operating as a timepiece. Bell was shut of during building renovations, and it may be that parts were lost. Also, a Simon Willard timepiece in the Old State House, but its a bit newer. There are a handful or more of Howard, Howard and Davis, and Stphenson, Howard and Davis; Turrett and Marine too from the +/- 1850s. Maybe some others I don't know of yet.

 

[Tom McIntyre]

We also have a forum on this message board devoted to public clocks.

 

[tymfxr]

I purchased a 71 page publication on the David Rittenhouse clock from the author 'Ronald Hoppes', a member of the NAWCC. It has the history of the maker with complete details of the mechanism. I would imagine the NAWCC lending library has copies.

 

[chrsvor25]

Theres a really nice grandfather clock at St Lukes Hospital in bethlehem, PA in the old lobby. I dont know how many tubes it has, but its more then 5. I remember the first time i saw it when i was a little kid and I use to look at it when i was either in the hospital or visiting someone. I dont even think i came to eye level with the pendulum. The hospital is situated near alot of old mansions....sadly...most of those mansions are now doctors offices and hospital buildings

 

[ShawnHVoils]

Centre College just south of Lexington, in Danville, KY has a Seth Thomas double -dial office wall clock that I'm pretty sure still runs. Until recently our local Kentucky Fried Chicken had a New Haven store regulator on the wall that was always running. They remodeled back in the spring and now it's gone. I haven't been back since.

 

[Joe Hollen]

Les:

That clock is known as the "Rittenhouse Masterpiece". It was pictured and described in Chris Bailey's book. (the book title, if I recall, is: "200 Years of American Clocks and Watches"). It's probably THE finest tall clock in the country !

Joe

 

[cazboy]

I have seen some tower clocks and street clocks, some running and some not.

I've also seen a few at the Huntington library in Pasadena ( or is it San Marino ? ) And I think they keep them running ?

Robert L, you're right on both counts. Huntington Library has many gorgeous antique (100+ years old) clocks in various spots. I used to live in San Marino and I would stop there to stroll almost daily on my way back home from Pasadena City College.

San Marino has a nice street clock that is NOT antique - it was installed sometime within the last 15 years (not sure when). Here it is:

 

[Gary Sullivan]

There are several Early American tall case clocks on view in various Massachusetts town libraries. Here are some that I've seen (I read a lot): Weston, Simon Willard; Hingham, Joshua Wilder; Hanover, Calvin Bailey; Lakeville, Josiah Gooding; Sharon, Elnathan Taber; Carlisle, Nathaniel Edwards also Nathaniel Mulliken; Hanson, John Bailey. Most are running. There is also a Dutch tall clock in the Boston Athenaeum. Has Anyone seen others?
Gary

 

[Sam Cogley]

The courthouse in the county where I work was built in 1901, and it has the classic four-faced tower clock on the central tower. I'll try to get someone to let me up there so I can see the clock from the inside sometime.

 

[Sam Cogley]

I talked to the county commissioner today, sometime soon when I'm at the courthouse he's going to let check out the clock in the tower. Pictures to come.

 

[harold bain]

Looking forward to seeing the movement running that great looking tower clock, Sam. You may want to start a new thread in the tower clock forum for it.