Berks County tall case clock - ID help and conservation

[Steve Johnson]

Hello all and thank you for having me here!

I recently acquired the tall case clock shown in the photos at a Berks County auction. The auctioneer told me the consigners "weren't really antiques people", and he suspected the clock had come down through one of their families. The clock resided with the consigners in the Oley valley for at least 60 years. I would like to try and identify the maker of the clock and the period, along with anything else that might be learned about it. There is a signature on the back of the face below the movement, and a date that "looks" like 1704, but it's very difficult to make out.

One clue that came with the clock, tags from a Mr. M.G. Reist of West Lawn, showing he serviced the clock from 1943 through 1974. I'm hoping some of you might be familiar with Mr. Reist, and maybe even know of this clock.

Hopefully the photos will tell you all the rest you need to know. Both the case and movement came with significant mildew present. I have treated the case, but I'm looking for someone familiar with this type of hand made works who might be able to clean and restore them for me. Not shown is the pendulum, also hand made, and the heavy cast iron weights.

Thanks in advance for all and anything you can share with me!

Steve Johnson

 

[eemoore]

Hello all and thank you for having me here!

I recently acquired the tall case clock shown in the photos at a Berks County auction. The auctioneer told me the consigners "weren't really antiques people", and he suspected the clock had come down through one of their families. The clock resided with the consigners in the Oley valley for at least 60 years. I would like to try and identify the maker of the clock and the period, along with anything else that might be learned about it. There is a signature on the back of the face below the movement, and a date that "looks" like 1704, but it's very difficult to make out.

One clue that came with the clock, tags from a Mr. M.G. Reist of West Lawn, showing he serviced the clock from 1943 through 1974. I'm hoping some of you might be familiar with Mr. Reist, and maybe even know of this clock.

Hopefully the photos will tell you all the rest you need to know. Both the case and movement came with significant mildew present. I have treated the case, but I'm looking for someone familiar with this type of hand made works who might be able to clean and restore them for me. Not shown is the pendulum, also hand made, and the heavy cast iron weights.

Thanks in advance for all and anything you can share with me!

Steve Johnson View attachment 764058 View attachment 764059 View attachment 764060 View attachment 764061 View attachment 764062 View attachment 764063 View attachment 764064 View attachment 764065 View attachment 764066 View attachment 764067 View attachment 764068 View attachment 764069 View attachment 764070 View attachment 764071

Your clock appears to be a Black Forest Clock movement that was imported from Germany probably somewhere around 1830-1850 or so. The cases were often made in the US and then the movements added. There is considerable posts on this forum concerning these clocks : search for "Black Forest Tall Clocks". The makers of these clocks are often very difficult to discover. Good luck with your clock.

 

[demoman3955]

I like the stickers of the clock shops, and one that even shows how the company aged and changed there stickers over time.

 

[JTD]

There is a signature on the back of the face below the movement, and a date that "looks" like 1704, but it's very difficult to make out.

The does seem to be a name there, but I can only make out part of it. Could you post better photo? - I know it's not easy with words written in pencil. You could try licking your finger and passing it across the words - sometimes that brightens them up temporalily.

I think number you see is No. 4, not 1704.

JTD

 

[Steve Johnson]

Sorry for the delay, these are the best pics I could get without a blacklight.

More importantly, I'm looking for a qualified repair shop near Reading, PA who could clean up the mildew on the works, service them and show me how to properly maintain them.

 

[Box Car Charlie]

Well my own 2 cents , Its late , I'm up at crack of dawn

Appears you have a marriage clock

What does Pendulum look like ?
Weights ?

What is height of clock?

How about a photo of bottom of clock and the tiny feet ?

A photo of inside case Joint work?

A photo of top of case ?

How about photos of the case hardware ? On Front Of Door and Hinges and anything else?

How about pulling dial so we can see front of movement?

I added a photo of your clock and circled / squared off what is very wrong with this picture ?

Love to help you out but I'm in Florida on the Space Coast - I'll see what info I can dig up for you , no promises, but I'll look into it - Cheers From The Florida Space Coast


Cheers

 

[Steve Johnson]

Box Car Charlie,

Thanks for the response. The clock may or may not be a marriage, but the mounting error you noted in your photos was simply the auction house employees not understanding how to reassemble the clock for display. The face and movement are fitted for the case.

Meanwhile, here are pics of the pendulum, hardware and weights for you. I have kept the face and movement quarantined until I can locate a professional to disassemble them (affordably) and remediate the heavy mildew.

 

[Box Car Charlie]

Thanks for the response. The clock may or may not be a marriage, but the mounting error you noted in your photos was simply the auction house employees not understanding how to reassemble the clock for display. The face and movement are fitted for the case.

Meanwhile, here are pics of the pendulum, hardware and weights for you. I have kept the face and movement quarantined until I can locate a professional to disassemble them (affordably) and remediate the heavy mildew.

Evening Steve,
Thanks for the photos - The Mildew and Mold are easy to remove, it takes time to treat it - the process I use takes months and will never grow back, { The Cost is not bad - it is more time in waiting for treatment to take hold properly }{ Black Mold and Mold in General will spread so it is smart keeping it out of clock - Mold will make some people sick - I see you already understand this by keeping it away from other things / this a open forum / so I stated it in case someone else / not knowing reads it } you might have someone up there that might take it on., I'm the younger one of a group of guys - 61 years old, most of the guys who were doing these - are no long with us, you will see some of their older posts and under their name the word deceased, along with others who never used the net for anything - We are merely caretakers of the past.
I will blow up the photos and see what I can come up with - your door lock has been changed, so that zips that in the butt.
What I need is size of clock when you get a chance The Height please ?
I'll try and have some answers for you by next week. I might not get back on here for a few days. It is my busy season

Cheers From The Florida Space Coast
Box Car Charlie

 

[Box Car Charlie]

Hello Steve
From my research so far Good News Your Clock in my Opinion is NOT , I repeat not a Marriage
Your only item I see that has been changed is your is the door lock
This happens when a clock maker has no clue how to take a lock apart and repair it , hence it is changed out, and it is clear in the photos along with key hole cover
I added some photos of Antique locks that are German just as a example See Below and added one of yours I have been doing restorations well over 38 years
Now back to your clock - the area in which you live - PA in General has German Immigrant's, and a good many of them were wood workers and highly skilled - long story - little time, they were not all Amish { No Offence to any body just stating history} - you will find a lot of Bibles in German up in PA and there was a Newspaper in the North that was printed in German - moving on you have a nice early clock- does not matter what you paid for it - you do not see many of these in good shape. Congrads on your find - take care of it
Most dials were painted by women back when / just FYI
I will try to chase down the rest for you when time allows - I have watches to fix this weekend and couple clocks so you won't get a reply , this weekend - just thought you would like some good news on your clock
The photos of locks are from German Lathe Boxes - but make a point on Craftsmanship
Cheers From The Florida Space Coast
Box Car Charlie