Clocks in the Museum

[Phil G4SPZ]

I am a volunteer and completely self-taught amateur horologist to the Black Country Living Museum in Dudley, UK and many kind members of this MB have given me excellent advice during some recent tricky repairs.

I've been asked to post a few pictures of the clocks I restore in their museum settings, and as I've had a few successes recently I thought I'd start a thread. I plan to add further pictures as more clocks are returned to operation. The Museum has, currently, 28 clocks in its collections, of which 22 are on display to visitors. As of today, 15 are restored and working. When I started this work in 2017, less than five clocks were working, so progress has been steady albeit slow - there's a limit on how much can be done during one day a week!

Restored Enfield and Perivale 14-day striking clocks in 1930s room settings:



Jerome 30-hour alarm in the 1910 setting of the Tilted Cottage's 'brewhouse':



Kienzle 14-day striking clock in the 1924 setting of the Through House kitchen:



Small 30-hour pin pallet lever-escapement clock in the 1920s Toll House:



I have several more to tackle over the next couple of years!

Phil

 

[D.th.munroe]

Very nice Phil, keep up the great work!

Also thank you, now I know what 2 of the empty cases I have are! lol
Dan.

 

[Isaac]

Very nice. Keep up the great work, and I love seeing clocks in their natural setting!

 

[Rockin Ronnie]

Nice work Phil. Do you have any wall clocks?
Ron

 

[Phil G4SPZ]

Thank you!

We certainly do have wall clocks, Ronnie. I’ll show you a few pictures, although I have not personally worked on any of these clocks yet. The first one is non-working but the other two are currently operational.

The locations are: the Pawnbroker’s Shop; St James’s School; and the Bottle and Glass Inn.



Phil

 

[Phil G4SPZ]

Here’s my most recent restoration, back on the wall of the Anchormaker’s House parlour. The clock is by HAC and had been previously bodged, and needed a fair bit of work doing to it. The pendulum was missing and has been replaced by a Hermle branded item.

It took me two months, on and off, one day a week:



Phil

 

[markiemark]

Very cool. Makes me think, how many clocks makes a museum, I have 15 in the house. Thanks for sharing Phil.

 

[Joseph Bautsch]

A really neat job. Keep us up to date on your work. The top on the HAC is missing, are there any plans to replace it?

 

[PatH]

It's wonderful to see the clocks as they are displayed in the museum. How many different houses are included on the Museum grounds? Are they all from different eras?

 

[Phil G4SPZ]

Hi all, and thanks for your kind comments.

There are around 20 clocks on display in the Museum, in several room settings dating from about 1890 to 1940. However there are many more clocks in the collection, hidden away in storage and yet to be tackled.

I’d assumed that the HAC was complete as I found it, as I’ve seen pictures of similar clocks with flat tops, and nothing seems to be missing from the case! We have a second clock in an almost identical case, which also has a plain flat top. I reckon these date from c.1910 but I haven’t yet identified the model.

Phil

 

[Joseph Bautsch]

If there is a slot just behind the top front molding that would indicate that it had a top at one time. Many of these clocks had tops, that's why I was asking.

 

[Phil G4SPZ]

No slot as far as I recall, Joseph, but I have seen images of clocks of this type with splendid carved or moulded tops. There are also plain ones, and I guess that’s what ours are.

The houses in the Museum represent a relatively poor working-class area of the English Midlands, and we have many ‘cheap’ clocks, so it doesn’t surprise me that many of them are going to be entry-level models. Our most expensive clock is probably the 1904 Ansonia ‘El Regalo’ which I hope to put on display in the parlour of the pub!

 

[woodlawndon]

I really like the displays Phil, they look authentic. Nothing wrong with cheap clocks, they made 10s of thousands of them, that's what the majority of folks had then. When I see some of the majestic clocks shown on this site from several hundred years ago I wonder who could have afforded them, probably only royalty and the very well to do. I like the work you're doing and am happy that you post them in this manner.
Don

 

[Phil G4SPZ]

Many thanks, Don. I would be nervous working on very expensive clocks anyway!

I am lucky to be able to repair and restore a wide range of clocks and practice my skills without the expense of having to buy the clocks myself, and the clock collection is on show to thousands of Museum visitors every year. My aim is to get them all working by the end of next year - I am about 75% of the way there.

Phil

 

[Phil G4SPZ]

If there is a slot just behind the top front molding that would indicate that it had a top at one time. Many of these clocks had tops, that's why I was asking.

You were right! I've just reviewed a number of my own photos of this particular clock, and sure enough, as you suggested, there is indeed a slot behind the top front moulding.

I'm going to a Clock Fair later this year, and will see what (if anything) can be obtained to fit - there are usually some suppliers of turned and decorative woodwork.

 

[Joseph Bautsch]

If you can't find anyhing at the Clock Fair you might try "oldandnewtimes" on eBay. He is in the UK and has several of different styles for these types of clocks. There is "some assembly required" along with you doing the finish. They are not real expensive because he sends you the top unassembled and unfinished. I just received one of his tops in todays mail for a small Junghans very much like the style you show in your photos.

 

[Phil G4SPZ]

Very interesting, thanks for that information Joseph. The 'eagle' could be a good option.

Phil

 

[Joseph Bautsch]

On the one I got I had the option, eagle or the horse. I have several clocks with eagles so the horse won out.

 

[Bruce Alexander]

Unless you have photos to work from, you might want to be conservative in your restoration work Phil. I'm sure you've considered the possibility that the clock, as found, is how it was acquired by the previous owner(s). Do your research. You'll learn a lot regardless of what you ultimately do. What does the Curator think?

 

[Joseph Bautsch]

Finding a photo or previous ownership of the clock would probably not help with its original look. The manufacturer of these clocks changed the style and look frequently. These clocks are not museum quality and tracing previous owners would be disappointing. The display by the museum is evidently to show what a room would look like during this time period. A top and finials of a style for this period is probably as close to original as anyone can get. As Time After Time suggests check with the Curator ans see what they want. Since this is a time period display they may want to have a clock as close to a correct look as possible.

 

[Phil G4SPZ]

Thanks, both, for those interesting insights. I'll certainly ask the Curator, but I sort-of "know" what she will say... we have two similar clocks, both of which have flat-topped cases devoid of any imbellishment or ornament, and they have been in place for probably three decades, so she's going to say "leave well alone".

The room settings portrayed in the Museum represent British industrial working-class living spaces, so it's perfectly reasonable to expect that the clocks on display would have been relatively modest or even cheap examples of the types then available. The era portrayed in the rooms that these clocks appear in is around 1910-1920. I have seen many pictures of Vienna-style wall clocks sporting handsome and ornate tops, surmounted by eagles, horses and finials, but equally I've seen several with plain, flat tops, which would have been more suitable for wall mounting in low-ceilinged domestic rooms anyway.

Again, many thanks and I appreciate everyone's interest.

Phil

 

[Joseph Bautsch]

Thinking this out a bit further. We are looking at the clock as an antique, but in this display it would be "new". If a plain flat top clock was more appropriate for this display then this clock should not be there. With the slot in the top indicating it should have a top it's not appropriate to be in the display. The clock is from the 1910-1920 time period and in this display would have been "new" and would have had the top and its finials. Phil, you and the Curator can have fun figuring this one out.

 

[Phil G4SPZ]

Your argument is logically a very powerful one, and I can’t disagree with it in any way. It’s certainly an approach that is adopted elsewhere in the Museum, which helps reinforce the argument that all Vienna-style wall clocks should have decorative tops. My only slight worry was whether these clocks could originally have been purchased from new without the decorative top being fitted, or whether they all had tops and ours have just got lost over the years.

My approach will be to present the Curator with a selection of photographs of similar clocks. These little projects are interesting, and as Time After Time says, the research is always fun.

 

[Phil G4SPZ]

Just to thank you again, Joseph, especially for the link to the UK based supplier of replacement mouldings, which offers a very comprehensive range.

I've done quite a lot of searching online for pictures of HAC Vienna wall clocks, and there's also a very helpful thread on this Message Board which contains not only photos of clocks but also extracts from HAC catalogues. I have complied a short report for the Curator, and confidently expect her to authorise some modest expenditure to restore these clocks to what they would have looked like in 1910.

Phil

 

[Joseph Bautsch]

There are several providers on line that you can check out prices and styles with . This UK provider has the best prices I've found so far as long as you are willing to do some of the final assembly and finishing. I actually prefer it that way so I can put it together and finish the way I want it. Let us know what the Curator wants to do.

 

[Bruce Alexander]

and finishing

Therein can lie the "rub".

 

[Phil G4SPZ]

Oh yes, I’ve no doubt that many hours of work lie ahead of me to achieve a decent matching finish...

 

[Phil G4SPZ]

Today was a beautiful sunny day (rare for a UK summer!) and I captured this picture of the Wolverhampton Corporation Transport electric trolleybus depot clock, which was commonly known in its original location as "the three-faced liar" due to its habit of showing different times on all three dials. At some past time in its long history, the original mechanism has been replaced with three separate mains-driven high torque synchronous movements. My only input to date has been to diagnose a fault in the mains supply; once that was repaired, two of the three movements started working.

Access is from below via a cherry picker. The faces are back-lit by a single 60 watt bulb, and the case contains a frost thermostat and electric heating element to prevent condensation in winter.

Anyway, I thought you'd like to see two of the three faces showing different times. The one displaying 1.59pm is telling the correct time, the other face only tells the truth twice a day!

Phil

 

[Joseph Bautsch]

Phil, that is a good story. Unfortunately I have several clocks that only have the correct time twice a day. I do have one that tells the correct time once a day. Do you have any idea what is wrong with the one that only tells the truth twice a day?

 

[Phil G4SPZ]

Not yet, Joseph, but I’ll be getting up there in the autumn to take a closer look. High torque motors are still available and might be necessary. At least one of the two functioning motors is making enough noise to be audible from the ground, so further attention may be necessary.

 

[Bruce Alexander]

Phil,
Just three comments:

the three-faced liar

Hilarious
Impressive
Take care up there.

Regards,

Bruce

 

[Phil G4SPZ]

Here’s an old clock in its new setting.

The clock itself is a 1904 Ansonia ‘El Regalo’ which was the subject of a lengthy thread last year. Having sweated blood over the thing and its Brocot escapement, and learned a great deal in the process, it has run faultlessly for the past six months and keeps virtually perfect time, so I’ve been trying to find a good home for it somewhere at the Museum. Today I persuaded the Curator to put it on permanent display in the Parlour of the Victorian 1910 Bottle and Glass Inn.



The ‘landlord’ seemed well pleased - maybe he’ll buy me a drink!

Phil

 

[Phil G4SPZ]

It’s been a while since I updated this thread, so here is the most recent clock I’ve restored for the museum. It’s a fairly common HAC ‘Vienna’ and it has needed quite a lot of work, including to the case which had split apart, literally. Woodworm was treated too. The movement was absolutely filthy from previously working in a room with a coal fire, the spiral gong was missing and several bushings and trundles were needed. The pendulum bob responded well to cleaning with 0000 wire wool. Anyway, here it is, keeping good time in its victorian setting of The Through House at the Black Country Living Museum:



Phil

 

[Rockin Ronnie]

It’s been a while since I updated this thread, so here is the most recent clock I’ve restored for the museum. It’s a fairly common HAC ‘Vienna’ and it has needed quite a lot of work, including to the case which had split apart, literally. Woodworm was treated too. The movement was absolutely filthy from previously working in a room with a coal fire, the spiral gong was missing and several bushings and trundles were needed. The pendulum bob responded well to cleaning with 0000 wire wool. Anyway, here it is, keeping good time in its victorian setting of The Through House at the Black Country Living Museum:

View attachment 569707 View attachment 569708

Phil

Will you be addressing the missing crown and finials?
Ron

 

[Phil G4SPZ]

I sort-of hesitate to include this little Art Deco Smiths 30-hour mantle clock, because I’m still restoring its movement, and in the meantime I’ve fitted a temporary quartz movement inside. However it’s a nice room setting, in one of the 1939 living rooms.

The wireless set is a cheat, too... it has been restored and works, but common sense and fire regulations prohibit it running unattended for seven hours a day, so I concealed a little MP3 player inside it, and it lights up and plays 1930s era popular music all day long!



Phil

 

[Phil G4SPZ]

Will you be addressing the missing crown and finials?

Ron, I’ve spoken to the Curator about this, and she said “Leave it as it is for now”. I have identified a source of the required parts though. We have two Viennas and the crowns are missing from both. As they are, with the picture rails running round the rooms, they don’t look out of place.

Phil

 

[Rockin Ronnie]

I sort-of hesitate to include this little Art Deco Smiths 30-hour mantle clock, because I’m still restoring its movement, and in the meantime I’ve fitted a temporary quartz movement inside. However it’s a nice room setting, in one of the 1939 living rooms.

The wireless set is a cheat, too... it has been restored and works, but common sense and fire regulations prohibit it running unattended for seven hours a day, so I concealed a little MP3 player inside it, and it lights up and plays 1930s era popular music all day long!

View attachment 569709 View attachment 569710

Phil

The hands are not correct but they probably came with quartz movement. Smiths hands are subtle like the one I wrote about in this article.
Smiths Enfield Art Deco mantel clock
Ron

 

[Phil G4SPZ]

Nice website, Ron!

Yes, the hands came with the quartz movement, but of course I have the original hands ready to go back on the mechanical movement once it’s finished.

Phil

 

[Phil G4SPZ]

The latest addition to the Museum’s collection, a very old and virtually basket-case Anglo American clock, now restored and calling time in the newly-opened Elephant & Castle pub.


Phil

 

[PatH]

The latest addition to the Museum’s collection, a very old and virtually basket-case Anglo American clock, now restored and calling time in the newly-opened Elephant & Castle pub.

View attachment 747704
Phil

What a nice addition. Thank you for restoring another clock and sharing the pictire of it in its new home.

 

[Phil G4SPZ]

Why, thank you, Pat! I am very pleased with that clock myself. My research suggests it’s an early New Haven movement in a Holloway of London case, from perhaps as early as 1860. By the way, its strike train had been completely stripped out long ago, hence when I replaced the dial I only drilled a single winding hole. It’s also nice that the Museum are now letting me suggest clocks for new locations.

I have just finished restoring a 12” English dial fusee, originally found in a Museum store room missing its pendulum and one tooth from its escape wheel, and it’s destined to hang in the Smoke Room at the same pub. Hopefully it will be installed soon, and I’ll post a picture then.

Phil

 

[Phil G4SPZ]

And here, for the time being, is the final and most recent clock I’ve restored for the Museum, hanging in its new home.

It is securely fixed to the wall to prevent theft!

Phil