E.N. Welch Eclipse Regulator-Year of Manufacture?

[Grant Perry]

Good afternoon:
I was at an antique show on Friday evening, and this one followed me home. I think I have a problem I know my wife would agree with my assessment!!
It is a large wall clock 33" high by 18" wide. It has time, strike (coil) and calendar function. It has a paper dial which is in decent condition for the age. The finish is original and has a great patina. The bob is quite heavy. I know that the Welch is prior to Sessions, but can anyone find a circa on this one? Also, I included a picture of some interesting bushing work on the back of the movement. One is a piece of brass wire soldered to hold the pivot, the other is a small piece of brass soldered on to do the same... They will be coming off soon in exchange for bushings. Any input is appreciated.
Best regards,
Grant

 

[Grant Perry]

Good afternoon:
I was at an antique show on Friday evening, and this one followed me home. I think I have a problem I know my wife would agree with my assessment!!
It is a large wall clock 33" high by 18" wide. It has time, strike (coil) and calendar function. It has a paper dial which is in decent condition for the age. The finish is original and has a great patina. The bob is quite heavy. I know that the Welch is prior to Sessions, but can anyone find a circa on this one? Also, I included a picture of some interesting bushing work on the back of the movement. One is a piece of brass wire soldered to hold the pivot, the other is a small piece of brass soldered on to do the same... They will be coming off soon in exchange for bushings. Any input is appreciated.
Best regards,
Grant

 

[Tom Kloss]

Very nice looking clock. I've see this sort of technique used in clock repair. Talk about a band aid fix . Must have had a whole one hour guarantee.

P.S. In this case I use the word “repair” very loosely.

 

[Grant Perry]

I agree. Both of these repairs are on the time side of the movement. It is amazing that it still keeps time. The tolerance level must be quite high on these movements.
gp

 

[harold bain]

Hi Grant. Nice clock. The clock in Tran's book that is called the Eclipse is 39" tall by 15' wide, with a 7" dial, and doesn't look like yours at all. The calendar clock that does look like yours is called "St. Clair Calendar", circa 1900. It is 32 1/2" tall with a 12" dial. Hope this helps. Harold

 

[Grant Perry]

Hi Harold:
Thank you for the reply.
Interesting information. I believe that Sessions has an Eclipse shortly after taking over Welch, and it is a rectangular case. As you can see from the tablet and label on this one, it is also an Eclipse.
Thank you for looking it up in Tran's book for me.
Best regards,
Gp

 

[harold bain]

Hi Grant. I checked Tran's Sessions book. No eclipse there, but the St. Clair is still pictured circa 1908, looking just like yours. I have also seen a Sessions Eclipse in a rectangular case. You mention that the bob is quite heavy. May be a replacement to compensate for the inventive repair job. Harold

 

[Grant Perry]

Hi Harold:

Thanks for checking the Sessions book. If you check out the links below there is an identical clock at this auction house (lot 142). The Bob design is a little different; however it is very similar, so I think the bob is original. If you check out the Sessions Eclipse in the second link, the bob is 100% identical to my Welch Eclispe, the dial is the same and the hands are identical.

http://www.cottoneauctions.com/ARVAYCLOCKAUCTION/ARVAY-page2.htm

http://www.thompsonsclockshop.com/antiqueclocksp2.htm

I will have to assume that this clock was made right arond the time that Welch became Sessions and the lines blured.... Both the tablet and the label on the clock identify it as an Eclipse Regulator, and the bob is identical to a Sessions Eclipse Regulator, and the movement is stamped Welch, so I am fairy confident that everything is 100% original.

Thanks again for all the input! Much appreciated.

Grant

 

[harold bain]

Grant, I guess as good as Tran's books are, they are not perfect. I run into a lot of clocks not in his books. The internet is a great tool for research like this. Harold

 

[Grant Perry]

Harold,
I will have to agree. I often have run into the same. Maybe they shipped all the mistake clocks to Canada :biggrin: