George J. Hoffmann Tower Clocks

[Donn Haven Lathrop]

Has anyone ever seen a tower clock with Hoffmann's name cast into the frame? Fred Shelley had a photo of one with Hoffmann's name in the bridge over the time train, but Fred's long gone.

I'd like as much information as possible on Hoffmann as I can get. He took over from Adam Edward Pollhans in about 1892, even married the widow, and ran the company until about 1914. However, I found a record that he installed a tower clock in a church in St. Louis in 1932.

 

[Jim willman]

I believe that the clock in question is the clock I recently restored. The church was St Boniface, 1860 - 2005. This clock has raised letters on the top most casting that read: Made by Geo. J. Hoffmann. 2nd line: JUNE 1932 3rd line: St. Louis Mo.
The Table bears a brass plaque. TOWER CLOCKS
Designed and made by
Geo. J. Hoffmann
A. E. POLLHANS CLOCK CO.
St. Louis, Mo.
Date 6-1932 No. 462
The clock is time and strike. It strikes the hour and half hour. I have the four way splitter and one hand motion works. The latter have not yet been incorporated with the clock.
Pictures will follow at a later date.

I am also restoring a smaller and older Pollhans-Hoffmann. This clock has no brass plaque and no name in its castings. I believe it was made in 1908. This clock stands 55" tall. It is a time and strike with cabriolet legs. It was electrified and therefore missing some parts. I very much want to find it's twin in order to take measurements for making exact replica parts.
Ican be contacted at email james.willman@gmail.com.

 

[Jim willman]

Has anyone ever seen a tower clock with Hoffmann's name cast into the frame? Fred Shelley had a photo of one with Hoffmann's name in the bridge over the time train, but Fred's long gone.

I'd like as much information as possible on Hoffmann as I can get. He took over from Adam Edward Pollhans in about 1892, even married the widow, and ran the company until about 1914. However, I found a record that he installed a tower clock in a church in St. Louis in 1932.

I believe you are referring to St. Boniface, In St. Louis. I purchased that clock from Robert Mazzocchio in 2014. unknown to me at the time, it had been stripped of it's verge, escape wheel, and winding drum. This was done to power the time train with a synchronized motor.Those parts were replaced with other Pollhans/Hoffmann parts. I cleaned and repainted the clock. Cables and weights were connected to both drums. The clock kept near perfect time and struck the hour and half hour on a 12" Diesel Locomotive bell. The unique feature of this clock was a motor driven rewind system. The clock was sold 2017 MR.& Mrs. Skeist NYNY. Chuck Roesser restored the clock for the new owners. St. John the Baptist Church in St. Louis has another Hoffmann clock with the name casting. He was using a brass name plate until at least 1917 . I hope this helps.
Jim