Gingerbread/Kitchen Clock

[rjdj2000]

As my wife and daughter know I have a love for clocks and while they were out and about today at thrift stores they found this one and got it for me. After looking at it a little bit I see the paper dial is not original and I believe the movement is not either. Sorry I do not have movement pictures as I did not get that far into it. I just got it setup and was trying to see if it ran and so far it has. Will let it run a few days before I dive into the movement to look it over. If anyone can point me to what the maker is (no apparent marks on it that I can find and I don't have any books to look through) I'd appreciate it.

Jeff

 

[bwclock]

It appears to be modern Asian in origin. I doubt one would find this clock in a book.

 

[rjdj2000]

It appears to be modern Asian in origin. I doubt one would find this clock in a book.

Yeah I kind of figured this. Oh well, I'll still fix what needs to be on the case and let it tick away as it don't bother me that it is a newer piece. Will have an older one someday to add to the collection.

 

[JTD]

Please show us the movement when you get it out.

JTD

 

[rjdj2000]

Please show us the movement when you get it out.

JTD

Will do. From my quick inspection of it last night of looking up into it, I am thinking korean made due to it similarities of what I saw compared to another clock I have. Will try to get pictures this weekend as I plan on tearing into it to inspect the movement to see if it needs any work. So far it has been happily running and striking when it should where I set it up for now.

 

[rjdj2000]

JTD Took it apart today to check it out. Looks to be a Japan copy of an Ansonia movement. Looks to be in decent shape. Don't like the fact that someone glued a white paper dial over the original dial though. Oh well, will try to get that off there someday or just clip off the diamonds and finish gluing it down. So while it isn't old per say, it still is decent and will sit on the bookcase happily running for now. I almost think it is a 31 day movement, it said on the dial but don't quite remember. Will just see how long it runs. LOL

 

[JTD]

Thanks for posting the pictures - yes. a modern Japanese movement.

I wonder why the paper dial was felt necessary? The original doesn't look damaged (from the part that is visible), though perhaps when you get the rest off, the reason may be evident.

Anyway, the main thing is that it was a gift given to you with love and that makes it priceless. Enjoy it for that.

JTD

 

[new2clocks]

To my knowledge, Ansonia never had movements made in Japan as indicated on the sticker attached to your movement.

Ansonia went out of business in 1929, selling their inventory and machinery and equipment to the government of the Soviet Union.

In the late 1960s, a company in Washington State re-registered the name Ansonia and started selling modern clocks under the name Ansonia.

I wonder if your clock was one of the "Washington State Ansonia" products, as opposed to a clock from the original Ansonia company.

Regards.

 

[rjdj2000]

Thanks for posting the pictures - yes. a modern Japanese movement.

I wonder why the paper dial was felt necessary? The original doesn't look damaged (from the part that is visible), though perhaps when you get the rest off, the reason may be evident.

Anyway, the main thing is that it was a gift given to you with love and that makes it priceless. Enjoy it for that.

JTD

Yeah it was and I will. I as more thinking it to be one of the Korean movements and I know how they are, have 3 movements of those already and one needs a new click spring in it but for now it just hangs on the wall as it was my fathers clock. It will be tricky to get the paper dial off as it is glued in the center portion. May have to just soak it in water for a bit to loosen it enough. Will be a project for another day and will leave it for now. Most of it I have seen isn't damaged so hopefully I can get it off without damaging it.

 

[rjdj2000]

To my knowledge, Ansonia never had movements made in Japan as indicated on the sticker attached to your movement.

Ansonia went out of business in 1929, selling their inventory and machinery and equipment to the government of the Soviet Union.

In the late 1960s, a company in Washington State re-registered the name Ansonia and started selling modern clocks under the name Ansonia.

I wonder if your clock was one of the "Washington State Ansonia" products, as opposed to a clock from the original Ansonia company.

Regards.

Yeah they did not. Not sure of the origin of this one as I didn't take it all out to look at the back for any other clues to it's origin. I may take it out to look at it when I try to do the dial.

 

[Steven Thornberry]

I'm not sure that the Lynnwood, WA, Ansonia company used Japanese (or other Asian) movements. I have been under the impression that German movements were used. In any event, I would not place too much emphasis on the Ansonia Japan marking other than that the Japanese clockmakers made movements similar to Ansonia's well-known arch-top movements.

 

[Tim Orr]

Good afternoon, Jeff!

I am struck by the very prominent cross over the dial. I don't think I've ever seen that kind of religious symbolism on a "gingerbread"-style clock before.

Also, it looks as though someone cut the replacement dial so that the chapter ring marks overlapped the bezel in those areas. Perhaps in an effort to cover up the "Japan" marking at the bottom? Seems like a lot of work to cover the "Japan" label or to preserve the marks.

Seems as though I have heard that somehow, the Japanese did get hold of some of the Ansonia tech from the Russians and imitated the Ansonia movements in the inter-war era. I may be wrong about that.

Best regards!

Tim Orr

 

[new2clocks]

I find it interesting that the movement also has an attachment that states 'Passed" and some initials underneath.

I do not recall seeing a 'Passing' sticker before.

Regards.

 

[Steven Thornberry]

I find it interesting that the movement also has an attachment that states 'Passed" and some initials underneath.

I do not recall seeing a 'Passing' sticker before.

Regards.

It’s an indication that the movement passed quality control standards. For example;

SeikoCitizenForum-Does anyone know what "JWC II" on a clock means?

I recently bought a Westinghouse AM radio/alarm clock, probably early 1960s vintage. The clock says, "Japan" and "Jeweled" on the dial. I haven't open

www.tapatalk.com

 

[rjdj2000]

Good afternoon, Jeff!

I am struck by the very prominent cross over the dial. I don't think I've ever seen that kind of religious symbolism on a "gingerbread"-style clock before.

Also, it looks as though someone cut the replacement dial so that the chapter ring marks overlapped the bezel in those areas. Perhaps in an effort to cover up the "Japan" marking at the bottom? Seems like a lot of work to cover the "Japan" label or to preserve the marks.

Seems as though I have heard that somehow, the Japanese did get hold of some of the Ansonia tech from the Russians and imitated the Ansonia movements in the inter-war era. I may be wrong about that.

Best regards!

Tim Orr

Tim,

Yeah I also have never seen one like it. The wife and daughter found it at a thrift store and didn't pay much for it so I'll still like it as they got it for me. I'll be taking things apart here soon, to get pictures of the backside of the movement which I'll post here once I get that far. Will also post picture of how dial turns out once I tackle that. For now it is on the bookcase running and striking like it should so once it runs a week or so, I'll check into the movement and see if there is anything that needs work and give it some oil and put it back together. Might have to look into a more ornate pendulum for it though. Looks too plain with the bob on there. Will have to see if there is a size for pendulum on the movement or measure what I got and find something that would make it look a little better.

 

[rjdj2000]

Well I was in the repairing business this morning and decided to take this apart to get picture of the back of the movement as well as to see if I could get the paper dial off without wrecking the dial pan. That was easier than I thought it would be. Some random placement of double sided scotch tape is what was holding the paper dial on. The original was 100% in tact and I was able to remove the tape without any issues. So after putting a little oil on the backside of the movement, it was back together and back to ticking away on the book case where it has been.

Jeff