Our first clock together - EN Welch

[C Anthony]

I thought I would start out with the first clock my girlfriend and I purchased together, then proceed from that point.

I have been interested in clocks since I was a kid. My grandparents had several in their home when I was growing up and always enjoyed assisting in winding them, hearing each one chime out the hour. My granddad's brother and his son have been collecting, repairing and selling clocks since the 70's. I really enjoyed when we would take our annual trip to Florida and spend sometime at their home. It was nearly wall to wall clocks! I'd have to say nearly all of the clocks were running.

As I became older, one of my grandparents clocks was never ran, and I was told it was too loud when it would 'bang' on the hour. So they just didn't wind it and run it. Well, one day I confiscated this clock and took it home and put it in my room. It is a standard Seth Thomas cabinet clock with a great Thomaston, CT label. The loud 'bang' never bother me over the years.

There is much more to the story (divorce, move from PA to IA, new relationship that turned sour, etc..) that we can revisit sometime later.

Fast forward to this past year. I recently purchased a home and am now able to fill it with what I want, antiques and clocks. The Seth Thomas, along with a couple other clocks I had found homes immediately in the house. Then I met a new girl and she has become interested in clock with me.

I had been out visiting local antique stores that past fall and came across this neat looking green and gold toned mantle clock. It wasn't badly priced, but I really didn't have the means at the time to purchase it. In January I was out with my girlfriend to the same store and the clock was still there. I picked it up and carried it to the counter to further examine it. It was marked E. N. Welch and looked to be in impeccable condition.

The clerk in the store, grabbed the key and I wound the clock and set the time. She suggested a quaint little eatery down the street and let the clock run for a while. The eatery offered a great atmosphere and the food was very tasty. After about an hour, we returned the antique story with full stomachs to find the clock still ticking and had kept perfect time. To top it off, the clerk had telephoned the owner and offered the clock at a lower price. It was the exact price I was going to offer for the clock. So it came home with us. Our first clock bought together.

I sat it up on our built in oak buffet in the dining room, and it has kept perfect time since! My cousin in Florida, said it sounds to be a circa 1889-1890 E. N. Welch clock.

 

[Walt Wallgren]

HI CA,

Welcome to the message board. What a nice looking clock and a great story. My wife enjoys our clocks almost as much as I do. I was out of collecting and working on clocks for quite a few years, life happens, and after I got things running again, the first thing she said to me was, "I didn't realize how much I missed them." Having someone who appreciates them as you do makes things soooooooo much easier and better.

Way to go,
Walt

 

[Kevin W.]

That is great, glad you have a new home and a place to have your clocks. My wife likes most of my clocks and that is a big plus in any relation ship.
Your clock looks great by the way.

 

[Steven Thornberry]

The clock appears to be one of the Ursulas. Tran's 2d ed. of Welch clocks mentions three models from the 1900 catalogue, all pretty much alike except for the color combinations, distinguished as follows:

Ursula No. 1: shades of green, brown, and red, with yellow veining.

Ursula No. 2: shades of green, black, and brown, with white veining.

Ursula No. 3: shades of red, brown, and black, with white veining.

All struck the hour on a cathedral bell, 1/2 hour on a cup bell. 17 1/2" long, 12 " high, 5" dial.

 

[C Anthony]

Yes, I forgot that I did some research on the clock and found it was an Ursula #2. It has a nice sounding cathedral bell for the hour and a simple, quiet ding on the cup bell for the half hour. It is a great clock. I am looking forward to sharing the others we purchased since them.

I have a Julius Peck clock coming in the mail this week sometime, and I am going to a local auction tonight. There are three clocks there. A 1926 Seth Thomas, bee hive with the Westminster chimes. It is the same as this clock http://antiqueseththomasclocks.com/Seth-Thomas-0177.php. There is also a Plymouth Bim Bam mantel clock and a Ingraham black cabinet mantle clock.