Question about a Waterbury mantle clock.

[Chris.K]

I have a fairly uncommon Waterbury that was my Great-Grandmother's and finally have enough experience to feel comfortable to service it.. Now, my question is did Waterbury guild the works of higher end clocks as this one is not the usual oxidized brass ? I do believe this is the mantle version of the Lawrence model but not sure.. Thank you for any input on this.. Chris...

 

[Andy Dervan]

I have never heard or seen any brass clock movements gilded even the high end makers like E. Howard.

It would be very expensive and brass does not oxidize. Clockmakers have been using brass for over 500 years to make movements.

Andy Dervan

 

[JTD]

this one is not the usual oxidized brass ?

It looks like a perfectly normal brass movement to me, unless I am missing something.

JTD

 

[Chris.K]

It looks like a perfectly normal brass movement to me, unless I am missing something.

JTD

I misspoke when I said oxidized I meant the normal dirty brass.. This movement is more of a dull gold color. I will post more pics when I get it apart later today..

 

[Willie X]

Looks completely normal to me. Willie X

 

[Levi Hutchins]

I have never heard or seen any brass clock movements gilded even the high end makers like E. Howard.

I believe that Waterbury's little novelty clocks, the 30-hour Hornet and 8-day Spider, had gold-plated movements that were displayed through their cylindrical, glass-sleeve cases.

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[JTD]

I believe that Waterbury's little novelty clocks, the 30-hour Hornet and 8-day Spider, had gold-plated movements that were displayed through their cylindrical, glass-sleeve cases.

View attachment 678935 View attachment 678936​

Difficult to see much detail because of reflections on the transparent casing but I don't see any evidence of gold plating - looks like normal (clean) brass to me.

JTD

 

[Mike Mall]

Everything (including the movement) looks a lot like an E.N. Welch clock I just got. With a different crown.
Maybe it's a rebranded model?

Edit: I just noticed the post that holds the suspension spring is in a different position. But other than that, very similar.
Probably just a close resemblance.

 

[Levi Hutchins]

Difficult to see much detail because of reflections on the transparent casing but I don't see any evidence of gold plating - looks like normal (clean) brass to me.

JTD

I was mistaken.

Ken's Clock Clinic that specializes in restoration of these notes "Both the Spider and Wasp were gold-plated with a glass sleeve, and the movement can be seen through the glass.... Most of the internal parts of the movement do not appear to have been gold plated with the exception of the main wheel barrel (due to its massive size)."

In any event, there is no indication that the topic's movement would have been gold-plated.

 

[Chris.K]

Everything (including the movement) looks a lot like an E.N. Welch clock I just got. With a different crown.
Maybe it's a rebranded model?
View attachment 678941
Edit: I just noticed the post that holds the suspension spring is in a different position. But other than that, very similar.
Probably just a close resemblance.

It is just a close resemblance as I found my model in a 1890 catalog and it is called the Merwin model and cost $ 8.10 new with the alarm function...