Tuscarawas County (Ohio) Courthouse Clock

[Bill Stuntz]

After "She Who MUST be OBEYED" had decreed "NO CLOCKS on vacation!" I was having clock withdrawl symptoms. By special dispensation, I was allowed an exception to that rule when she saw me drooling as I looked up at the tower clock at the Tuscarawas County Courthouse. When I asked the receptionist if I could see the works, I was told that I had to go to the County Commissioner's office to obtain permission. HE called Tom (the maintenance guy) in from where he was working in another building to have him show it to me! I was treated as if I were a visiting VIP! Talk about the MOTHER of ALL fixes to cure my withdrawl symptoms! I EVEN GOT TO WIND IT! We wound it by hand & didn't use the electric motor they usually use. I hope I put enough exclamation points into this paragraph! I wasn't allowed to climb up into the tower to see the faces and the upper works from the inside, but I got a LOT more than I had expected!

I wish I had a better camera than the one in my cell phone, but here's some of what I got. I didn't realize until later that what I saw on the screen is NOT what actually gets saved when the picture is taken - so they are cropped a little funny. The guy in the photo is Tom, not me. But I'm SURE my smile was at least as big as his was!

I wasn't able to get a completely readable photo of the name plate, but I did have the foresight to copy the text:
MADE BY
Seth Thomas Clock Co.
THOMASTON CONN. U.S.A.
May 10, 1888 485 A.S. Hotchkiss

 

[shutterbug]

Kudos to Tom. That's one of the cleanest tower clock movements I've seen

 

[Bill Stuntz]

FYI: The movement is in a locked closet-like room with windows facing a stairway and narrow hallway on the third floor. The movement is not really exposed to the elements. As you can see, I was allowed into the room with the movement for some close-up photos that were taken without having to shoot through the glass. It was impossible to get back far enough back from the upper (movement) & lower (pendulum) windows to get a very good photo of the whole thing. The vertical shaft that disappears through the ceiling goes up at least 2 stories to drive the hands on all 4 faces. I didn't think to ask how far we were below the faces. I'm not sure that Tom can be given ALL the credit for how clean the movement is, but he SURE is proud of it! And I should give credit where credit is due.

 

[David S]

Really nice Bill. Do you know if they have had to do much in the way of repairs over the years? And if Tom is the guy, or do they have another clock person?

 

[gvasale]

great way to spend the time. Be sure to thank your wife.

 

[Bill Stuntz]

David: I didn't think to ask about repair/refurbishment history, but the photo in post#3 shows "The Tower Clock Company" card that is displayed in the window. I checked his web site, but this clock is not mentioned.

Believe me, I DID thank her, and it was a great running joke all week. Her NO CLOCKS decree was also a running joke. But she DID gloat a bit over the fact that she had the foresight a year ago to reserve 7 sites for this year at a GREAT campground that didn't have WIFI, and was far enough from the freeway that there was VERY limited cell phone coverage. BTW: It was our 6th year at the same campground for her family reunion - previous years we've had as many as 11 sites. http://www.woodstalltimberlake.com/index.cfm VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED if you're ever in the area!!! Very reasonable rates, friendly staff, PERFECT maintenance, and improved facilities every year. I spoke with the owner, and I'd bet that there will be WIFI next year. They are VERY responsive to suggestions for improvement.


We also got quite a bit of mileage out of my wife's new coffee cup and refrigerator magnet. She's been "THE QUEEN" for many years.

 

[FDelGreco]

Ah - thank God for understanding wives! I have three tower clocks in my living room,and my wife approves!

For several years I have had three tower clocks in my livingroom, along with a London longcase clock and two English lanterns, plus severalshelf clocks. I thought I was pushing the envelope with the three tower clocksthere – one in each of three corners. I had another two on the second story balconywhere my wife has her reading nook. She looks directly at them every day. Theother day she told me that she really liked the 17[SUP]th[/SUP] century three-trainwrought iron tower clock that was there and said that it deserved a moreprominent place in the house. So down into the main foyer it went!

I still have a single-train Scottish tower clock on thebalcony, a single-train English tower clock by Smiths of Derby on the upstairslanding, and a single-train English flatbed tower clock in the dining room. Cometo think of it, the dining room could use a few more…

And to think that when I met my wife 24 years ago, the onlyclocks she had were her alarm clock and the digital readouts on her microwaveand VCR!

Frank Del Greco

 

[imoutaroom]

Great pictures and documenation Bill. A fine Seth Thomas tower clock.

Thanks

Dan Wagers
St Paul

 

[Bill Stuntz]

My wife is starting to come around. When I came home with a Ridgeway grandmother clock "It followed me home, can I keep it?" it didn't work particularly well. After I'm done playing with it I have to give it to a neighbor who has fallen in love with it. At least I'll be able to visit occasionally. But when I brought home an anniversary clock, she decided that she wants it in her "lounging room" which used to be one of the kid's bedrooms before we became empty nesters. Maybe I'll get her trained.

 

[Bill Stuntz]

I talked to Tom earlier today. Didn't get a lot of details, but he does the routine lubrication, winding, etc. & keeps it looking nice. Dials & hands have been replaced, but I think it was before he took over. They still have at least the old hands, and he said that some of them don't appear to be original - I think different wood & slightly different shape & edge details. I understand that the upper works are also enclosed and are protected from the elements, birds, etc. Nobody has been all the way up in the tower for quite a while.

We'll be spending a week near there again next July, and starting a month or so before that I'm going to try to get permission to see/photograph the upper works - with a better camera than the one in my smartphone. This visit was totally spur-of-the-moment, but maybe some pre-planning will get me better access. That area is not open to the public, accessible only via 30ft ladder, and I'm SURE I'll need to sign a liability release if it can be arranged at all. But I'm going to try!

 

[darrahg]

I spent the 50s and 60s growing up in New Philadelphia, Ohio and always admired the court house and its clock. I was too ignorant about clocks back then and since have moved far away. I now have a real reason to go back and visit my relatives. Thanks Bill!