William Talmage modern woodworks clock

[Pat L.]

Hello,
I'm wondering if anyone has any information about a person named William G. Talmage who made wood clocks around the 1970's, possibly in California. I think I'm going to acquire one that is a large woodworks movement on a floor stand, and is covered with a plexiglass cover. According to the instructions, the complete mechanism is made of wood, except for the weight and cable. Even the hands, arbors, and click springs, are wood.

I may take possession of it on Thursday and can post a picture at that time, but for now, I'm just wondering if anyone know anything about the person William Talmage or his company, how many types of clocks they made, whether they are still in business, etc.

Thanks,
Pat L.

 

[Pat L.]

Here are some pictures of the clock. The mechanism is mounted to a floor stand and the complete clock is about 6 foot tall approximately. There's a clear plexiglass hood that covers the movement (not shown). It's powered by a heavy weight that hangs on cables (not shown). It's missing the pendulum, but the instruction sheet shows what it's supposed to look like. So a pendulum can be made, if parts are not available from the company.

If anyone has any information about William Talmage or his company, please let me know.

Thanks,
Pat L.

 

[soaringjoy]

Pat, I did notice your first post a week ago, but wasn't able to help.
An internet search comes up with quite a few entries, with generally
the same questions being asked.
Looks as if Mr. Talmage is deceased.
Perhaps someone can join us here this time...

 

[ctblack]

Hello,
I'm wondering if anyone has any information about a person named William G. Talmage who made wood clocks around the 1970's, possibly in California. I think I'm going to acquire one that is a large woodworks movement on a floor stand, and is covered with a plexiglass cover. According to the instructions, the complete mechanism is made of wood, except for the weight and cable. Even the hands, arbors, and click springs, are wood.

I may take possession of it on Thursday and can post a picture at that time, but for now, I'm just wondering if anyone know anything about the person William Talmage or his company, how many types of clocks they made, whether they are still in business, etc.

Thanks,
Pat L.

William G. Talmage was my uncle. My parents have one of these clocks. I would love to get one for myself if you know of anyone selling theirs or if you would like to sell yours. Here is a little information about him:

William Gardner Talmage was born in Springville, Utah on August 13, 1924. He was the 4th of 5 children. My father was the youngest. He died on September 17, 2001 in Hemet, California and is buried in the Springville, Utah Cemetery..

He was a machinist for McDonnell Douglas for years. He was always fascinated with the workings of a clock. He started making clocks like these in metal, but soon decided to make them in wood. All of the wood pieces were made by him. He began his love of working with wood pieces by making lamp bases with driftwood he found on the beaches of California. He then moved on to making gorgeous stocks for guns and then to this wooden clock. He was still making them at the time of his death. He had no children.

 

[rmarkowitz1_cee4a1]

William G. Talmage was my uncle. My parents have one of these clocks. I would love to get one for myself if you know of anyone selling theirs or if you would like to sell yours. Here is a little information about him:

William Gardner Talmage was born in Springville, Utah on August 13, 1924. He was the 4th of 5 children. My father was the youngest. He died on September 17, 2001 in Hemet, California and is buried in the Springville, Utah Cemetery..

He was a machinist for McDonnell Douglas for years. He was always fascinated with the workings of a clock. He started making clocks like these in metal, but soon decided to make them in wood. All of the wood pieces were made by him. He began his love of working with wood pieces by making lamp bases with driftwood he found on the beaches of California. He then moved on to making gorgeous stocks for guns and then to this wooden clock. He was still making them at the time of his death. He had no children.

Thank you for providing the info about your talented family member!!

RM

 

[FDelGreco]

I believe this is a stylized version of the R. D. Thomas clock, patented in 1964. It was a set of plans you could buy from which you could build a wood works clock movement. I've had a set of these plans since the early 1970s. Mr. Talmage seems to have taken the basic design and stylized the plates and made a few other minor modifications. Here is one of the plan sheets:

Frank

 

[Jim DuBois]

All apparently done in solid wood, no plywood seen. Nice but I have to wonder how he dwelt with shrinkage and warping? A good trick on wheels this size. And it looks like he was successful for some period of time. I wonder if he used something like PEG, which was the wonderful wood treatment back then to prevent warpage in burl bowls and the like.

 

[P.Hageman]

All apparently done in solid wood, no plywood seen. Nice but I have to wonder how he dwelt with shrinkage and warping? A good trick on wheels this size. And it looks like he was successful for some period of time. I wonder if he used something like PEG, which was the wonderful wood treatment back then to prevent warpage in burl bowls and the like.

I know, wooden wheel clocks made in Schwarzwald Germany were dunked into cow urine and manure and left there for a while. After drying the wood did not work anymore and was very stable.

 

[FDelGreco]

I know, wooden wheel clocks made in Schwarzwald Germany were dunked into cow urine and manure and left there for a while. After drying the wood did not work anymore and was very stable.

Yes, I read an article on how they soaked the wood blanks in cow manure and urine for about a year, then hung the blanks in the smokehouse next to the hams for a period of time. Ugh!

With regard to shrinkage, in the early 1970s when I got the plans and knew nothing about clockmaking, I decided first to see how hard it would be to make the wheels. So I cut out the largest wheel -- on a bandsaw! -- and its mating pinion, both out of oak. I even spoked the wheel. By that time I decided it was too tedious to do. So I made a wall plaque with the two parts meshed. As the seasons change, the mesh got too loose or too tight to mesh properly. Good thing I didn't make the whole clock. On the other hand, look at my avatar. That's a tower clock I made for the craft contest. The largest wheel is 16" in diameter, solid wood (cherry). It expands and shrinks a little across the seasons but not enough to affect its running. Go figure!

Frank

 

[Joseph Taylor]

William G. Talmage was my uncle. My parents have one of these clocks. I would love to get one for myself if you know of anyone selling theirs or if you would like to sell yours. Here is a little information about him:

William Gardner Talmage was born in Springville, Utah on August 13, 1924. He was the 4th of 5 children. My father was the youngest. He died on September 17, 2001 in Hemet, California and is buried in the Springville, Utah Cemetery..

He was a machinist for McDonnell Douglas for years. He was always fascinated with the workings of a clock. He started making clocks like these in metal, but soon decided to make them in wood. All of the wood pieces were made by him. He began his love of working with wood pieces by making lamp bases with driftwood he found on the beaches of California. He then moved on to making gorgeous stocks for guns and then to this wooden clock. He was still making them at the time of his death. He had no children.

 

[Joseph Taylor]

I just spoke to an antiques dealer who has one on his shop floor and would like me to sort out the pulleys and weights. Crazy, but the cables are fish line!?? and there's a bit of a mess tangled together. I can't tell if he wishes to sell it or he's keeping it. I'll know more and come back and let you know in a week or so. Best, JT

 

[FDelGreco]

Joseph:

Go to post #6 and open the drawing I've attached. It shows how the winding cable was routed. Might be of help if the clock is set up the same way.

Frank

 

[ctblack]

I just spoke to an antiques dealer who has one on his shop floor and would like me to sort out the pulleys and weights. Crazy, but the cables are fish line!?? and there's a bit of a mess tangled together. I can't tell if he wishes to sell it or he's keeping it. I'll know more and come back and let you know in a week or so. Best, JT

I would really appreciate that. I would love to acquire one someday. I know how the fishing line attaches the pulleys. I have done it several times for my mother.

 

[Joseph Taylor]

The gentleman’ name is Leo Mavroviti
[email protected]
His shop is at 20 W. 64th Street, Ny Ny 10023
He’s a very nice man.
Best, Joe Taylor
PS: What is your name?

 

[Mark B]

I would really appreciate that. I would love to acquire one someday. I know how the fishing line attaches the pulleys. I have done it several times for my mother.

 

[robertguy]

William G. Talmage was my uncle. My parents have one of these clocks. I would love to get one for myself if you know of anyone selling theirs or if you would like to sell yours. Here is a little information about him:

William Gardner Talmage was born in Springville, Utah on August 13, 1924. He was the 4th of 5 children. My father was the youngest. He died on September 17, 2001 in Hemet, California and is buried in the Springville, Utah Cemetery..

He was a machinist for McDonnell Douglas for years. He was always fascinated with the workings of a clock. He started making clocks like these in metal, but soon decided to make them in wood. All of the wood pieces were made by him. He began his love of working with wood pieces by making lamp bases with driftwood he found on the beaches of California. He then moved on to making gorgeous stocks for guns and then to this wooden clock. He was still making them at the time of his death. He had no children.

Just found this site, wonderful. I do have a William Talmage clock. I brought it over from Hawaii and currently live in Logan, Utah.

 

[JPFlea47]

Hi to all. I read this article today about the William Talmage wood clock. I have a great story to tell, I have owned one of these clocks for just over 50 years. I still have the clock. I had the honor of meeting Mr.Talmage in his shop in Long Beach in 1973. If anyone is interested about this, I'm interested in sharing what I know about my clock,

 

[Raymond Rice]

Fire away! I think most of us are interested in a clock story. This thread started 11 years ago, and folks are still reading it for information--and will probably still be reading it far into the future.
Ray Rice