Antique Coca Cola Clock

[rickr]

I purchased this many years ago from a small antique store outside a small town in Indiana. Did anyone out there ever see a Coke clock like this one? Are there any Coke product collectors out there that might know the value of this clock?
I keep it in my office at work.

 

[rickr]

dial shot

c. 1900 Gibson Girl clock face

 

[rickr]

Close up

Clock dial

 

[rickr]

she runs great!

An eight day movement,and counts the hour with a nice chime,and chimes once on the half hour too.

 

[rickr]

door glass decoration

Any input will be appriciated. Thank you!

 

[rickr]

Coke bottles and years of use

In comparison to the Coke bottle on the dial

 

[knitwits1975]

Richard:
I am not a Coke Product collector. I am however an ardent clock collector, I have German cuckoo clocks, wall clocks, mantle clocks, a myriad of novelty clocks (German and Japanese), and a Grandfather clock. When a new hour arrives at my house, you know it! I think my all time favorites are the cuckoos. I happen to know that what you have here is a good find. It certainly looks to be in mint condition. This piece has a lot of detailed carvings, the finish looks great, the silkscreened glass looks perfect, and you say it's from 1900, so it's really old. The movement which I'm guessing is either an 8 or 14 day chime movement will need to be cleaned and oiled if it has not been run for a while. If your photos are any indication of the loving care this must have recieved, it's probably in superb condition and good running order. There's probably not a collector around that wouldn't love to have this. I've checked EBAY and antique stores and seen similar clocks in lesser condition go for about $300-$350, but very few in as good of condition as yours, they usually go for about $500 or so.

 

[petek]

Rick.. not a Coke collector either but like Knitwits I have a clock fetish as well maybe not to the same extent because I only have 3 Cuckoo clocks running, a chiming mantle clock and newer regulator type windup. etc.. It gets noisy down here sometimes with those Cuckoo's, about 30 singing canaries and 12 parakeets jabbering and fussing.

So no I don't know anything about Coke memorabilia but I wouldn't be surprised to see that clock selling in an antique store for much less than $1000 myself. Similar gingerbread mantle clocks without the Coke in excellent condition sell in the 3-500 range around here. The Coke slant these days would double it easily I'm sure, even though Coke produced massive amounts of advertizing that clock probably wasn't mass produced I'd be guessing.. Why? because in my mind that style of clock is meant to be used in a home or office not in a store or at a soda fountain where you more than likely see a wall clock or something less ornate but with more pronounced advertizing and logo's etc. I could be way off base for that time period.. that's only my guess.

 

[rickr]

Thanks guys!
I also have a clock collection,and do clock repair. The clock was serviced every three years,and keeps time within three minutes per week.
I figured the clock was worth about $1000.00 I had used it as my kitchen for many years.However it no longer fits the decor, since the kitchen remodel a few years ago. It has been used in my office at work for the past three years. I thought it too valuable to keep there,and had planned to list it on ebay.
I looked on ebay for a price comparison, and found nothing like this one. I did find a few "beat down" non working early Coke clocks, however that had went for appx. $600.00,again none like this one. I did find a REPRODUCTION Coca Cola wall clock however. And I was shocked after reading the description on the ebay reprodution clock. What do you think?

Pardon Our Interruption...

 

[petek]

Me thinks your clock may be worth much more than a grand after seeing that bidding for a reproduction. Don't have to tell you to do your homework first before ebaying it.

 

[toggleswitch]

Rick:

Your clock is gorgeous!

I am always amazed to hear of such great talents in the group. And here we have clock-repair!

I wish I had a few spare drachmas, I would have loved to buy your clock.

 

[veg-o-matic]

Sigh....

Rick, is there anything you can't do?

(And he's dreamy, too!)

veg

 

[rickr]

Pete: I hear you! (and I am taking the clock home from work today) Guess I need to do some homework on it now

Steve: I wish you would buy the clock too!

Veg: *blush*

 

[gansky1]

That clock is a beauty - how rare! I have never seen clocks this old with advertising on them. How cool!

I've been watching antique clocks on ebay lately just to see if one zaps me and I have to have it. I've wanted a chiming clock for a long time but don't seem to see them at sales, etc. that often and then am never sure what I'm looking at, what to watch out for, etc. I've poked around in a few timers for washers and recently cleaned and got a wind-up timer for a vintage stove working again (baby steps into clock repair?) and had a great time studying how it was put together and how all those tiny parts work in unison.

Any advice you can give a rank-amateur on clock shopping? I too am amazed at all the talents of our group.

 

[petek]

Greg, the first thing when looking for a clock is to find one that's already working. You'll find some nice ones that aren't working, either the clock doesn't work, the chimes don't work or a combination of both. Those clocks people still want top dollar for usually because they're "old", "antique" the usual crap. Sending one in for repair can be costly, repairing them yourself can also be costly and time consuming but educational so you have to weigh it all out. Antique chiming or musical mantle clocks and wall clocks are not all that rare, probably more common than many of the washers you guys have so there's no need to pounce on one just for the sake of it might get away never to be seen again. Ricks gingerbread style of clock isn't a rarity either it's the advertizing aspect that rarifies that one. I think some of the nicest mantle clocks are those standard looking "Forestville"s that were so common thru the 40's on up. They come with just plain hour/half hour gongs or musical chimes,, the chimers always have a 3rd keyhole in the face, an average price for one working would be around $200, maybe a little more for one with Westminster chimes.

Now how about a Cuckoo clock..here's a couple of mine. Others are boxed away. I couldn't have them up with always having puppies in the house, but now I'm pup free once again and Parker and Ben don't bother them.

 

[rickr]

Mantle clocks

What about the square mantle clock,or "black clock" as they are called? Do you like those Greg? They were popular from appx 1860 to 1910.They usually have the lion heads on the ends of the clock,and fax marble pillers on the front of the clock. They are one of my all time favorites. (sorry don't have a digital camera,this is the best picture I have for now)
This style of clock is very well made,all mechanical parts are still available,and they are going up in value (for a nice one)I really like these more than the later style mantle clocks myself.

 

[rickr]

cuckoo clocks

Love your cuckoos Pete!The white one looks like a Christmas clock. No home should be without at least one cuckoo clock. I keep mine in the kitchen,it is from the 1940's is hand painted,and has the music box. Love clocks,but no striking clocks on the second floor PLEEEESE!
I restored a cuckoo clock from the 1950's that was in a house fire about 10 years ago. The poor thing got so hot that the whole front of the clock melted and burned. Part of the case had to be replaced.My father made the replacement parts on his jigsaw,and I restained the whole clock to match. The plastic bird was not melted however??? It is still running in my friends kitchen to this day. The clock was on my friends kitchen wall when the house burned,and it was quite a bad fire. He said the clock could not be repaired..... So I just had to prove him wrong!! LOL!

 

[petek]

Here's an example of a non-descript mantle clock from the late 40's era. These were basically the mass produced clocks, plain looking and cheap appliques rather than real carving. This one only has hourly and half hour chime, no music box. It's actually my partners given to him by the mother of an old friend years ago as a gift. I've been hiding it in a box for decades it's so ugly..but guess what, he just saw me drag it out for the picture so I might be stuck leaving it out..yuk at least for a while. One of these is a great starter clock for fixing because they're a fairly simple, large mechanism.

Rick,, post a pic of your musical cuckoo when you get a chance. The noise of clocks doesn't bother me sleep wise even though I'm a light sleeper. I guess I'm just used to it.

 

[veg-o-matic]

Rick, dear

Did you know Sotheby's will give you an informal appraisal for free? This information came from our Community Information Database (I work in a library.):

"SERVICE DESCRIPTION: Antiques, Paintings, Sculpture, drawings, prints, furniture & decorative arts, jewelry & collectibles; informal evaluation: Auction estimates requests. Send a good quality photograph, with dimensions, of antiques. Evaluation will be made and returned, no fee involved. Evaluation where appraiser visits specific location; a flat fee will be quoted upon request; travel expenses are additional. Books appraisal: send list including publishing date, author, title, any special information relating to binding, special illustrations, 9690 Deereco Road, Timonium, MD 21093. Estimate will be made & list returned."

You can get the mailing address for the pics from their website.

Hope you're sitting on a fortune!

Veg

http://search.sothebys.com/about/contact/as_auctionest.html