Vintage Clock Find

[lordkenmore]

I went through a thrift store Friday. It was a wasted trip. Or so I thought until I stumbled across this clock.

 

[lordkenmore]

I picked the clock up, and studied it. It clearly had wear & tear--the finish looks better in the photo above than in person. But the worst problem came to light when I turned it around. No back. And the movement had been replaced by a modern quartz movement. Isn't that sort of like putting Whirlpool DD internals into a 60s Kenmore BD?

 

[lordkenmore]

Making matters worse, when I looked carefully at the moment, I saw: "Made in China." Oh, how the mighty clock has fallen!

Although, I guess it could have been worse. The person making the conversion could have cut out a rectangle on the dial, and installed a digital clock.

While I'd prefer this clock authentic, the conversion does make it practical for me. Power failure season is coming, and I've been thinking of getting a quartz clock for my living room. This clock is something I actually like, unlike most thrift store quartz clocks I see which appear to be designed with the "how cheap, ugly, or tacky can we make this piece of junk?" goal.

 

[polkanut]

While I applaud the previous owners ingenuity, I must scold them for ruining a beautiful vintage electric clock. It's very hard to find a working electric clock where the case is in good shape. But as long as you're happy with it, that's all that matters.

 

[mrb627]

Clock Freak Here

I am a clock freak but typically gravitate towards clocks that chime or coo-coo.

Malcolm

 

[whirlcool]

I like clocks too. I have been known to find a nice mantle clock with great chimes, put in a new movement and give them as gifts to friends.

I particularly like the mantel clocks which sound more like grandfather clocks than jewlery boxes.

 

[circlew]

Nice clock

Really like the Art Moderne style of it. What I think a Heywood-Wakefield clock would have looked like. Too bad it doesn't have the original works in it, but at least it was saved.

 

[austinado16]

I like it too

I'm not so bothered by the modern movement. To me, it's been saved, and it's been allowed to continue on, still being a useable clock.

 

[lordkenmore]

Yes, I have to agree that it's really too bad the original movement is gone. I tend to be a purist, and I don't like conversions like this. I can see doing a conversion if the original movement is broken beyond repair. Although, if this clock had come my way with a broken movement, I'd probably have left it alone, and considered it a decorative object.

Past that, in this case, I really wish the person doing the conversion had put the back on again. While it's strictly not necessary, and it's easier changing a battery with an open back, the outward appearance would be considerably better looking--and more authentic looking--if that back were still in place. Plus, the back helped hold the dial assembly in place. (The dial assembly, which also holds the movement, has 2 threaded poles that run through the case. The back obviously attached to those poles, and would help "clamp" the front to the case.)

At least, the really important stuff--the case and the dial--survived. And, while I don't like the conversion, I might as well use this as a clock, since I can use a quartz clock.

Although, I have been thinking that it would be an interesting project to try converting it back to electric. I think electric movements are probably NLA, but I might stumble across one. Possibly inside a case that is beyond any hope of repair.

 

[tolivac]

I like spring powered or gravity powered weight driven clocks-just wind and set them-no batteries or cords required.There are so many quartz battery clocks around they are getting boring.