We've acquired an Elgin grandmother clock.

[polkanut]

Saw an ad on my local Craigslist for a grandmother clock for $50.00.  I called, and the owner said because it wasn't working he would sell it for $10 instead.  I jumped on it.  I said I was willing to get it fixed, and paid the money.  Will post pics once it is in place in our dining room.  For now here are some pics of the paperwork that came with it.  The copyright on the instruction booklet says 1962, but the warranty card has a zip code on it.  So I'm thinking it was probably made after 1964.

 

They had recently moved it out of their dining room to get the carpet cleaned, and when they moved it back into place it wouldn't keep running.  They're downsizing because of having sold their home so selling it was twofold.  Win for us though!

[this post was last edited: 3/11/2016-10:12]

 

[tomturbomatic]

Congratulations!

I think a picture of the actual clock would have been nice. Does it have the glass like the GE's did so you can see all the guts?

My sister is after me to sell our family's 1760 something tall case clock.

 

[polkanut]

Here are some more pics.  My wife and I had to bring it in the house first.  I'll be calling the clock repairman today to set up an appointment.  I'm glad to know he makes house calls.

 

The case only has glass in the door, and in the door in front of the face.

 

[abcomatic]

Wow, nice clock. It may have to be re-bushed. That's ok though, it will run for years after that is done.

 

[whirlcool]

Service for clocks can be expensive. We have a grandfather clock that stopped running and called in a clock repair guy to look at it. He said the movement needed to be removed from the clock, cleaned, readjusted and reinstalled. $500 He also said every few years this kind of service should be performed to keep the clock running. I just blew out the movement with a can of air and the thing started working again. If our clock had been a Sligh TOL model I probably would have done it, but it was a lower level Howard Miller clock that was a retirement gift from my airline.

Make sure the clock is perfectly level front to back and side to side. Sometimes that's enough to stop clocks from running.

 

[roto204]

Clocks that die after relocation

Level is important, and not moving the clock when the pendulum is attached is important as well.  Not doing so can bend the verge and put it out of beat.  I struggled with a spring-would pendulum mantle clock that David found, where this had happened.

 

We had our grandfather clock for years and years working in happy order with minimal maintenance--but we never moved it around, either.

 

[polkanut]

I called the guy who's business card I found in the envelope containing all of the paperwork, and he was out of town on a house call fixing a clock for another customer.  He took my contact info and said he would call when he was back at his shop/home to set up the appointment.  I'm going to have him give the clock a complete going over if it's economically feasible.  I really like the size of it, and want to have it functional for many years to come. 

 

[whirlcool]

Grandfather/Grandmother clocks are fun to have around. I love the chimes. We also have a mantle clock that has a better sounding chime than our Grandfather clock has.

Moving clocks.

A few years ago my nutty sister's husband inherited his parents TOL Sligh grandfather clock. They had to move it about 40 miles to their house. I'd seen this clock before and it was a work of art. Burled Oak and walnut inlays. She asked me how to move it, I told her to call a clock company which will come pack it, move it and set it up for her for about $200. But it will be in perfect condition after the move. What does she do? Her and her husband throw it in the back of a friends pickup truck, not even removing the weights or pendulum and moved it themselves. I don't think that there is one square inch of that clock that wasn't somehow damaged in that move.

 

[polkanut]

Update:

The clock repairman called back while I was at work yesterday and my wife set up an appointment with him to come and look at it on 3/21/16 between 10-10:30AM. Let's hope the repairs won't be too serious. I'm hoping that all it needs is just a good tune-up & cleaning. Fingers crossed.

[this post was last edited: 3/12/2016-07:31]

 

[golittlesport]

Congratulations!

Congrats on your new clock. Sounds like you got a good deal and hope you get it ticking away soon. We have a Howard Miller grandfather clock and it's my most cherished possession in the house. I find the tick-tock and chimes very soothing.

 

[xraytech]

Congrats on the new clock.
I just love the tick tock sound and chimes of these clocks.

After my aunts sudden passing last summer I got her Ridgeway grandfather clock, it's a newer clock from about 1995-96. I had it moved and serviced, as well as a part replaced for maybe $250. It was well worth it.

 

[jerrod6]

Big Congratulations!

I think Grandfather clocks are beautiful pieces of work as well as functional. As a boy I always wanted one and over some years I ended up buying two.  Agree with Whirlcool that people need to have a clock repair person move the clock.  When I moved mine I had the "clock person" take the clocks apart, move the cabinets to the new house,  and then have the works taken to the shop to have them cleaned and oiled.  Once completed the person reassembled the works, checked the level and everything has been working perfectly since.

 

I think the recommended service interval is every 10 years, but I guess this could depend on who you are talking to.

I have a Herschede and a newer Sligh clock but have them in different parts of the house and have one running a few minutes behind the other.  Having both chiming at the same time creates a difficult situation especially if you are talking on the phone.   Also note that next to the Sligh clock there is a mouse sticky pad catcher.  Mice like the hide under this thing and then peer out from underneath,  especially when you have company over!

 

Again Congratulations,  and enjoy your grandfather clock.  IMO just a beautiful piece of work that is becoming rarer every year.

 

 

 

[lordkenmore]

I've wanted a grandfather clock for years... One memory when growing up: seeing a really tiny grandfather-like clock. One about my height at the time (late elementary school?). Apparently, I was told, it was a "granddaughter clock." Why, as I think of it now, one could have a grandfather clock, a grandmother clock, and a grand daughter clock lined along the hall wall. The complete family. LOL

 

[lordkenmore]

Way off topic, but one of my favorite Hardy Boys books when growing up was WHILE THE CLOCK TICKED. The major scene of action was a deserted house that had a grandfather clock that mysteriously started running. The clock played a huge role later in the book, when it was used as the timing mechanism for a time bomb. One would think it would be more logical, of course, to build a small clock into the bomb itself...but this is the Hardy Boys, not real life...

Maybe that book is one reason why I want a grandfather clock...although I think I'll pass on having it attached to a bomb. LOL

 

[tolivac]

There is something fascinating about traditional Spring and gravity powered clocks-They can keep going with just only user attention like winding,lubing,and so on.They could run for DECADES-can't say that about the cheap battery clocks we find today.

 

[polkanut]

Just for clarification, ours is a "grandmother" clock.  From what info I've been able to find online our clock should have Welby works inside it.  The "Elgin" brand name was used by various companies over the years with no connection whatsoever to the watch company.

 

[supersuds]

But your literature shows the name and address of the Elgin National Watch Company, so there must have been a marketing connection, even if Elgin didn't make it.

After Elgin went out of business, the name showed up everywhere. I remember my mom had a cheap Japanese-made "Elgin" travel alarm clock for awhile.

 

[ovrphil]

Nice find Tim!

Congrats on acquiring the Grandmother clock..what a deal. Then again, you have a repair(s) in the wings. I hope it's not a big cost, either.

I'm a fan of old clocks and worked at the Henry Ford Museum/GF Village at one time. We nearly sprung for a reproduction Aaron Willard clock, that the museum owns. Other priorities, we let it go. But here's what I still love as far as tall clocks go:

 

[petek]

I love clocks.  I used to dream that when I owned my own house I'd have a nice grandfather clock. I often looked at them and almost bought one one day when the appeared at Costco for a short while. But still no clock . I have a couple of key wound wall clocks but they're not antique, from around the 70's as well as a cuckoo clock I got when I was about 12. 

 

[polkanut]

Pete,

I usually checked my local Craigslist about once a month or so.

 

[mattl]

I too have a grandmother clock.  My mother bought it as a remembrance of her mother when the estate was settled.  It was purchased in '66 and is still running - without service -- to this date.  It's a Ridgeway clock, do not know the maker of the guts.  It can be finicky.  When I move it to clean it may take a few days to get it running as it should, it's on carpet so that makes it a bit harder to level.  But it chimes every 15 minutes and has for 50 years now.

 

Hope you get many years of use out of yours...

 

[polkanut]

Matt,

Just for peace of mind it would be a good idea to have a knowledgeable clock maker service it so that it keeps running for many more years.  Parts can wear out and fail after that many years of use.

 

[retro-man]

The main thing in these clocks is lubrication. I need to order the kit from Amazon. It is a synthetic lubricant in a sort of hypo dermic needle. From all that I have read lube anything that moves or turns.(lol) I have had my grandfather clock for about 18 years now without service and I have notice a few things such as when winding it up its a little stiff on the right side and when it chimes on the 1/4 hour it is hitting a sour note. I am sure that it just needs lubing. It also needs it more now than ever since it has been moved to the beach place. Salt air is not friendly to any parts.

Jon

 

[lotsosudz]

ONE MORE TIP

Always keep the clock on a inside wall. Temperature, as well as humidity that might be passed through a wall, will affect a clock.

 

[mattl]

Hmm. my clock sat in a nook with an outside wall for many, many years.  No down side to it.

 

I may look into lubricating the mechanism though.  As I mentioned my clock has had no attention in 50 years.

 

[abcomatic]

Tim

There was a clock maker in Antigo, Wisconsin on the way to Door County. I have no clue if they are still in business or what? I have a grandfather and grandmother clocks as well as several antique mantel and shelf clocks. My oldest one if a Seth Thomas from around 1860. IMO, the best clock maker in the US during the 19th.century was the Ansonia Clock works. They started out in Conn. and ended up in New York after a huge fire. If you start collecting clocks, these are the ones to look for. They keep excellent time and sure look the part of 19th. century manufacturing. Happy time. Gary

 

[polkanut]

Gary,

Is this the clock maker you are thinking of?

http://www.callawayclockandantiqueradioservice.com/Home_Page.php

 

[polkanut]

This is the clock repair man that will be servicing our clock.  He's semi-retired, and was a bit hesitant about agreeing to work on our clock, but finally agreed to do it when I told him he has serviced it in the past.

 

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<h1 id="yui_3_18_1_1_1458129963068_382" class="kg-style1 top-pad" data-page="info">Jirovec Clock Service</h1>
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<li id="yui_3_18_1_1_1458129963068_375" class="info-addr"><span id="yui_3_18_1_1_1458129963068_388">N2066 High Ridge Rd</span>, <span id="yui_3_18_1_1_1458129963068_390">Merrill</span>, <span id="yui_3_18_1_1_1458129963068_391">WI</span> <span id="yui_3_18_1_1_1458129963068_392">54452</span><small id="yui_3_18_1_1_1458129963068_389" class="cross-streets">
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<li id="yui_3_18_1_1_1458129963068_393" class="info-phone">(715) 536-8953</li>
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[polkanut]

Well, the clock repair man was here today and he had great news. 

1. He was completely impressed that I only paid $10 for the clock.

2. He couldn't believe how pristine the works were/are.  He found a date of 12/1967 on the works.

3. He told my wife that a comparable new clock would cost around $1,500-2,000 today.

4. He lubed it, made sure it was level, and set it all for $110.78.

 

Here's a pic of it in place in our dining room where it will reside permanently.  In the condition it's in he said he could easily see this being passed on to future generations with a reasonable amount of care.  The company that made the works went out of business about 30 years ago, but parts are still easily obtained if needed. 

 

[whirlcool]

That's great news! Hold onto that clock guy, he gave you a great price! I know you will enjoy having this clock around.