Arts and Antiques with Dr. Lori

Tall Case or Time Bomb? Tips about antique Clocks

Dr. Lori shares tips on taking care that your antique timepiece keeps running like ... clockwork.

For many of us, the sound of a familiar clock tick reminds us of home. Grandfather or tall case clocks offer some of the loveliest of chimes ranging from St. Michaels to Westminster. The serene ticking and tocking of many clocks provides comfort. And, clocks have personalities like late 19th Century mantle clocks, 1950s souvenir clocks from various locales or brass carriage clocks. For instance, my mother has a circa 1960s Seth Thomas clock made in Connecticut that we lovingly refer to as “time bomb”. We call it that because it sounds like a time bomb. We used to announce the time around our house with the quip, “Time bomb says 8:30 AM.” While all clocks have a rhythm or beat (a tick and a tock), my mom’s Seth Thomas clock certainly had a …

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