HISTORY:
TICK (pause) TOCK (pause) TICK (pause) TOCK Don't you just love that sound?
Hopefully someone other than myself shares a passion for OLD clocks, the wind up type (clockwork) as they are fascinating insights into how time was measured in days gone by.
A long time ago I collected mechanical clocks, fascinated with all those gears and cogs! Nothing fancy, just some early 20th Century mantle clocks such as the Ansonia's from USA and one or two English & French mantle clocks from the 19th Century.
The fascination really comes down to that lovely "tick-tock-tick-tock" sound, especially the larger clocks such as the Grandfather and Grandmother clocks, punctuated by the very nice chiming on the half and full hour.
This clock is completely different in that it's appeal is visual not audible. Not it isn't really the dome glass casing that gives it the visual appeal but the ROTATING pendulum.
Please make no mistake though, this is NOT an original "Anniversary Clock" (an original in reasonable working condition will set you back at least A$500) but a reproduction from around 30 ~ 40 years ago, designed and manufactured in West Germany or thereabouts ... this clock was made around the time of German Unification after WWII, in 1990, because part of the case indicates GERMANY (rear of the mechanism) and another part (on the underside of the base) indicates WEST GERMANY.
All of my primary clock collection have found new homes to "tick tock" in but today I found this lonely old soul sitting in one of my boxes of goodies.
The construction of this clock is of a hybrid nature, metal parts, faux metal (Brass base), glass dome and of course, plastic and nylon.
I am by nature very much into details and you can see and read more detail about this clock further into this description.
JAMES C HUNTINGTON - Anniversary Clock
REPRODUCTION
Designed & manufactured in West Germany
Circa 1980's ~1990's
This clock is not "windup" but instead requires 1x AA battery and instead of those nice brass gears, they have been replaced by a nylon gear module.
The clock indicates the passing of time, there are no chimes, no alarms
DIMENSIONS: 180mm height x 130mm diameter
CONSTRUCTION:
The top dome is made of glass, not plastic, and it sits on top of the base - not secured in any way
The base is plastic based with a coating of a simulated Brass. I am not sure how this was done, it isn't just a film as there has been no "peeling" but instead I can see the tell-tale signs indicating the presence of Copper (Green colouring) where oxidisation to the surface has occurred - I described this in more detail down in the COSMETIC CONDITION section.
The clock mechanism is supported by two posts, these are all metal (Copper) with an outer Brass tubing which slides over the Copper posts. This Brass tubing is solid metal, not coated plastic.
The main clock mechanism is entirely plastic housed and uses snap fittings at the rear to access the single battery compartment and if desired, access to the mechanism module.
The face of the clock is nicely decorated, a mix of metals and plastic with the top Silver coloured section being coated plastic.
Overall, the clock has been well thought out and is quite easy to disassemble if ever that was the owners wish.
OPERATION:
To be used on a level surface although I found this wasn't too critical (unlike the Grandfather case clock we have, they are VERY touchy about having a level surface)
Insert the battery and replace the cover ... The clock will "self start" I.e rotation of the three balls gets underway without the owner having to give it a "push a long"
It takes a few minutes to get up to running speed ... by this I mean that at first the rotation of the balls is small, around 300~360 degrees but it slowly builds up the amount of rotation those balls make until after a few minutes they are spinning around 600 degrees in each direction (about 1.75 rotations in each direction)
Here is a video of the clock in operation immediately after inserting the battery
After 20 minutes or so, this video shows how the rotational speed has gradually increased but it has now stabilised at around 1.75 revolutions in each direction
The mechanism does have a knob for time accuracy speed adjustment at the rear
COSMETIC CONDITION:
USED
Clean
NO damage to the glass dome
NO damage to the clock face, hands etc
NO marks on the dome or the clock face
HOWEVER, the base is a different story (see one of the photographs) - it looks as though the "Brass like" coating has suffered some oxidisation spotting. During the process of cleaning up the clock I tried to remove or reduce these marks and fortunately no flaking occurred but the spots could not be removed, in fact this is when I could see the Green colouring from the metallic coating.
Now these marks are not "terrible" they do detract from the overall appearance of the clock, although fortunately they dominate towards the rear of the base and are less visible.
TESTING:
I have had this clock for quite a while but decided it was a waste just leaving it in a box here so it is seeking a new home.
Of course I needed to check it out ... I have run this clock for the previous 8 days or so and never had an issue plus the time keeping was pretty good too!
I really liked the effect when the clock is sitting in the dining room bay window and the sunlight catches those rotating balls - a bit like having a disco ball in your dining room!
I have reassembled the clock (taken apart for the photographs), ran it for a further couple of days and now packed it VERY CAREFULLY - these clocks are by their very nature, delicate to move around. I have made sure the rotating "pendulum" cannot move or be damaged and of course the clock face and dome have also been carefully protected, ready for shipping to it's new home!
P.S I will not supply the battery - Australia Post is a bit touchy about sending batteries through the Post, even little AA batteries. This battery is commonly available and always use the Alkaline type for clocks (not Zinc Carbon) such as this - they provide more short term current when the mechanism needs it.
