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Ron Patch of The Vermont Journal – A Timely Clock Repair

S teve Green asked if I would look at his case, added kerosene, and closed “Yes, come on down,” he said. Lee
Decatur and I drove down to
the door. As the kerosene evapor-
wife’s family clock. Steve married Michelle
Wade. The clock had been Michelle’s
Lindy had several tablets out
grandparent’s clock, Carroll and Edna Wade of ated, it collected on the dial, move- Lindy’s in Lee’s 1953 MG.
ment, and pendulum.
Plymouth. It had resided in a closet for 30 years, I don’t recommend this. for me to choose from. I selected a
awaiting resurrection. Over many years and refillings, beautiful new old stock tablet. This
This Ansonia clock was manufactured the kerosene attracted the dust that tablet was not a stencil. The design
c.1890 to 1900, and referred to as a kitchen gummed up the movement. The you see is etched right into the
clock, at that time. Today in the trade, they are first thing I did was give the move- glass and needed to be cut to size.
called gingerbread clocks, and are often made of ment a good bath in clock cleaner. Neither Lee nor I felt competent to
oak. Earlier examples were made of walnut. Then I dried and oiled the move- cut the glass. One mistake and it is
Of interest to me, this clock is an oak case ment, greased the springs, and set it all over.
with a nickel-plated dial pan and nickel pendu- up in the test stand. It ran fine, with I took the doorframe and tablet
lum. The silver stencil on the tablet had been just minor tweaking needed. to the Framery of Vermont to see
erased by years of aggressive cleaning. Usually, The Finish if they would cut it. John
oak case gingerbreads have a brass dial pan, with When the clock was brought to me, it had DeBenedetti, using his wall mounted glasscut-
gold stencil on the reverse side of the door tablet, been painted over twice, each time a different ter, first cut the glass to size. Then he cut
and a brass pendulum. color. Using paint remover and hours of scrub- the angles at the top of the door. Perfect. I was
Walnut case gingerbreads had a nickel-plated bing and picking, I removed the paint as best I holding my breath!
dial pan, silver stencil on the door tablet, and a could. In the end grain the paint was very Refinish
nickel-plated pendulum. Why my interest, you stubborn. In some places, I was able to hide the After I was finished with paint remover, I
might wonder. I think Ansonia made this oak paint in the end grain with a colored pen. It was went over the entire case with a fine steel wool.
case clock during their transition from walnut impossible to get it all. Now it was ready for a new finish. I used a
case to less expensive oak case clocks, using up The pendulum was heavily corroded from golden oak stain. The wood was dry and thirsty,
their remaining supply of nickel-plated parts on kerosene. I went through my collection of clock so it took three applications.
a few oak gingerbreads. It is also possible it was parts and found the exact pendulum in mint Restoring this clock required Lindy, John,
a special order. Either way, it’s of interest to me. condition. So I switched pendulums. I’m always and Lee’s help. The paper dial had yellowed
Kerosene looking for clock parts. Now you know why. from the kerosene and needed to be replaced.
Years ago, I met an old timer, who told me The Tablet Lee cut a new dial and glued it to the dial pan.
about using kerosene as an evaporative lubri- I called Lindy Larson down in Westminster This team effort resulted in a beautiful clock
cant. He used a tin, screw top cover from a tin to see if he had a gingerbread tablet with silver the family will enjoy for years to come. I’ve
can, placed the cover in the bottom of the clock always had a soft spot for Ansonia clocks.
stencil. Lindy is a nationally known clock dealer.

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