Free (Special) Antique Clock Giveaway!

[TheVTCGuy]

About 20 years ago I started collecting and restoring antique clocks… I was four years old….. Ahem. Anyway, this model was the very first type of clock I purchased and worked on. A little history:

In 1919, General Electric purchased 49% of the Telechron clock company. It was part of a plan to expand their product line from major kitchen appliances to smaller household items that used that incredible new invention (electricity). In 1927, they released the first consumer-oriented refrigerator, the “Monitor Top.” I could take up a whole thread about that product as I also collect items related to it, but sticking to the clock. These were NEVER sold in stores. When a customer purchased a monitor top refrigerator (at a cost equivalent to about $5,000 in today’s money) they received a bunch of “Freebees” A couple examples included leftover glass dishes, glass water bottles, a sugar bowl, salt and pepper shakers, all in the image of the monitor top refrigerator AND THIS CLOCK. These were handed out in 1928, 29, 30 and 31. This particular model is from 1930 and I restored it about a year ago, it is working flawlessly. There were two main models, 1928 and 29, and one from 30 and 31. Some differences include a changed dial, the addition of a second hand, several others, and a total of around 21,000 of these clocks were produced. The most rare, and grail of my collection is the one you see in the background, one of the 40 (ish) prototypes that were manufactured before they went in to production.

Anyway I have several in my collection and it’s time to start (continue) thinning it out, so some lucky TRFer will receive this clock. Just put a post in this thread saying anything you want (although mentioning how good looking I am might improve your chances of winning ) and this weekend at exactly 2:48:35 Pacific Standard Time (or whenever I fell like it) I will pick a random winner. All I ask is that after receiving, you post a picture of it in your home. That’s all there is to it and good luck to all!!!!

[Easy E]

You are clearly above average in looks and intelligence.

[Andy0331]

Does it come with a Tumi travel case?

[Robert Higgins]

In! Looks awesome! Very cool of you Paul!

[brandrea]

That’s so generous of you Paul.

I have one of Paul’s clocks in my home office, and it’s just fantastic

Good luck to everyone

[Speedbird-1]

Very pretty clock Paul. Happy to pay postage to England you good looking b’stard!

[enjoythemusic]

Quite specific in time there Paul. :)

[AzPaul]

That one really is sharp. Nearly as stylish and handsome looking as its restorer.

[subtona]

Is That a an air-freshener complication on top?

[TheVTCGuy]

Originally Posted by Easy E

You are clearly above average in looks and intelligence.

Originally Posted by Speedbird-1

Very pretty clock Paul. Happy to pay postage to England you good looking b’stard!

Originally Posted by AzPaul

That one really is sharp. Nearly as stylish and handsome looking as its restorer.

Note to self: Extra drawing chance for Easy, Speed and Paul

[DanCav]

Great job restoring the clock, as far how good looking you are...you're the one with the beard in your profile picture right...:)

[TheVTCGuy]

Originally Posted by DanCav

Great job restoring the clock, as far how good looking you are...you're the one with the beard in your profile picture right...:)

Note to self: One LESS drawing chance for Dan

[FeelingTheBlues]

That’s a fun looking clock, Paul. Most generous of you indeed.

*Insert something about you squatting four plates for a warm up and looking like Zeus driving a Bugatti*

[Moondoggy]

Lovely gesture, however I’m only being nice while the clock is up for grabs.

[Speedbird-1]

Originally Posted by TheVTCGuy

Note to self: Extra drawing chance for Easy, Speed and Paul

I'd place that clock, right next to the large, beautiful photo' of you, that I have in my den.




PS. Just out of interest Paul, could you tell us something about your restoration procedures/techniques ?

[ratty]

Originally Posted by Moondoggy

Lovely gesture, however I’m only being nice while the clock is up for grabs.

Well at least you are being open and honest.

[ratty]

Originally Posted by Speedbird-1

…

PS. Just out of interest Paul, could you tell us something about your restoration procedures/techniques ?

Hi Paul

As Steve has said above, this sounds like an interesting hobby, can you tell us more about how you get the clocks and what is involved please?

Thanks.

By the way, does it come with it’s original boxes and papers, have you looked at it under a microscope to check for scratches and does it keep perfect time?

[Moondoggy]

Originally Posted by ratty

Well at least you are being open and honest.

Probably a bit of tongue in cheek there.

[Yobber76]

Very nice of you to do this Paul, your generosity is only surpassed by your dashing visage!!!

[G8RDPM]

Nice gesture,Paul. And you have some interesting hobbies!

Your room is always ready!

[TheVTCGuy]

Originally Posted by Speedbird-1

I'd place that clock, right next to the large, beautiful photo' of you, that I have in my den.




PS. Just out of interest Paul, could you tell us something about your restoration procedures/techniques ?

Thanks Steve, I would like to claim it is come complicated in-depth procedure, but in truth, Telechron (the only clock model I work on) is exceptionally easy. Back around the turn of the century, companies were looking to convert clocks to be powered by that new-fangled invention, electricity. The issue was, it was very difficult to regulate time from an AC source (alternating current). As a matter of fact, the first electric clocks used batteries as their power source, which obviously, was not very practical. Around 1910, a man named Henry Warren founded the Telechron clock company in Ashland MA. His solution was incredibly ingenious and simple. To regulate the time, he used a component called a “Rotor.” It was really a counter, sized and positioned so when Alternate Current had completed 60HZ, or 60 switches of positive and negative electrons, the rotor moved the second hand 1/60th of the dial. Simple and ingenious. Replacing a rotor is a very easy procedure, and to work on them usually just involves cleaning the components and re-soldering connections. Easy Peasy

[Secondhandunwinds]

Very generous of you Paul! Very cool history with this clock!

[BLACKHORSE 6]

Very nice!

[geoach]

I like your threads the most here on trf

[Speedbird-1]

Originally Posted by TheVTCGuy

Thanks Steve, I would like to claim it is come complicated in-depth procedure, but in truth, Telechron (the only clock model I work on) is exceptionally easy. Back around the turn of the century, companies were looking to convert clocks to be powered by that new-fangled invention, electricity. The issue was, it was very difficult to regulate time from an AC source (alternating current). As a matter of fact, the first electric clocks used batteries as their power source, which obviously, was not very practical. Around 1910, a man named Henry Warren founded the Telechron clock company in Ashland MA. His solution was incredibly ingenious and simple. To regulate the time, he used a component called a “Rotor.” It was really a counter, sized and positioned so when Alternate Current had completed 60HZ, or 60 switches of positive and negative electrons, the rotor moved the second hand 1/60th of the dial. Simple and ingenious. Replacing a rotor is a very easy procedure, and to work on them usually just involves cleaning the components and re-soldering connections. Easy Peasy

Thanks for that Paul, you make it sound easier than the whole procedure, probably
is.
Why not get your younger brother (Jocke ) to photograph the process?

[Beo3]

That is a really neat clock and very kind of you Paul to part with it.

I also do not wish to be considered for an entry.

[miamiclay]

Thanks!

The story is great, and the clock is nearly as attractive as its restorer! I remember a similar monitor-top at my grandmother’s house (though of course she called it her “icebox.”)

[TheVTCGuy]

And the WINNER is!!!!!



PAUL! (Great name by the way)


I will PM him for a shipping address, thanks everyone for entering the thread and I can promise, there will be more clocks in the near future (I have WAY too many).

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by Secondhandunwinds

Very generous of you Paul! Very cool history with this clock!

Congratulations

[AzPaul]

Thank you, Paul, and really looking forward to its arrival.
Very generous of you to do this.