I always learn from your expert explanations. You have a very soothing voice and cadence. Two terrific attributes for a student to learn from. Thank you Jim. 🙋♀️🙏
I’m no clock appraiser, but I have seen you inspect and assess other dials in better shape and they did not get the ‘excellent condition’ star. Thank you for all you do for us novice repairmen.
Octagonal Schoolhouse clocks were very famous in India until the 70s. Nearly every home had one. Seth Thomas or similar brands. My granddad had a same Seth Thomas piece, which eventually made it into our home when i was ten years old. Pretty much i grew up to the ticking clock and the hourly gong. I am now 60. For the love of the Seth Thomas Schoolhouse clock, I recently bought one at an online vintage store. its got a lot of muck and grease in its pivot points that is 'gumming' the precision of the clock. I just embarked on completely disassembling the clock to the last toothed wheel and put it back. Waiting for the mainspring clip. Borrow or buy one. I am no clock repairer but there are numerous teachers like you on the TH-cam for the discerning enthusiast, that make it look like a breeze.
@@jamesmartin5370 Update. Used CRC Automotive electronic cleaner, on the intact movement without dismantling anything, but sprayed liberally allover. I wouldn't say it thoroughly cleaned, considering the golden glow that you see on most TH-cam vids including yours. Perhaps it would have, if i did Ultrasonic cleaning. But the project gets too complicated for my novice skills. So, I let CRC clean as much as it can, blow dried the unit, then put Clock oil on the pivot points with the tip of a screwdriver. Old clock is happily ticking back to life after mounting onto the case. Haven't put back the dial yet for observation.
Meaning no disrespect.. It pleasures me to watch the aged fingers move so confidently and with such grace over the project at hand. No "herky jurky" movement here, just the fluid motion of years of experience to an art.
Wonderful evaluation. I’m currently reassembling an identical case which I stripped and refinished to new condition. Most of the screws and nails had rusted away due to the clock spending almost a hundred years in very humid Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon). The movement was first serviced in 1919 and regularly thereafter. The movement is the 31 day type with a half hour chime and hour chime. Mine also has a cross brace under the dial and the dial is in good shape with a nice patina showing it’s age. The pendulum door glass has been replaced and has no wording or gold oval on it. I would like to decorate the glass as original, but cannot find a source. Thanks for the video.
1:20 Possible that the distributor marked when he got it or maybe when it was sold (12/28/15). Dunno why it would be written that way though. 4:05 Also move the hands near the middle of the clock face so you don't bend the tips. A secondary benefit of this is it keeps your fingers away from the numbers. 18:09 Sounds slightly out of beat to me. That right hand tick is just a bit early.
Very nice. My family has a ST of about the same vintage taken from a C&O passenger station when the station was closed in 1960. My father had it serviced then and it is still running. Since it's been 60 years since being serviced, maybe it is time to clean it up.
Thanks, When in service, railroad timepieces were required to be serviced once a year. Different railroad companies had different specifications for their timepieces but they all required their timepieces and their employees timepieces to be serviced once a year. 60 years of running with no lubrication being added may result in some worn parts, let us know how it looks inside.
Hi James - We have a similar clock at the railroad museum/miniature railroad in Skykomish. It apparently only runs for 10-15 minutes at a time, but it does run. I suspect it needs a cleaning and oiling. I'd like to find out whether we could get it into your hands to get it running again.
Those dates inside the clock are interesting. The first date was two weeks before my father was born. During the second date, he was a prisoner in Auschwitz. He passed away of January of this year.
Thanks for posting these videos James. They have been informative and entertaining. So much so I found a Seth Thomas mantle clock on Marketplace for cheap and bought it. It works intermittently but that's why I bought it. To tinker with. I noted in this video you pointed out the date code. Looking through the back access door, I don't see anything like that. I see a number stamped in the bottom right corner saying 4 1/2 , it is also marked ST Made in US America. Is the 4 1/2 referring to a date? Or could it be somewhere else on the movement? Thanks in advance for any help.
Seth Thomas used several different styles of dating their clocks. 41AE does not look like any Seth Thomas date codes I have seen. I have never seen a Seth Thomas date code that uses two letters in it.
I have one just like this, just differentiating the numbers that are in roman numerals. It is kept because I brought it with me from Brazil to Canada, where I currently live. 🙂
Seems like there thousands of similar ones on the market in their day, many of them just slightly different from each other to give the consumer multiple choices to choose from, they are good timekeepers.
It wasn't built in 1914 just based on the movement. The movement is a no.41 movement and was around before 1914 and used many years after that. I'm not saying it's not possible that it was built in 1914, just that you can't make that call based on it's movement. In fact, based on the stencil on the back, it was built in June of 1915. I love your videos, just making some observations.
The existing service label has become a antique, owner wanted label preserved in its present condition. I left a business card inside with my service information on it.
I always learn from your expert explanations. You have a very soothing voice and cadence. Two terrific attributes for a student to learn from. Thank you Jim. 🙋♀️🙏
Thanks Leslie,
Glad I can help out some.
I always pick something up while watching James, too...
I want a room that that ticks like yours. That's hypnotizing and I love it.
I know right I have a a clock that ticks.
For the first few days it would probably drive you crazy, then you'd learn to tune it out!
I’m no clock appraiser, but I have seen you inspect and assess other dials in better shape and they did not get the ‘excellent condition’ star. Thank you for all you do for us novice repairmen.
Octagonal Schoolhouse clocks were very famous in India until the 70s. Nearly every home had one. Seth Thomas or similar brands. My granddad had a same Seth Thomas piece, which eventually made it into our home when i was ten years old. Pretty much i grew up to the ticking clock and the hourly gong. I am now 60. For the love of the Seth Thomas Schoolhouse clock, I recently bought one at an online vintage store. its got a lot of muck and grease in its pivot points that is 'gumming' the precision of the clock. I just embarked on completely disassembling the clock to the last toothed wheel and put it back. Waiting for the mainspring clip. Borrow or buy one. I am no clock repairer but there are numerous teachers like you on the TH-cam for the discerning enthusiast, that make it look like a breeze.
Thank You,
Glad I was able to help out..
@@jamesmartin5370 Update. Used CRC Automotive electronic cleaner, on the intact movement without dismantling anything, but sprayed liberally allover. I wouldn't say it thoroughly cleaned, considering the golden glow that you see on most TH-cam vids including yours. Perhaps it would have, if i did Ultrasonic cleaning. But the project gets too complicated for my novice skills. So, I let CRC clean as much as it can, blow dried the unit, then put Clock oil on the pivot points with the tip of a screwdriver. Old clock is happily ticking back to life after mounting onto the case. Haven't put back the dial yet for observation.
Always a pleasure watching you work, James.
That is a very nice example of the drop-octagon...
A beautiful clock, I didn't mention it but someone in the past removed the geneva stop mechanism that was mounted in this movement.
Meaning no disrespect.. It pleasures me to watch the aged fingers move so confidently and with such grace over the project at hand. No "herky jurky" movement here, just the fluid motion of years of experience to an art.
Thanks Robert.
Very nice Seth Thomas. Thanks for your effort to teach us.
Thank you so very much for the time you've taken to do this!
Very nice video. Educational and entertaining! :)
Thanks...
Watching this for the 2nd time.
That is certainly an especially nice clock, James...
Really simple and well made movement here. Good work!
Thanks,
Some previous person removed the didn't
Very nice Seth Thomas. I have an E. Howard weight driven regulator that keeps time like an atomic clock.
Wonderful evaluation. I’m currently reassembling an identical case which I stripped and refinished to new condition. Most of the screws and nails had rusted away due to the clock spending almost a hundred years in very humid Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon). The movement was first serviced in 1919 and regularly thereafter. The movement is the 31 day type with a half hour chime and hour chime. Mine also has a cross brace under the dial and the dial is in good shape with a nice patina showing it’s age. The pendulum door glass has been replaced and has no wording or gold oval on it. I would like to decorate the glass as original, but cannot find a source.
Thanks for the video.
1:20 Possible that the distributor marked when he got it or maybe when it was sold (12/28/15). Dunno why it would be written that way though.
4:05 Also move the hands near the middle of the clock face so you don't bend the tips. A secondary benefit of this is it keeps your fingers away from the numbers.
18:09 Sounds slightly out of beat to me. That right hand tick is just a bit early.
Very cool video, thanks
Very nice. My family has a ST of about the same vintage taken from a C&O passenger station when the station was closed in 1960. My father had it serviced then and it is still running. Since it's been 60 years since being serviced, maybe it is time to clean it up.
Thanks,
When in service, railroad timepieces were required to be serviced once a year.
Different railroad companies had different specifications for their timepieces but they all required their timepieces and their employees timepieces to be serviced once a year.
60 years of running with no lubrication being added may result in some worn parts, let us know how it looks inside.
Hi James - We have a similar clock at the railroad museum/miniature railroad in Skykomish. It apparently only runs for 10-15 minutes at a time, but it does run. I suspect it needs a cleaning and oiling. I'd like to find out whether we could get it into your hands to get it running again.
Sure, contact me at: jamesmart55@hotmail.com
Very nice clock.
Always amazed at how accurate these are.
very cool
Do you take repairs in from Texas? I have a couple movements serviced.
Yes, for more information you can contact me at: jamesmart55@hotmail.com
Those dates inside the clock are interesting. The first date was two weeks before my father was born. During the second date, he was a prisoner in Auschwitz. He passed away of January of this year.
That's something how they aligned with his life events.
Sorry to hear about is passing, my thoughts go out to you.
أحسنت..مستر مارتن..عمل رائع☑☑☑..
شكرا جزيلا لك.
Do you take in clocks for repair?
Yes I do.
Thanks for posting these videos James. They have been informative and entertaining. So much so I found a Seth Thomas mantle clock on Marketplace for cheap and bought it. It works intermittently but that's why I bought it. To tinker with. I noted in this video you pointed out the date code. Looking through the back access door, I don't see anything like that. I see a number stamped in the bottom right corner saying 4 1/2 , it is also marked ST Made in US America. Is the 4 1/2 referring to a date? Or could it be somewhere else on the movement? Thanks in advance for any help.
4 1/2 is for pendulum length , 4 1/2 inches from pendulum support at the top to about the center of the pendulum bob
@@jamesmartin5370 Thanks for the info. I just learned something. When I take the movement out perhaps I'll find the date stamp. Have a good day.
I have this clock and on the edge of the inside piece it says 41AE. Does this still mean January of 1914?
Seth Thomas used several different styles of dating their clocks.
41AE does not look like any Seth Thomas date codes I have seen.
I have never seen a Seth Thomas date code that uses two letters in it.
I have one just like this, just differentiating the numbers that are in roman numerals. It is kept because I brought it with me from Brazil to Canada, where I currently live. 🙂
Seems like there thousands of similar ones on the market in their day, many of them just slightly different from each other to give the consumer multiple choices to choose from, they are good timekeepers.
It wasn't built in 1914 just based on the movement. The movement is a no.41 movement and was around before 1914 and used many years after that. I'm not saying it's not possible that it was built in 1914, just that you can't make that call based on it's movement. In fact, based on the stencil on the back, it was built in June of 1915. I love your videos, just making some observations.
Thank You,
Great information..
Noice
Why didn't you add your own date of service to the label?
The existing service label has become a antique, owner wanted label preserved in its present condition.
I left a business card inside with my service information on it.
@@jamesmartin5370 Very nice. Glad you are doing this work.