Restoring an Old School Clock in New Haven's Worn-out High School
In the heart of Brantford, Ontario, Canada, the New Haven Clock Co. of Canada plant was established in 1906. This factory, a subsidiary of the New Haven Clock Company of America, was responsible for assembling the "Canadian made" New Haven Octagonal short drop wall clock. However, the New Haven Clock Company of Canada does not appear to have a history separate from its U.S. counterpart.
The clock, removed from a schoolhouse in Saskatchewan, Alberta, in the 1960s, ran for many years with apparently minimal servicing. The timepiece went through a full 8-day cycle without issues during post-assembly testing.
The movement of the clock, though dirty, was carefully cleaned and is now back in its case, being regulated and proudly displayed in the author's living room. The movement was mounted with 15 bushings, 7 on the front plate and 8 on the rear plate, to ensure a smooth operation.
The clock features three critical levers: the hammer strike lever, the drop and paddle lever, and the unlocking/lift lever. The drop and paddle lever carries out multiple functions, including pushing the unlocking/lift lever down and forming the paddle that indicates the strike on both the hour and half hour. The hammer strike lever is activated by the hammer lifting pins on the cam wheel. The positioning of these levers is crucial for the clock to run correctly.
Interestingly, while both mantel and wall clocks were made in the Brantford plant with Canadian wood cases, the spring-driven pendulum movements were brought in from the U.S. The centre cannon arbour required a large bushing on the rear plate for the clock's movement.
Despite not being the most aesthetically pleasing or melodious, this utilitarian schoolhouse clock should run without issues for years to come. For those seeking more information about this clock or other Canadian-made timepieces, local clock collectors or historical societies may provide valuable insights.
- In the author's living room, the vintage clock, a restored New Haven Octagonal short drop wall clock, gracefully ticks, its clock movements carefully repaired and regulated, showcasing a blend of vintage aesthetics and modern technology in the lifestyle it embodies.
- The author discovered that while the wall clocks manufactured in the New Haven Clock Co. of Canada plant in Brantford were issued Canadian-made wood cases, the clock movements, particularly the spring-driven pendulum movements, were imported from the U.S.
- With its distinctive three levers - the hammer strike, drop and paddle, and unlocking/lift levers - this utilitarian schoolhouse clock, once a part of a schoolhouse in Saskatchewan, Alberta, demonstrates a testament to the intricate engineering behind classic wall clocks, a testament that transcends generations and continues to endure, even amidst advancements in technology.
