Pictures
[above] Restored Gilbert Observatory with door open
[above] Restored (original?) movement signed E. N. Welch
[above] What's left of the original label
[above] After movement & face restoration - before case repair.
[above] After movement restoration - before case repair.
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William L. Gilbert Clock Co., Observatory, 8-day Calendar Regulator, circa 1913.
This is a classic time only "store regulator" with calendar dial from the first part of the 20th. century. The brass movement is signed "EN Welch Mfg. Co., Forrestville, Conn.", the assumption being that Gilbert may have purchased calendar movements for these clocks from Welch. There is no indication that this is not the original movement. The clock (time piece) appears to be completely original.
I purchased the clock at an estate auction on April 05, 2008. The movement was cleaned and bushings installed as needed. The pendulum bob was polished, and the hands refinished. As received, the case was more or less falling apart, and the original finish was "pretty bad", and the movement was worn and just filthy dirty. The movement has been cleaned and bushings installed as needed, the case was repaired and refinished. Both glasses are original but the black and gold were touched up. The bottom glass has a small crack in one corner but is not noticable. It's interesting to note that many of the parts of the case still have the rough-cut saw marks where the less visible parts were never sanded smooth. That's how it was originally, so for the most part that's how I left it! The clock runs great and the calendar function works properly. This is one of my favorite daily runners and a part of my permanent collection.
Not for sale at this time
The information on this page is believed to
the writer to be correct at the date of posting but is presented with
no guarantee expressed or implied. Pictures were a true representation of this clock at the time of posting but may not be current. Please contact me if you believe
that any of the above information is incorrect, or if you
wish to share additional information about this
clock.
Unless otherwise credited, the pictures
and information on this page are the property
of Robert H Croswell & Greenfield Clock shop, 4180 Main Street, Trappe, MD 21673
and may not be sold or used for commercial
purposes without permission. © 2016
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