Antique Ansonia Mantel Clock Restoration

Ansonia Mantel Clock w/Mary Goodwin - Airplanes and Rockets

This mantel clock is a multi-generational heirloom. It was not expensive, but had emotional value. Melanie's family hearkens from the York, Pennsylvania, region and this clock, I discovered, was manufactured by the Ansonia company and sold by Will K. Rebert, Watchmaker and Jeweler, in York. Her parents gave it to me for Christmas of 2006, and I decided to refinish it and return it to them the next Christmas. Unfortunately, Melanie's father passed away from cancer last summer, but we were able to present it to her mother. I used chemical stripper to avoid sanding to preserve the intricate and shallow engravings. As it turned out there was a milk paint coating underneath the black paint that was hard as a rock. The case insides and back cover are stained with a Deft lacquer topcoat. The case outside and door are black lacquer paint. All the metal hardware was wire wheeled and clear lacquered. The dial was replaced with on from another old wind-up clock I had, and the broken pendulum-driven mechanism was replaced with a nice electronic one from Klockit. Fall 2007.

Ansonia Mantel Clock w/Mary Goodwin - Airplanes and Rockets

Ansonia Mantel Clock

Original Condition

Ansonia Mantel Clock Original Clockworks - Airplanes and Rockets

Ansonia Mantel Clock

Original Clockworks

Ansonia Mantel Clock Original Milk Paint on Door - Airplanes and Rockets

Ansonia Mantel Clock

Original Milk Paint on Door

Ansonia Mantel Clock Restored w/Electronic Clockworks - Airplanes and Rockets

Ansonia Mantel Clock

Restored w/Electronic Clockworks

Ansonia Mantel Clock Restored Factory Label - Airplanes and Rockets

Ansonia Mantel Clock

Restored Factory Label

 

Posted October 19, 2014

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