Worn 30-hour Ansonia clock mechanism requires extensive restoration for optimal operation.
The Ansonia Clock Co.'s "Alaska" 30-hour clock, a distinctive antique timepiece, is renowned for its unique lifting lever mechanism. This design, which is quite rare among 30-hour clocks, adds a special mechanical interest for collectors and horologists.
Founded in the late 19th century in New York, the Ansonia Clock Company was known for producing a wide variety of clocks with innovative features and attractive designs. The "Alaska" model, named suggestively after the rugged territory, was designed as a practical timepiece with a 30-hour movement, requiring daily winding.
The "Alaska" operates on a 30-hour mechanical movement, powered by a mainspring. The unique lifting lever in the mechanism functions to actuate parts of the clock movement, likely engaging or disengaging components crucial for the clock's winding or striking action. This lever may have been designed to simplify winding or to improve the reliability of the clock’s strike or timekeeping function.
A recently acquired antique clock, which was purchased at auction in 2022, features a 30-hour movement. Upon closer inspection, it was found that the movement, like all vintage mechanical clocks, is subject to wear, particularly on its mechanical parts. The worst pivots were both ends of the escape wheel and the third wheel on the time side of the movement. Re-pivoting was required for the escape wheel due to its poor condition, with two holes drilled in both ends of the escape wheel to a sufficient depth for anchoring the pivot wire.
The brass on the escape wheel bushing and backplate was significantly worn, and a new suspension spring and leader replaced the original one. Minor escape wheel/pallet adjustments were required due to the new pivots. The movement ran strongly after 30 hours, indicating that it had been properly serviced.
The design of the base is identical to the "Alaska" found in the 1886 Ansonia catalog, suggesting that the clock was made around that time. The movement has a unique lifting lever, called a "turn back", for turning back the hands. The date June 13, 1882, is stamped on the front plate of the movement, referring to a patent date. The correct pivot wire size for the escape wheel is 1.35mm.
The clock case will need refreshing to restore its original beauty. Despite the wear and tear, the Ansonia Clock Co.'s "Alaska" 30-hour clock remains a testament to the company's reputation for quality and creativity, offering a glimpse into the past while providing a unique mechanical experience for its owners.
This vintage Ansonia Clock Co.'s "Alaska" 30-hour clock, crafted around 1886, serves as a prime example of the company's innovative approach to lifestyle products, such as home-and-garden gadgets, demonstrating the integration of technology in its design. Alongside other vintage clocks from the Ansonia Clock Company, this unique timepiece adds an element of mechanical interest to modern homes, reflecting the evolving intersection between vintage clocks, technology, and contemporary lifestyle choices.
