DIY Servicing and Restoration of an 1880s E. Ingraham Kitchen Clock

[@roryvonbrutt7302]

Great job❗️ Who doesn't love old clocks⁉️®™️ 👏👏💖💖👏👏

[@JJJinks]

I appreciate this video! That date stamp on the back is indeed from 1885. Edward Ingraham was my great grandfather, and he took over the factory in that year. He would have been tickled pink knowing some of the stuff coming out of his factory are showing up on the modern intertubes! Yours, -Edward

[@JimmiePorterAtStuartArts]

What a wonderful legacy...thank you for the nice comment!

[@robinbirdj743]

How cool! I just purchased one from 1880s with its original glass. Love it!

[@jackharris2348]

Edward, This is a wonderful video and Jimmie did an excellent job. I recently picked up an Ingraham clock at a small 2nd hand store in Oklahoma. I'd like to determine the model and manufacture date, and have it restored. Does anyone know if there's a catalog or inventory of Ingraham mantel clocks anywhere - online or hard copy? I need to find someone in the Chicagoland area who could do that correctly... or... I could ship it to Jimmie :)!

[@JJJinks]

@@jackharris2348 There’s a museum in Bristol, CT that has a lot of Ingraham clocks and watches. I met the curator last year, she’s a nice lady and very enthusiastic and knowledgeable about the Ingraham pieces. You could try contacting the American Clock and Watch Museum, maybe they’ll help you out

[@jordanbusby6231]

Thank you edward Ingraham for the black mantel clock such as the Ingraham wizard I love mine

[@sammyroark7073]

You've done a beautiful job on restoring this antique gingerbread clock. The transformation is day and night. Brilliant choice in color as well. Not too light and not too dark. Really enjoyed this video.

[@JimmiePorterAtStuartArts]

Thank you for the kind words !

[@gordonjenkins8171]

Another interesting and informative video.

[@manualgeorge4349]

Wonderful clock 👍

[@Stephens8x6Workshop]

Very nice work Mr JP 🙂 Hope all is well with you and yours.

[@JimmiePorterAtStuartArts]

Thank you Stephen….So good to hear from you…!

[@pauldyck4596]

I collect clocks and have had good luck on FB Marketplace where if you pay attention you often pick up clocks cheaply - I've picked up some really nice clocks for $25 or less. You did a really nice job restoring the case. One thing I would have done a little differently is that given the clock would only run for a short while before stopping I would have bit the bullet and completely disassembled the movement for cleaning and possibly bushing work.

[@JimmiePorterAtStuartArts]

Thanks Paul...I’m only recently taking them fully apart to clean. I wasn’t confident that I would be able to get them back together but now I’ve had a few successes. I also have not yet bushed a movement...I need to invest in the tools for that.

[@JimmiePorterAtStuartArts]

I too watch marketplace and have picked up some awesome old clocks. I have probably 20 or so wall clocks that need my attention...

[@PaulLockwood]

Love it! I have a movement that got me into the woodworking that I bought off eBay. It is supposed to be an 1880 movement too. It looks almost identical to what you have there but no alarm and it's around a 30 hour movement. Unfortunately there was no case, just the movement and the face. I pulled he whole thing apart and stuck it in the ultrasonic bath, runs like a dream. Unfortunately my woodworking skill were not great so a very basic pine case was made, but the main thing is the movement and it's what got me to where I am now with the shed, woodturning and some general woodworking. Oh I'm a bit of a mechanical clock collector where I think I now have around 10 clocks including a Grand Father, Grand Daughter and a Dutch mantle clock which was actually more expensive than the Grand Father clock. Fascinated that they could make these with such precision all that time ago.

[@JimmiePorterAtStuartArts]

They are a lot of fun to tinker with...bite sized projects... I got on a tear buying old clocks I found in FB Marketplace. I’ve got quite an inventory of projects... I’d love to pick up a few in England... y’all have some pretty awesome and ancient ones...

[@TheRecreationalMachinist]

Like that. Thanks for sharing 👍🏼

[@spindlesworkshop9744]

Cool stuff👍

[@robertsmoot-technologymana536]

I have an 1887 Clock I want to get working, but I am not sure what type of clock it is. I am a rookie and wondering how you find out who made the clock and then for my particular clock it is not moving at all so I will look at other videos and things as it seems worse for wear than the one on this video. Although the glass is in place!

[@JimmiePorterAtStuartArts]

If there is a maker’s mark it will be on one of the brass plates that hold the movement together. I belong to a couple of Facebook groups that are for folks working on clocks. They are very helpful. Your question comes up often and the experts can usually provide a quick answer. Good luck!

[@anthonyclark1699]

I have the very same movement. The base and face where the dial goes are almost identical. Actually overall the designs are very similar,just the trim pieces are different . Mine have what looks like columns and 4 pieces on each side are identical to the 2 bottom pieces on the side of your clock. The biggest difference is probably the top trim piece. Oh yeah my door has 2 hinges where yours had the hinge on top and had a slide out bottom. Mine runs great! The alarm works perfect. Believe glass has been replaced and I had to refinish the cabinet inside and out. Went with Walnut which I believe it's real Walnut wood. Anyway your clock is the closest thing I've seen to the one I've had for well over 25 years. You think maybe back then they did one of a kinds but basic design? Have fun with your clocks,I sure enough enjoy mine. ✌️✌️

[@JimmiePorterAtStuartArts]

They are great clocks. This one has been running continuously since I made the video. Cheers!

[@jackharris2348]

Have you ever cleaned/restored a faceplate? I've got an Ingraham Pacific kitchen clock (stamp on the movement says "9 07") and the faceplate looks like paper on a metal backing. The face has stains or dirt on it.

[@JimmiePorterAtStuartArts]

Yes… paper is tough though if it’s torn, and not much you can do to clean. About the only thing I will do is fill in missing numerals with India ink or black acrylic plaint.

[@jackharris2348]

@@JimmiePorterAtStuartArts Thanks for the input. I was afraid the "it is what it is" philosophy would apply.

[@jackharris2348]

So, I'm looking for a letdown tool like the one you use in this video. Do you recall where you purchased it? Is there a set of letdown tools or just one tool?

[@JimmiePorterAtStuartArts]

My brother gave me the set I have…I don’t see them being marketed these days. Here is a link to what you will typically find: www.ebay.com/itm/275635677449?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=RvsYbBNQSG2&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=vJj0_F0MTBe&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

[@jackharris2348]

@@JimmiePorterAtStuartArts Perfect, thanks!

[@Cobesclocks]

Your also supposed to lubricate the pallets slightly at the escape wheel

[@JimmiePorterAtStuartArts]

@@Cobesclocks great comment. I didn’t show that but I typically put a dab of oil on each pallet.

[@leonardouhrenmacher1625]

Hi Jimmy!. what is the best to clean the rest of oil in the movement?... Solvents derived from Petroleoum, thinner?.... o warm/hot water with soap?...

[@JimmiePorterAtStuartArts]

Mineral spirits are themselves a petroleum product and melt grease and oil away very nicely….I use a stiff brush and dip into the mineral spirits and work it into all the gear teeth and anywhere I see old grease. Kerosene works well also but the odor is overpowering. I believe thinners will work but I haven’t tried that. After mineral spirits I will clean the movement in the ultrasonic then rinse with water. Good luck!

[@anthonyclark1699]

@JimmiePorterAtStuartArts Is there an alternative to the Ultra Sonic cleaner in the process you use? I have a small Ultra Sonic but a movement the size out of my E. Ingraham Parlor/Kitchen clock will not fit into it. I would like to try the Mineral Spirits process if there is an Alternative to Ultra Sonic. Thanks for a lot of Interesting and Informative videos. ✌️✌️

[@survivalistboards]

I have a question about an old Ingraham clock, date stamp is 12 16. the springs rusted and broke, do I need to find springs from 16, or will other dates work?

[@jordanbusby6231]

Others will work

[@8668art]

how do you quiet a ingraham kitchenette clock for night

[@anthonyclark1699]

Ha,Ha😂, Stop the pendulum. I had to at night as my clocks in my bedroom.✌️✌️

[@johnmadow5331]

I owned German Jun Hans but I hope to get it repaie Can you fix this clocl

[@joaoagnaldoferreiraleite8094]

Muito bom seus vídeos.🇧🇷

[@ShelleySturgeon]

I have acquired an Ingraham gingerbread clock that was my grandmother's. Unfortunately, she decided to saw the top off of it to make it fit under the kitchen cupboards so the cabinet is damaged and somewhere along the line, it was painted black. The works have a date of September 14, 1897. One of the coil springs is tightly wound. I am debating whether it would be worth the effort to fix it up considering the damaged cabinet but if I want to attempt this, where do I get the tool to release the pressure on the spring or is there something else I could use to do this? I also seem to have a third small coil that's just loose in the case and I can see nowhere that it should be. Any suggestions appreciated. Thanks.

[@JimmiePorterAtStuartArts]

If the tight coil is the “time train” then it may be that the clock is just out of beat and in need of adjustment so the clock can tick and release the spring naturally. The time train is normally the one on the right when viewed from the front. In any case you can purchase a letdown tool. There are many repair videos that show how this is done. The small third coil sounds like it’s for an alarm. If it is an alarm there should be a small wind up mechanism and it would be mounted lower in the cabinet. Clocks like these are not very valuable and it can cost a lot to have them serviced. I do this just for the satisfaction of getting them running again. If you want to send me a few photos to my email I’d be glad to look and tell you what I can. [e-mail]

[@Bramsshed1913]

Another great and interesting video Jimmie, How did you get into clock repair,,was just by tinkering and learning as you go or by taking a course in repairs? Cheers, Bram

[@JimmiePorterAtStuartArts]

Hi Bram... no lessons...I’ve enjoyed tinkering with them over the years. The old ones are pretty cheap and common at flea markets. Since retiring I’ve watched a lot of KZbin how to vids and bought a few tools. Pretty cheap to start up... and now I’m working through some I’ve bought over the years. It’s been enjoyable....

[@Bramsshed1913]

@@JimmiePorterAtStuartArts Thanks Jimmie ! when we can get out and about here I'll have a look in the auctions and see what I can pick up and have a tinker about myself.

[@BonnieHalfElven]

I have a clock almost exactly like this. It belonged to my grandparents. I can't figure out how to attach my pendulum, as it doesn't have any sort of loop to attach it to the hook. Do you have any idea if there is another little part that would screw onto the top that would have a loop? It does have threads that go quite a ways down the pendulum and a little widget that is screwed onto it. I thought this might be to hang the pendulum shorter or longer to adjust the speed for more accuracy. I think it has the alarm feature that you mentioned, as there is a bell at the bottom that doesn't ring when the clock chimes. I have no idea how it would be set. This clock hasn't run for several years. I cleaned up up a bit, but haven't done anything else to it. It does have a pattern on the glass, as you mentioned. Edit: I figured out the pendulum: I was looking at it upside down! So now the issue is it won't stay running. :(

[@JimmiePorterAtStuartArts]

It sounds like you might be missing the suspension spring. If you would like to send me a couple of photos I’d be happy to have a look at it. [e-mail]

[@JimmiePorterAtStuartArts]

Just saw your edit… if you have a correct pendulum and spring then the next step is to set the beat. There are several videos that show the basics…pretty simple really for these clocks.

[@anthonyclark1699]

Does your clock have a round dial in the center behind the hands with roman numerals? If so setting the alarm would be: straight up towards the 12 on the dial, if you want it to alarm at 8:00 , set the 8 on that small dial straight up at the 12 on the time dial.Hope this helps.✌️✌️

[@harveypost1841]

I understand ...do THEY

[@songtoanvvm5317]

antique house