Unpacking a Seth Thomas Beehive mantel clock

[@gunnarthorsen]

Happy for you that the seller packed it so well. I bought a large oak Gothic clock on eBay with spires and tracery, originally sold by the Theodore B. Starr Co., circa 1900. Paid over $1,000. The seller, who collected and repaired clocks, locked the pendulum in place with a locking mechanism that the clock has. This is fine for moving it from room to room, but he shipped it this way - with the pendulum ON. It arrived with the pendulum bent to the side and the suspension spring broken. Ebay did cover the cost for repair, but it's sad that this happens because some sellers don't know how to pack clocks properly. Enjoyed your video!

[@lisaalward6832]

I have a very similar if not the same clock. The finish is darker and in goog shape. It was my grandfathers and it has been in the family since. I don't have a key though, can I find a key that will work? I know this is an old video, but looking for more info on this clock.

[@leslyfehn4764]

I have a close that has the identical inner movement. There is a small gold pin that came lose and is a little longer than a pin in a watch band. I can’t find where this goes. Can you help?

[@BradfordNeedham]

I suspect it's the "warning pin", which has to do with the clock's striking. Look for a wheel that has a small hole in it. I've done a post on replacing a warning pin in an Ansonia clock (a similar, American clock), at needhamia.com/replacing-a-loose-warning-pin/ Please let me know how it goes.

[@leslyfehn4764]

@@BradfordNeedham thank you so much. I will try that.

[@FrankJGZ]

I'm just curious when did people begin to call gothic style clocks "beehives"? I know a lot of people these days call them that but I've been around clocks since the mid 1980's and I've only known them as gothics.

[@BradfordNeedham]

I've searched a little bit and haven't found the answer. It's a great question. The Tran Duy Ly collection of catalog pages titled "Seth Thomas Clocks & Movements" shows that Seth Thomas seems to have referred to these clocks only by model name rather than the name Beehive or Gothic.

[@jackoshaw]

The finish may have originally been an Adamantine finish, kind of like a laminate..... Some Seth Thomas clocks of that period had that finish

[@jordanbusby6231]

Have you heard of the new haven aurine?

[@BradfordNeedham]

Nope, sorry. I'm relatively inexperienced, so others may know.

[@jordanbusby6231]

@@BradfordNeedham I understand

[@jordanbusby6231]

What can cause a rack and snail to jam at twelve o clock?

[@BradfordNeedham]

I don't have a lot of experience, but my guess is that the snail is not meshed properly with its gear. Another possibility is the rack's tail is bent. At 12 o'clock the tail needs to clear the highest part of the snail, then drop cleanly into the deepest part of the snail. I go into detail on snail adjustment of another type of clock at kzbin.info/www/bejne/rKPXfZ2lqa6JhdU. If this doesn't help, Don Perry (kzbin.info) has a huge amount of clock repair experience and may be able to help you.

[@jordanbusby6231]

@@BradfordNeedham thank you don Perry is wonderful