Huge New England Clock Company Wall Clock

Huge New England Clock Company Wall Clock

by Mark Crane
(Hyannis, Massachusetts, USA)

Clock made by The New England Clock Company

Made by The New England Clock Company. Inscribed on the dial are the words - "Hark What's The Cry, Prepare To Meet Thy God Today". This is a huge weight driven clock measuring 31" Tall X 14" Wide. This clock is not a cuckoo, but rather a 3 hammer chiming clock. It has a beautiful resonating chime which chimes once on the half hour and counts out the time on the hour.

I know very little about this clock including when it was made and who would have originally owned this type of clock. There looks to be something missing from the bottom front since there are 4 holes (which you cannot see from this photo)which appears as though something sat in these holes.

Editor's Note:

Find out more information about
The New England Clock Company here.

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Huge New England Clock Company Wall Clock

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I found one of these clocks pictured
by: Anonymous

I own an antique shop in South Kingstown, RI, I have this one for sale, working on pricing it now, all parts are there.

401-284-1866

Update
by: Anonymous

Hi all,

I had originally responded to the post about this clock when I was repairing it. It was mangled due to a fall, which seems to happen to these, unfortunately. The works were jammed, and the suspension spring snapped, but after a little work, it’s now back on the wall at my Aunt’s house and running beautifully.

The works in mine are Connecticut Clock Company and not Hermle, as I originally guessed. The New England and the Connecticut Clock Companies are both a product of Sessions (a great clock maker) and were formed by Wm and Phoebe Sessions, as the previous poster wrote, and this clock is a classic representation of their designs at the time. As to the Urgos markings, I’m just not sure, as I couldn’t find an occasion where they used movements other than their own, but I could be wrong (newbie here).

Value, from what I found in my research, is limited. It won't fetch much at auction, I'm afraid. To my family, however, it's priceless.

I also had issues with striking (either not striking, or sounding funky). Chain drives are very prissy especially if you move the clock (or God forbid lay it down). In my case, it was as simple as un-jamming and realigning the strike chain (right) over the gear and settling it. If the right weight isn’t dropping in time with the left, this may be the problem. If both weights are dropping, then you should hear the strike engage. In this case, you may want to check the position of the rods. After I reset the chain drive, it still didn’t chime. But this was only because the hammer wasn’t making contact. If it sounds funky, it’s likely a simple adjustment of the rods (they may be touching, or just too close/far from the hammers). Beyond this, it may require a cleaning or other work.

As to the pendulum and weights… I wish I had still had the clock here to photograph it. But given that movements may vary, you should still cross reference the model of the movement to ensure the proper replacements. This could be tricky, depending on the movement. If you can find the numbers on the back of the movement, do a search online to see if you can get any information on weight required. Weights themselves are easy, and universal, they just have to be right. The pendulum is more about length (the bob isn’t a critical factor, as the bob swings free of the case on this clock), but you must ensure that the “handshake” (where the pendulum connects to the suspension arm) is compatible. The way I did it was to visit a clock shop and got a load of great advice. Here’s where I got my parts: http://www.clockworks.com

If anyone finds one of these for sale, please post it!

Thanks and good luck!!

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Submitted by: Anonymous

Title

Comment
Hi all, I had originally responded to the post about this clock when I was repairing it. It was mangled due to a fall, which seems to happen to these, unfortunately. The works were jammed, and the suspension spring snapped, but after a little work, it’s now back on the wall at my Aunt’s house and running beautifully. The works in mine are Connecticut Clock Company and not Hermle, as I originally guessed. The New England and the Connecticut Clock Companies are both a product of Sessions (a great clock maker) and were formed by Wm and Phoebe Sessions, as the previous poster wrote, and this clock is a classic representation of their designs at the time. As to the Urgos markings, I’m just not sure, as I couldn’t find an occasion where they used movements other than their own, but I could be wrong (newbie here). Value, from what I found in my research, is limited. It won't fetch much at auction, I'm afraid. To my family, however, it's priceless. I also had issues with striking (either not striking, or sounding funky). Chain drives are very prissy especially if you move the clock (or God forbid lay it down). In my case, it was as simple as un-jamming and realigning the strike chain (right) over the gear and settling it. If the right weight isn’t dropping in time with the left, this may be the problem. If both weights are dropping, then you should hear the strike engage. In this case, you may want to check the position of the rods. After I reset the chain drive, it still didn’t chime. But this was only because the hammer wasn’t making contact. If it sounds funky, it’s likely a simple adjustment of the rods (they may be touching, or just too close/far from the hammers). Beyond this, it may require a cleaning or other work. As to the pendulum and weights… I wish I had still had the clock here to photograph it. But given that movements may vary, you should still cross reference the model of the movement to ensure the proper replacements. This could be tricky, depending on the movement. If you can find the numbers on the back of the movement, do a search online to see if you can get any information on weight required. Weights themselves are easy, and universal, they just have to be right. The pendulum is more about length (the bob isn’t a critical factor, as the bob swings free of the case on this clock), but you must ensure that the “handshake” (where the pendulum connects to the suspension arm) is compatible. The way I did it was to visit a clock shop and got a load of great advice. Here’s where I got my parts: http://www.clockworks.com If anyone finds one of these for sale, please post it! Thanks and good luck!!

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Can someone tell me?
by: Frank

I just purchased this same clock for $20.00 unfortunatley it is missing the pendulem and weights.Can anyone post a pic. so I can try to find the correct replacements.I have also noticed that the marking on the rear of the movement may indicate that it may be a Urgos (german made).Thanks!

In My Family For Years
by: Paul McNeil

I also have this clock. It was in my family home for years. I remember the gongs going funny so we unhooked the weight but it kept time perfectly. I recently inherited into my home, cleaned it up, and corrected the gong with a minor adjustment. I've always wondered what the four holes were for, thanks for the posts which explained it.

The gongs are gorgeous and yes, the ticking really carries. I love this clock. There is a date stamped in the works which, if other posts are correct, mean that my clock was built around 1953.

new england clock
by: Gretta

Hey,
We too, have this clock and love it. A friend gave it to me approx. 14 years ago. At that time it had fallen and the weights had messed it up internally. We had it repaired and the back reinforced. The chimes have since quit working. I would like to know if anyone can tell me the value of this clock.

Thanks For The Info!
by: Mark

I want to thank everyone who has posted a comment. I invite anyone who has a story about this clock to please post a comment. I truly love it. It is a wonderful clock to own.

I now own the cuckoo clock as well which looks similiar but a little smaller. Thank you again. Mark

New England Clock Co
by: Anonymous

I bought this very same style clock back in the 1980's as an anniversary present for my wife.I think I spent around $150.00 for it back then. To this day this clock is still keeping accurate time and chimes on the half and full hour. I had the clock serviced once in Staten Island NY and the repairman told me it had a German movement.I recently saw another on ebay but it was in sad shape, chime didn't work and the pendulum was missing the back half. It is a fine piece of workmanship and since the company went bankrupt around 1999 or so, it is destined to be a valuable collectable clock.

I also owned that New England Clock.
by: Bill

I was given this clock in the early 1970's (it was a new clock at that time) as an aniversary gift from my parents. I still remember the artificial ivy that was in the flower box on the front.

I have since learned that The New England Clock Company was started in 1959 by William K. Sessions. Does that name sound familiar to you? The Sessions Clock Company was a maker of clocks in Forestville, Ct. since about 1903. Even before that the company was called the E. N. Welch Clock Company.

So you can see that the New England Clock Company boasts a very long history of clockmaking. This is not to say that they were the same company as Sessions. I understand that around 1956, when William K Sessions (the grandson of the founder William E Sessions) was still working for the Sessions company, it was absorbed by another company and clock production was down to almost nothing. W K Sessions was unhappy with the new owners direction of the old Sessions company, so he started The New England Clock Company a few years later.

This is a great clock
by: Mike - Texas

This clock was in my family's house for pretty much all of my life. It use to lull me to sleep as a child. It has a great tempo really that travels in a quiet home. It's also has a wondeful chime, very deep and rich.

I'm in the middle of repairing this clock. If you have the same one, be sure to check and reenforce the mounting hole, as they do wear out after 40 years or so. Ours gave out and the clock fell from the wall, forcing the weights up into the movement. A real mess. I've rebuilt the bridge, and it's looking great again.

I believe it's Hermle movement, though I'm trying to confirm. If anyone knows, please post. Also - those 4 holes mentioned were used to mount little artifical flowers and ivy. It's supposed to be a little window box on the front.

Thanks for the great post!

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Huge New England Clock Company Wall Clock

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