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239.               $250

Plato No. 4 flip clock, ca. 1910. The first Plato clocks were made by the Ansonia Clock Co. and introduced at the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis.  By 1907 there were four designs, or models, and they were also being made by clock manufacturers in France, Germany, and Great Britain including HAC, Lenzkirch, and Junghans.  These clocks are not consistent in markings and may or may not show the maker on the bottom; this one does not.  The meaning of the 5-pointed star on the base with the number 60 inside is not known, but it looks like a Junghans symbol to me.  The gilded finish on this 6.5-inch-tall clock is worn, particularly on the button top; the cylinder glass is good and the celluloid timecards are properly attached.  The center post rotates and the cards (hour on top, minutes on bottom) flip to mark the time.  This clock ticks but the cards do not flip, and the knob to adjust the time does not work.  You can find a nice summary of the history of Plato clocks here.  Plato clocks consistently sell on eBay for $350-$500. 

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Antique American Clocks                           July 2022

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