Antique American Clocks July 2021
50. $400
Welch, Spring & Co. “No. 2 Regulator”, 1868-1884. An early example of this weight-driven
calendar clock with some differences from the example shown in Ly, Calendar Clocks, page 342. The case is 34 inches long; Ly
indicates that the weight-driven model for Welch, Spring & Co. is 36 inches long, but there is at least one other example reported
at this length. The dials are the correct diameter (time – 12 inches, calendar – 10 inches) but the slightly smaller case means
the calendar dial fills the entire lower door. The 8-day, weight-driven brass movement is unsigned and does not match the movements
shown in Ly for this company. However, R.O. Schmitt sold an example in 1999 with this same movement, which was stamped “Welch,
Spr”. Schmitt described it as an early movement, which would be consistent with the veneered wood bezel also found on early
models. Grain painting the bezels was adopted later to save time and costs. The veneer on the bezel here is in bad shape,
with many repairs, chips, cracks, and bubbles. The rest of the rosewood veneer looks good, but the base may be a very old substitution,
or not veneered, as it looks like darkly stained oak (see photo). Both glasses are original, as are the painted dials; the time
hands may be very old replacements. As noted, the 8-day, two-weight, time-only movement is unsigned; it is running, driven by
two 30-hour weights that I don’t think are original to the clock, but do the job. The calendar hands are advancing as well. The backboard has been replaced with two old pieces of wood and of course the label is gone; there is a piece of black construction
paper on the inside. There are no recent sales for this model. $400-$800.
