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Antique American Clocks                      July 2021

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89.      $400

F. Kroeber “Regulator No. 31”, ca. 1881.  This is a rather small clock for a regulator, at 34 inches long, 11 inches wide with a 5-inch dial.  It uses a spring-driven, time-only movement made by the New Haven Clock Co. (although the movement is unsigned – see Ly, Kroeber Clocks, pages 107-108).  Kroeber made this clock in oak and walnut; this is walnut with a dark and likely original finish.  The door glass is held in with the original putty, the nickel dial has an old and possibly original paper dial; the period hands may be replacements.  There are six examples in the Antique Clocks Price Guide and each one is different; they vary in movement (Seth Thomas, New Haven, Kroeber), pendulum, and door glass.  Kroeber evidently made many variations over the 25+ year run of this model.  The clock is running without problem; there is no Kroeber label. 

Notably, this example is believed to be a railroad clock, as is indicated by the labels inside the case (added later). The base has inscribed letters “P C & St L”, interpreted here to represent “Penn Central & Youngstown Southern”, but these letters more likely represent “Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, & St. Louis Railway”.  Note the small ‘t’ next to the ‘S’ that argues for a St. Louis designation.   Indeed, there was a Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, & St. Louis railway that formed in 1868, and in 1890 became the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis Railway (Wikipedia).  I can find no sales examples of this railroad model, but I do know of one other example.  I can find one non-railroad model that sold in 2018 at Fontaine’s for $300; earlier sales (2010) are between $345 and $600.  $400-$600.

 

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