Antique American Clocks July 2021
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.