39.             $500

Ithaca Calendar Clock Co. “Checker Board”, 1878-1883. This is a model I have not seen, and you probably haven’t either.  It is not shown in Ly’s Calendar Clocks but is shown (but mislabeled) in Miller & Miller Survey of American Clocks, Calendar Clocks (on page 51, although it is the shelf version). Joel Warren discusses it in his masterwork, Ithaca’s Clock Makers, on page 116.  It looks like the Hanging Library and, indeed, uses the same case, but the crest is different.  The walnut case is 27 inches long with an old finish; note the base, which looks original and matches the base shown in Warren’s book; this base was also used on the No. 7 Hanging Cottage.  I note this because Schmitt Horan sold a Checker Board last year that had a different ICCC base, and noted that it may be a replacement.  The crest on this looks a bit newer from the back.  Both dial glasses are old, the paper dials are old and worn, and the dial pan rims were painted for some reason.  The hands are period and proper.  The 8-day, time-and-strike movement was made by Welch for the ICCC.  It is dirty but is running and striking on a steel bell, which looks to be a replacement for a wire gong; the pendulum bob is silver and is suspended on a teardrop leader as it should be, but it is hollow, as it should not be.  The calendar rods are rusty/oily, as is the calendar movement; it will need to be cleaned to run.  There are two penciled numbers inside, 82 and 77; I believe 82 is the year the clock was assembled.  Not sure what the 77 means.  There is a jeweler’s label on the back. As noted, Schmitt Horan sold a Checker Board last year for $1100;  in 2022 they sold one for $650.  The latter had a replaced crest.  $500–$1000.