This clock doesn't actually belong to me, I am simply its custodian. When I am no longer around it will be passed-on to my oldest son, and in turn to his oldest.
I believe it was made for my family in 1735, and, amazingly for a clock, it has remained in the family ever since. It was handed to me back in the mid 80's by an Aunt in London. It works well, but needs to be 'wound' daily. The 'winding' is done by carefully lifting a large and heavy lead weight.
The mechanism is of reasonable quality, but the wooden case is really very simple. It is made from cheap pine, and roughly painted/stained to resemble a more expensive timber. It has had just one 'service' since it's been in my hands. There is some illegible pencil writing inside.
I do like the old thing. It has quite a loud tick, which accompanied all my ancestors, just as it does now with me. As I wind it each morning I think of all those who performed the exact same action for all those years.
That's what I call a real heirloom!
ReplyDeleteIt's also a bit of a hinderance. I love it, but that doesn't mean my descendants will too. My fingers are crossed.
DeleteJust tell them it will bring trouble and strife to the person who breaks the chain!
DeleteHow wonderful to be able to hand this down to yet another generation. I'd be proud to look after this. So old, so much family history.
ReplyDeleteI do hope they'll look after it. It would be a sad day if it was sold.
DeleteThe clock has been in your family, longer than the United States has been a country.
ReplyDeleteThat's what heirlooms should be... a link between the past and the future!!
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing that it's stayed with us for so long.
DeleteHow lovely.
ReplyDeleteIt's like a pet, it needs to be pampered, exercised, and stroked daily.
DeleteGosh, that could almost be our clock, it's in the same position by the looks of it. Ours only needs winding once a week though.
ReplyDeleteYours is obviously the expensive version, I might get away with two days, but I wind it every day anyway.
DeleteI love it. We have an old wall clock which ticks very loudly but you soon get used to it and it disappears into the background and you don't really hear it. Ours is broken and there aren't any local clock menders ... I should let Steve on The Repair Shop have a look at it! Trouble is, I don't have a sob story to go with it although it does come with a bit of a story. XXXX
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you could invent a long departed Aunt who was given the clock by Queen Victoria in memory of a heroic Uncle who saved 50 men from drowning. Plausible.
DeleteOurs is an 8 day movement that insists on making up time and currently strikes 1 at 1 and at 2.
ReplyDeleteI can only dream of an 8 day movement. Mine is very rustic, I fear!
DeleteIt will outlive me and I am an old bugger.
DeleteSomwhere along the line, a future generation may have the clock "digitised" or modernised in some way, to save having to wind it every day.
ReplyDeleteBoth my grandmother's had similar inherited antique clocks, but I've no idea what happened to either of them. Probably ended up on a bonfire, along with a beautiful Georgian dining table that I coveted!
My people bought a lovely Thatched house in Sussex from the son of the man who'd lived there. The son had obviously cleared the house of all its possessions, and made a bonfire on the lawn of things he didn't think worth selling or keeping. In amongst the ashes we found the fabulous old brass hinges from an oak corner cupboard. What an idiot.
DeleteYour clock is a great treasured family heirloom. I also have inherited clocks. The chimes and ticking are each quite different. I love clocks.
ReplyDeleteI think this is the only one in the house; I don't wear a watch either. These days I use my laptop as my time-keeper.
DeleteAs the granddaughter of a horologist, well done for keeping it going all these years.
ReplyDeleteI try not to touch it too much. I wind it every morning, then leave it alone. It keeps very good time too.
Delete