Expert: Harold Williamson - 10/1/2009

Question
hello I have two clocks 1 is ansonia and I have researched as much as and think it is any time from 1896 to 1920s my ques is there is a paper dial inside a tin case which is then inside a veneered back roughly 6" by 6" what puzzles me is did they use paper dials in that period and I have to say I have never seen a more plain looking case which is about 4' long with not much on it and it looks very unprofessionally made its nice but very plain and the edges are rough inside the case please help thankyou

Answer
Hello Pauline,

Yes they did use paper dials but you never know if or how many times the dial has been replaced on the dial pan.  A good clocksmith can change them and then antique them so they look original.
I beg my customers to leave them alone.

Ansonia made clocks from a 2.00 clock to very high end clocks as back then most average homes had 1 clock and it was only to tell time.  I am a purist and try to leave the historical value of a clock alone as it has gone thru a lot to look the way it does.  

Enjoy your clock and excuse the preaching.

Full Time Clock Repair
919-304-7651
Mebane, NC