Expert: Michael Radi - 12/20/2009

Question
QUESTION: I am restoring a shelf clock made by The Ansonia Clock Co. 11-19 Cliff St. New York. It is a 'Monarch' 8 day, striking. A number on the label is 239. The questions I have are; What is the significance 'Paris Exposition 1878' on the label, and dose it mean that is it's date of manufacture? Also, this clock has been painted white, was there a painted version, it looks like walnut under the paint? Lastly, the glass is plain. The pictures I have seen of this type of clock all seem to have etching on the glass, were there ever ones with a clear glass?

ANSWER: When a clock manufacturer puts "Paris Exposition" on a label they are merely advertising the fact that they took some clocks to that exposition. All of the clock factories did this and it was common for other industries to advertise this way.
I suspect that the original glass broke and was replaced with a plain one. There is not a lot of detailed information that would tell me if they made a model with plain glass but I highly doubt that they did.
I don't have the Tran Du Li book of Ansonia clocks. That book might say if there was a painted version but most of the wood clocks did not.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I expect that it would be very difficult to get hold of an old replacement glass, but are reproductions available, if so where? Or can an artwork of a typical design be sort so that I can have a glass etched?

Answer
Yes, it will be hard to find a replacement glass. I like the rub on decals. They are easy to use and the results are outstanding.
You can get them from www.timesavers.com
There are a lot of different patterns but they should have the one to match your clock.