"30-Hour Weight-Driven Clocks Made by Waterbury Ogee (OG): Understanding their Underestimated Worth"

"30-Hour Weight-Driven Clocks Made by Waterbury Ogee (OG): Understanding their Underestimated Worth"

In the world of antique clocks, one model that often goes unnoticed is the 30-hour Waterbury Ogee clock. This timepiece, with its distinctive "S" shaped case, has faced undervaluing due to several factors, including its shorter running duration, simpler mechanisms, and high production numbers.

Designed with 30-hour movements, these clocks require daily winding, a less convenient and less prestigious aspect compared to the 8-day clocks. The mechanisms, while functional, are simpler and less durable, reducing their long-term reliability and appeal to collectors.

The Waterbury Clock Company, known for producing many such ogee clocks as affordable household timepieces rather than high-end collectibles, has also impacted their perceived value. The high production numbers and the availability of many units in fair condition keep prices lower.

The Ogee clock, originating in the United States in the 1830s, was a product of its time. The first prototype movement was produced for Chauncey Jerome by his brother Noble in Connecticut, USA, in 1839. Jerome, who briefly worked for the Waterbury Clock Co., believed that a simple one-day clock could be produced more cheaply than those with wooden movements at the time, using brass movements.

The economic collapse of 2008-09, the passing of the generation that cherished these clocks, and the lack of interest from the newer generation have all contributed to the undervaluing of Ogee clocks.

A recent discovery of a 1870s Waterbury Ogee clock at an antique store has sparked interest. The clock, with a Type 2.411 movement introduced by the Waterbury Clock Co. during Jerome's tenure, is in need of servicing. The movement will run and stay in beat but stops after about 15 minutes.

A report on the servicing of this clock is expected in the upcoming weeks. It's interesting to note that the Canada Clock Co. of Whitby, Ontario produced movements based on an American design similar to the Ogee clock's Type 2.411 movement.

While Ogee clocks are common and many have considerable wear, making repair costs exceed their value, they once commanded prices of $200 to $300 ten years ago for a clock in good condition. Today, prices are all over the map and none are close to the prices they once commanded.

This underscores the importance of understanding the history and value of these undervalued clocks. For collectors and enthusiasts, the 30-hour Waterbury Ogee clock presents an opportunity to own a piece of American clockmaking history at a fraction of its original value.

Collecting a vintage 30-hour Waterbury Ogee clock could be considered a unique venture in the world of lifestyle and fashion-and-beauty. These mechanical clocks, though less prestigious due to their simpler mechanisms and shorter running duration compared to other antique clocks, offer a connection to American clockmaking history in the home-and-garden realm. In the food-and-drink industry, it may be possible to discover associated stories with these antique timepieces, adding another layer to their historical significance. Moreover, owning a 30-hour Waterbury Ogee clock can be seen as an opportunity to reclaim an undervalued piece of automotive history as the Waterbury Clock Co. also manufactured car parts.

Read also: