American Shelf Clock Manufacturer, Hamburg's First Glance: Clock Model
New Owner Acquires Rare Hamburg American Clock Co. Shelf Clock
A dedicated collector has recently added a Hamburg American Clock Co. (HAC) shelf clock to their collection, acquired through an online estate auction in early 2021. The clock, which features the renowned #36 movement, was initially spotted by the owner's wife on an Ottawa Facebook Marketplace during a visit to Calgary.
The Hamburg American Clock Company, founded in 1873 by Paul Landenberger and Philipp Lang, gained a notable reputation for producing quality mechanical clocks with American-style designs but manufactured in Germany. The company’s shelf clocks, including the one purchased, are known for their reliable mechanical movements, often featuring traditional countwheel strike mechanisms and 8-day running times.
The #36 movement, a well-known HAC production, is valued among collectors and horologists for its robustness and typical features seen in early German-American clocks. This movement typically chimes on the hour and sometimes the half-hour, has a reliable 8-day running time, and is constructed with durable materials designed to last decades.
The current project for the new owner is to revitalize the case and dial of the recently bought HAC shelf clock. The owner, who frequently follows online for-sale and estate auction sites, has a number of German clocks in their collection, including Junghans, Mauthe, Hermle, Jauch, Gufa, and possibly others. They follow a "one in, one out" rule when it comes to their collection, selling a few clocks locally in the past year to trim down their collection.
The clock in question is an English time and strike clock, specifically a HAU shelf clock. Despite the clock case being a little worn, there is no damage or missing parts. The movement is attached to the inside front panel of the clock, which is unusual for German clocks. Numbers on the backplate of the movement indicate the beats per minute, the number of escape wheel teeth, and pendulum length.
The Hamburg American Clock Company was a well-known German company, acquired by Junghans in the late 1920s. For those interested in learning more about the technical specifications or maintenance tips for the #36 movement, specialized antique clock forums or horology books on American-German clocks might offer expanded insights.
The new owner, with a keen interest in vintage clocks, plans to incorporate the HAC shelf clock into their collection of German clocks, which already includes Junghans, Mauthe, Hermle, Jauch, Gufa, and possibly others. In the near future, the owner might consider transitioning their collection to include more smart-home-devices and gadgets, blending technology with their love for classic timepieces.
Upon acquiring the HAC shelf clock, the owner notices that it shares similarities with other vintage clocks, such as its Countwheel strike mechanism and 8-day running time. As they delve deeper into the world of antique clocks, they might even consider upgrading their collection to include smart-home-devices with technologies that can modernize these vintage clocks, such as wireless synchronized timekeeping or automatic winding.
