My Grandfather's clock

The clock is a mission oak style and family legend (though unverified) has it that it was won by my grandfather, Edwin Albrecht for selling newspapers in Milwaukee as a 12 year old.  I first became aware of the clock shortly after we moved to Charles St in Hiawatha Heights. It was sitting on top of a box in storage in the basement. As a youngster of about 11, I would tease the clock so I could hear its melodious chime. I was told it had a 7 day windup mechanism with the key long gone, that it would not only keep time but activate the chime on the hour and the half hour. I fell in love with that clock.

Pa's Clock: It leans to the right to keep it running though I have not let it run in years. I love the chimes.

Mom also treasured the clock but it sat in the box for the rest of my childhood and teen years. In 1978 I purchased an older home (built in 1924) in Superior Wi and made my move. I wanted the clock. The conversation went like this. "Mom, don't you think Pa's clock would look better on my living room wall than in the basement in the box."  Next trip the clock came north and I was thrilled! I first gave it a good rubdown in tung oil to get rid of the dust and grime. I didn't do the back because it has a wonderful label on it, telling about the clock. Next stop was Nummi Jeweler's clock repair. After about a month, I was able to pick up my WORKING clock complete with a key to wind it. The chimes were just as I had remembered: Melodious and rich, sounding every half hour and on the hour. Occasionally, I needed to reset the chime by moving the large hand to 2 then back to 10 until the chime sounded the correct time. I enjoyed my grandfather's clock for many years. The chimes became silenced once again when Tony moved in as he was a light sleeper. The clock has made the moves with us, and I hope someone of the next generation will cherish it as I have. It has a place of honor on the wall of our bedroom and is now truly an antique at over 100 years old!