http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seikosha Lots of informatiopn about the company if you Google search. Predecessors to Seiko watches.

Hi Allisaon, Thank You! Still don't know if it was a great buy or not---but I'll take your word for it since I know zippo about old clocks. But now that I have some information (received wonderful responses on the Antiques and Collectibles Forum) I can start doing some research. To think all my new-found interest in old clocks started because Heidi, my insurance lady, wanted us to update our homeowners insurance. I have found myself looking at, even searching out, old clocks while finishing up my holiday shopping this week. Why do I get the feeling that a new collection/addiction is starting? *grin* WonByHerWits, This is sooo neat to hear --- another old clock owner! I think it's great that at least your DH knows the clock was in his family. I would love to have been able to get some history about my clock. I do know the history of the clock that hung in my Dad's parents' kitchen when he was a boy -- he's 82 now. It's the same clock that I heard and was comforted by when I'd stay overnight with my Grandma. That clock is still going strong! Uglier than ugly because of all the layers of paint but at least I know it's history. Nice to read others have these old clocks in their homes ---Thank you! DuluthInBloomz4, Responded to you in the other forum --- Thank you so very much! Patricia43, Wow, great link! I agree with you--- the nicks, scratches and other little imperfections on the clock add to it's charm, it's history, it's story. I don't want to do anything about those nicks and scratches. I just don't want the paper face to continue to loosen or worse, years from now when the clock has been passed down have someone who doesn't know, reattach the paper face with super glue ----Ack! Again, you are correct. The personal value, the sentiment behind this clock mean so much to me. I wouldn't mind having the face reattached by a professional but the rest of the nicks and imperfections can stay as they are. Thank you!!! Oceanna, Your whole post ---What can I say? Wow -- Just, Wow! "long-drop 8-day regulator in the traditional schoolhouse style" You are ------- Again, Wow. Thank you. Sincerely, thank youuuu!

It has a brass frame movement. Those little chamfers in the frame around the holes for the mechanism shafts are oil retention details. To lubricate, a small amount of oil is introduced the chamfer and surface tension does the rest. The oil will lub the shaft pivot. Surface tension keeps the oil from running out on the face of the plate. Only a drop or so is needed. Adding too much oil merely floods the parts causing excess oil to break tension and run out on the face of the plate. Only special, non-gumming clock oil should be used. The lube will be there for a long period and most ordinary general purpose oils will oxidize, attract dirt, and become gummy. One sign of a repair/rebuild is the presence of new bushngs in the shaft holes. Most wear occurs at on shafts at the end of the time chain of gears. The last gear in either gear train is the one that rotates the most. When the holes become worn open, those need repairing; These are repaired by straightening and polishing the shafts, selecting a bushing that fits the polished shaft, and the hole in the frame enlarged to accept a light press fit of the bushing. Presence of the repair bushings indicates that the mechanism has been refurbished. This should not detract from its value, but may add if the job is well done, for it can add many more years of use. New bushings on a clock of that style may add another 50 years to its life.

Your last picture shows what is apparently a date: 2.1941. This would be February 1941. This could be the date it was assembled, or it could be a repairman's date. From this, I'd say that it was as old as 1941 and could be earlier. The pendulum weight is stamped with the number: 906. This could be a part number or pendulum style. That item that someone called a roller is not a roller. It is a drum that contains a power spring. The Roman numerals on the clock face all point to the center of the face, thus numerals 4 through 8 are upside down. This was the style of early clocks and at some point, clock makers turned over numerals 4 through 8 so that the '6' was right-side-up. I have forgotten at what date this occurred; I believe it was in the 1800s. However, this was not a hard rule that everyone adhered to; It was more of a style change. Since your clock has a rather compact spring driven mechanism, I do not think is was built in the 1800s. Yet today, some clocks are made with all numerals pointing toward the center simulating an old clock. Many early clocks ca 1830 were weight driven. A number of spring contraptions were tried before the introduction of the power spring, but it was difficult to build a clock that could run for 8 days with these primitive devices, The introduction of the power spring made it possible to shrink the clockworks and have a run time of 8 days. Early power springs had a habit of breaking until better technology and stress analysis improved this spring. The construction of your clockworks does have design elements that were in use during the 1830s. Its frame is two flat plates. The base plate has 4 pins riveted to it and the top plate slides onto these pins. The pins have a reduced diameter on their upper ends making shoulder pins. The top plate rests on these shoulders. That top plate is fastened by tapered pins inserted through holes in the frame pins. I do not know how long this type of construction was used. I do know that it was common in the 1830s for weight driven shelf clocks. The other element is the beveled holes for the shafts of the final gears in the gear train. This little recess is a oil reservoir for lubricating the shafts. Oil will stay in this bevel by surface tension if it is not flooded. Unfortunately, these details do not pin down a date for this clock. Look over the interior of this clock case. Was there a label? A Maker's label was often put in quality clocks and these labels can be very helpful in determining a date. The label may have the date of invention or patent. This label may be on the inside of the case back. If it is there, use care to preserve it. There can be up to 3 identities in a clock: The manufacturer of the clockworks, the case maker, and the business establishment who distributed and marketed the clock. Often, a clock maker buys the clockworks and installs it in his case. In another example, a jeweler may specify the clockworks, its pendulum and contract with a clock-maker to make the case and assemble the clock. The Jeweler's name may appear on the clock label. Hopefully, he credits the others involved.