7/22/09

Vintage Thingies Thursday

Okay, I'm going to try to participate for the first time in my new friend Suzanne's Vintage Thingies Thursday at http://coloradolady.blogspot.com/2009/07/vintage-thingies-thursday-just-because.html! Rob and I love vintage things, so when I told him that I planned to participate and asked what he suggested to start with, we both looked at one another and laughed. So many of our things are "retro" and "vintage" that we could have done anything. So, I decided to focus on just one shelf of the book case in my sewing room, and the thing in the center was a clock. So, I thought I'd feature my vintage clocks. Now, not all these are vintage. But, they're all old as in "I've had them forever" and some of them are actual vintage.

At one point in my life, I was a call center forcaster and scheduler. It was my job to figure out how many calls we were going to get at any given time, and to make sure I had plenty of staff scheduled to answer them with a minimum amount of wait. So, I lived by the clock; time, Time, TIME. And, consequently, I started collecting clocks.

This clock was my Dad's 25 year of service gift from Southwestern Bell and has a brass plate explaining that. During his years with them, he earned 3 clocks. Now, he's been retired for nearly 20 years, and I forgot to check the date on the plate, but this clock has to be at least 30 years old. Still works great, but it gains 3 minutes a day and I'm too cheap to pay to have it taken apart, cleaned and re-set. So, I open it every couple of days and set it back.



This clock was a gift from my parents. Both my sister and I got one. At the time, I was so ashamed of it because it looks great, but it's a fake. Battery powered. But, I've had it at about 25 years and it keeps perfect time, so I keep it in my sewing room so I can keep up with what time it is in case I forget to wind the other clock. I think my sister put hers in the closet until my Mom shamed her into hanging it. Not sure where it is now.



This poor old clock is haunted. So, it doesn't get wound anymore. For some reason, it stops at 8:24 every time. Now, it may tick for a couple of weeks, but when it stops, it's going to stop at 8:24. So, we decided that was a special time in the clock's past life and we just don't wind it. No need to stir up spirits.



This clock is from Kansas. Rob's Mom gave it to me. It is the alarm clock that was used in the old railroad yard to wake the conducters when they stopped there to sleep. I wound it once and it ticked, but I decided it was better to just leave it be. It's a 24 hour clock and winding it every day is more stress than I want to put on it.




This old girl is my pride and joy in clocks. The traditional art deco style mantel clock. And, another one that keeps perfect time. It is also in my sewing room and when the two clocks chime together, it's a cacophony of banging and donging.




You guys have a great day and be sure to check out Suzanne's blog for her items and for those of other followers of hers. See ya'. Lane


14 comments:

LV said...

I can relate to your post today very well. I have a grandfather clock that I received when I retired from SWB in 1990. I had one like your dads as well but gave it to someone.

CC said...

Oooo, I love your clock, it's just wonderful.
Happy VTT and have a wonderful weekend..

Shirley said...

Beautiful clocks! I love clocks. Mine's in for cleaning right now. I don't think it's haunted it was just getting tired *LOL*

Becky said...

Love the clocks!

Piece by Piece said...

Lane Love your clocks. I have one that was my great grandfathers. My Mother can remember it being in her Grandfathers house when she was a child, (Mother will be 92 next month), so the clock is getting up in years also. Patricia

My name is Riet said...

Yay Lane you are also going to join one of those days. Vintage Thursday it is this time. Good idea. I like these days with a theme. I am in Pink Saturday, mosaic Monday, outdoor Wednesday, I might also join vintage Thursday. After all I am already vintage for some time and so is my stuff. At first I didn't know what vintage was ,or as we here in Europe say "brocante" but I understand it is just old, not antique, that's different. Strange feeling that most of my stuff is vintage. LOL. So there is enough to show. I will think about joining a bit and will see what I will do. I like your clocks and they are so normal to me that I don't see them as vintage or old. LOL. Must be my age.

Jay said...

Lane, The clocks are cool. My only clock to brag about belonged to my grandfather. It is a gold railroad pocketwatch. It was a marriage gift from his `soon to be' father-in-law. I have a keen interest in mantle clocks but never really saw an opening to get into them. Let a lot get away from me. You have a love for history thru your clocks and I congratulate you ... and am jealous ;-)....

marlene@ByTheSeam said...

Love the old clocks, my dad had some, don't know where they went, oh well.. Yours are nice.

Quiltluver said...

I love your clock collection. We don't have anything like that, but we've always wanted to get a nice grandfather clock for our house. I don't know if I'd like the noise, though... Karen

Coloradolady said...

Welcome to Vintage Thingies Thursday!! I am super excited you are posting today.

Lane...your clocks are wonderful! I really was fascinated with the haunted clock. How strange it stops at the exact same time...seriously...I love that!!

My uncle was a clock repairman and every time I see a lot of vintage clocks, I always think of him.

I really like your mantle clock too, that is really a nice clock.

Forgive me for being so late in the day with my comment....I have been sewing ALL DAY....and just now got on the computer about 30 minutes ago, I will do better next week...promise!

fitty's pinky rose cottage said...

i like old clocks too.. but the thought of winding them every day.. sometimes just put me aside!.. but seriously, your clocks are awesome!.. have a great weekend

Anonymous said...

i love your clocks!!..i've got one very similar to the last one :)

Seams to Sew and Quilt said...

Lane, love the old clock, my grandpa use to have a lot of clocks when I was younger. Have a good weekend. Going to go check out that site.

Vesuviusmama said...

I love the idea of a haunted clock!