I was given this clock by my grandparents. It was originally purchased by my great grandparents Weaver – Lemuel and Effie. Their son, my Grandfather, remembered it from his childhood in the 1890s. It has seen some damage to the base and the chimes no longer sound (I think I am grateful about this defect) so it is really not valuable as an antique. But, I have memories of it.

When my brother and I would be taken to Grandma and Grandpa to spend the evening or the full night, we would be put to bed in my Grandma Florence’s bed. The clock was on top of her tall chest of drawers. When it first appeared, it just sat there quietly. Grandpa Lee was trying to work his limited clock repair magic on the old device. He had tried to get it working but to no avail. Then he hit on the idea of putting a spray can cap filled with 3-in-1 oil in the bottom of the chamber and letting the fumes permeate the workings. Then, on one visit, it started to tick. Grandpa was quite proud of himself; Grandma had hoped to be rid of it.

Then, it was no longer to be seen. Grandma exerted her domain that it was her room, her chest of drawers and the clock was not to her liking. This may because she disliked the ticking, or needed the space on top of the chest, or that it belonged to her mother-in-law with whom she really never got along. Anyway, she banished the clock to the floor of the “Clothes Press” — I guess this was Columbus, Ohio speak for Closet.

Time passed and I was bold enough to ask what ever happened to that great clock. Grandma asked if I wanted it. Of couse, I said yes. Grandpa was in agreement since it got it out of Grandma’s closet. My mother was not that happy as I was still living at home and it meant it was coming with me. I could keep it, but it was in my bedroom, not in any other part of the house!

The clock has been in my possession for a little over 50 years. I keep a spray can lid filled with 3-in-1 in the bottom of the glassed compartment. I wind it every week. It keeps perfect time. It still does not chime. I look at it and remember Grandma and Grandpa.