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Saeed reminisces about an Ansonia wall clock, recalling an old-world charm – exclusively for Different Truths.
The steady, rhythmic tick-tock of our Ansonia wall clock is soothing and reassuring. The simple elegance of this vintage timepiece is highly pleasing to the eye, with intricately carved woodwork encasing the clock and a shiny brass ring framing the clock’s face. The gold-edged insignia on the small glass pane through which one sees the swing of the pendulum is half-faded, but the clock’s mellifluous chimes, as they mark the hour, ring loud and clear.
The Ansonia Clock Company was a clock manufacturing enterprise founded in Ansonia, Connecticut partners…
The Ansonia Clock Company was a clock manufacturing enterprise founded in Ansonia, Connecticut, in 1851, by three partners – a metal dealer and two clockmakers. After some initial success, the company expanded its activities and moved to Brooklyn, New York, in 1878. From then on until its closure in 2006, the company saw rapid success by opening new factories and sales offices in New York, Chicago, and London. In the 155 years of operation, the Ansonia firm manufactured a staggering variety of mantle clocks, wall clocks, desk clocks and a large array of decorative clock models and styles made of porcelain, wood and cast iron for which the Ansonia firm became famous all over the world.
With the arrival of quartz timepieces, the popularity of spring-driven mechanical clocks has declined, and today these are cherished more for their decorative and antique value.
Mechanical clocks depend on the energy stored in a wound spring.
Mechanical clocks depend on the energy stored in a wound spring. This is why they must be wound regularly to keep accurate time. The periodic ritual of manually re-winding a mechanical clock can be a chore. Still, it is a reminder, nonetheless, that that the clock’s longevity and its unfailing timekeeping cannot be taken for granted.
Similar to the vintage clock, for life to carry on smoothly, our bodies, too, need care, maintenance, and timely re-charging. Like a well-oiled machine, a wholesome diet, healthy habits, and regular exercise can go a long way in keeping ourselves alive and ticking for a long time.
Photo by the author
Older generations were familiar with Ansonia clocks. We had similar but larger Ansonias. They were part of our life’s daily grind and routine. Today we nostalgically recall their chimes with a touch of regret that we could have done more in life.
“That the clock’s longevity and its unfailing timekeeping cannot be taken for granted.”
Superb synthesis of time illustrated through a family heirloom.
Thank you.
Thank you for sharing your memories. The power of an old time keeper is amazing.