Old State Capitol Clock

Today Ken presented back to Kim Lake, curator of the Old State Capitol located in Vandalia, IL, an 1830’s Seth Thomas pillar and scroll clock he had volunteered to restore to running condition. The clock has a wooden geared movement with a count wheel strike which which Eli Terry patented in 1823.

For a clock being close to 200 years old, it was in good condition but still a challenge to get back into running condition. But after many hours of working on it in his spare time, the clock returned to life running and striking each hour.

But just as we get older with aches and pains from arthritis, it’s old wooden gears also have moments of arthritis, depending on the weather and humidity, in needing a little help to get going for the day.

You can read more about the restoration of this clock in Ken’s Clock Repair Projects posts.