Happy birthday dear tower clock, happy birthday to you! Where were you in 1932? Milk was fourteen cents a quart, the average yearly salary was $1,368.00, Franklin D. Roosevelt was President, a gallon of gas cost ten cents and Harvard University installed an Electric Time Company tower clock on Byerly Hall.

What is the life expectancy of our tower clocks? Lets use the exterior clock at Harvard’s Byerly Hall as an example. Their flush mounted Electric Time Company exterior clock was installed in 1932. After 76 years of continuous operation we supplied a replacement clock movement (the same movement they originally were using) and a new pair of hands (although the old hands would have worked just fine). The new equipment has been in place for 4 years without a hitch. Electric Time Company supports their legacy equipment and still produces replacement clock equipment for decades old clocks. Now that is commitment to our customers!

Once again Electric Time Company has been called upon to provide a complete Tower Clock restoration. Brown University in Providence Rhode Island asked us to restore their iconic Aldrich Field tower clocks for their new Aquatics and Fitness Center. 

 The four 6’ diameter tower clocks had seen better days. Aided by historic photographs, the cast dials were stripped and repainted using their original color scheme. The broken glass panels were recreated and reinstalled. Reproduction hands were manufactured to replace the missing and broken hands. Updated lighting was added to provide a nice even glow in the evening. The four clocks were fitted with Electric Time Company C1-MI tower clock movements and equipped with our 99B-MI automatic clock controller for years of maintenance free use. 

Restored Tower Clock in our Factory

Installed 

Original Tower Clock in Storage and in pieces 

How to improve an antique? Have Electric Time Company provide a clock for it! The ultra-hip restaurant and nightclub LAVO in New York City asked ETC to place clock faces in an old rusty antique wrought iron sign frame. After painstakingly restoring the frame and recreating missing parts, two 30” back lighted clocks were added. The frame was carefully painted and highlighted and the clock rings were fitted to the frame. The double sided clock now proudly hangs above the LAVO entrance on 58th Street, between Madison and Park Avenues

Electric Time Company of Medfield MA USA completed the restoration and installation of the McGill University – Roddick Memorial Gates clocks and bell striking equipment just in time for their October 1st ceremony.

Led by a ceremonial bagpiper, the group of dignitaries followed the campus path from the Arts Building to the Roddick Memorial Gates and Clock Tower. The Gate was added to McGill University May 28th 1925. Named after Sir Thomas George Roddick (1846-1923), an important figure in Canadian medicine and a McGill graduate, the gate was adorned with a small tower, featuring four tower clocks. The clock movement was originally supplied by Birks & Sons Jewelers, a famous Canadian jeweler.

The four cast bronze clocks were removed and sent to the Electric Time Company factory in Medfield MA for a complete tower clock restoration. They had not functioned correctly for decades. The outer bands of the clocks were sandblasted and repainted. The inner portion of the dials were gold leafed, and the Birks Jewelers logo was added. Electric Time Company clock movements were installed, along with their associated clock controller. The controller also functioned as the time base for the electronic bell hammers which were added to the existing bells. The bells hadn’t rang for longer than anyone could remember!

Dr. Joseph Hanaway, the donor for the restoration project, celebrated his 50th class reunion the weekend of the clock ceremony. He expressed his gratitude for the excellent work done by Gilles McSween of McGill University, Helmut Hargassner of Birks & Sons Jewelers and Thomas Erb and staff of Electric Time Company. A cast bronze plaque will be added inside the tower commemorating these participants and others that had a role in revitalizing the McGill University Roddick Memorial Gates Clock Tower.

The Fall/Winter Issue of the McGill News Alumni Magaine has the entire story.