What's the oldest thing you own?

[hondacuraplanet]

A fun Monday thread

For me, it would have to be our 1899 Seth Thomas adamantine mantle clock. According to the clock expert that sees it every couple years, it has less than 5 years running time on it, and is in pristine shape. I bought it back in 1996 just before my wife and I were married, as an heirloom piece.

Looks much like this one, without the doggy

[N_Jay]

Probably some of my grandfathers tools.

My brother has my grandmother's treadle Singer.

We have my wife's grandparents mantle clock, but I don't know how old it is.

And we have some old money, including a large dollar.

[larryziegler]

I have 2 Presidential plates from Benjamin Harrison's administration that were given to my great grandmother in the early to mid 1890's.

[colorider]

Cool idea for a thread!!!!

Probably my body is the oldest thing I own!!!!

I have a Civil War sword that was passed down from my uncle; not sure where he got it or when.

[Nathan_P]

I found a few Indian arrowheads & the head of a tomahawk while digging in the garden last spring.

I have no idea exactly how old they are but there were very large tribes of Mississippian Indians that settled around here between 1100-1450 AD

[jay]

Originally posted by colorider
...

Probably my body is the oldest thing I own!!!!

...

Same here. The next oldest thing is an Anniversary clock that my uncle got for my grandparents when he was stationed in Germany in the 50's.

[N_Jay]

Originally posted by jay
Same here. The next oldest thing is an Anniversary clock that my uncle got for my grandparents when he was stationed in Germany in the 50's.

I have a couple of those from my father-in-law.

We bought them a quartz anniversary style clock for their 25th, and he mentioned that he had one in the attic, but it did not keep good time. (He liked the quartz one better).

When we cleaned the attic about 20 some years later he gave them to me.
Apparently he bought several to give as gifts but since his kept bad time, he did not bother to give them away.

[jay]

Originally posted by N_Jay


I have a couple of those from my father-in-law.

We bought them a quartz anniversary style clock for their 25th, and he mentioned that he had one in the attic, but it did not keep good time. (He liked the quartz one better).

When we cleaned the attic about 20 some years later he gave them to me.
Apparently he bought several to give as gifts but since his kept bad time, he did not bother to give them away.

I was visiting my grandparents years ago, and while admiring the operation of the clock managed to over-wind it. The key kicked back and took a big chunk of flesh out of my thumb, then the clock proceeded to tear itself apart.

I don't know how it was originally, but after I got it back from the repair shop, I found that it would lose 5+ minutes per day. Oh well, I still like that flesh-eating monster.

[Bill Balmer]

I think the oldest thing I own is a shillelagh brought over from Ireland with one of my ancestors in 1734. It hangs on my bedroom wall.

But speaking of clocks, I have an Ansonia mantle clock from 1901 that was a wedding gift to my great grandparents. I've done all of the work on it since acquiring it in 1988, including getting it running again. It keeps good time, but I remember being chided when first taking on the task of working on it myself. I was told by an antique clock expert not to mess with the springs, because "if they let loose while you're near them, it's like jumping into a bathtub full of razor blades". So you may have damaged the clock, but it sounds like you were lucky not to have been injured.

[N_Jay]

Originally posted by jay
I was visiting my grandparents years ago, and while admiring the operation of the clock managed to over-wind it. The key kicked back and took a big chunk of flesh out of my thumb, then the clock proceeded to tear itself apart.

I don't know how it was originally, but after I got it back from the repair shop, I found that it would lose 5+ minutes per day. Oh well, I still like that flesh-eating monster.

The adjustment of these things is a slow process.

You have to adjust the rotating balls very carefully and slowly to get it right.

I would start with a little web research on the process, and then go to the shop that did the repair, and let them show you how to adjust it.

It is also critical that they are perfectly level and are not moved, to stay accurate.

[N_Jay]

Originally posted by Bill Balmer
But speaking of clocks, I have an Ansonia mantle clock from 1901 that was a wedding gift to my great grandparents. I've done all of the work on it since acquiring it in 1988, including getting it running again. It keeps good time, but I remember being chided when first taking on the task of working on it myself. I was told by an antique clock expert not to mess with the springs, because "if they let loose while you're near them, it's like jumping into a bathtub full of razor blades". So you may have damaged the clock, but it sounds like you were lucky not to have been injured.

Congratulation on being able to work on a clock.

I love clocks and watches, but do not have the dexterity, or patients to work on them.

[sfhondapilot]

an 1881 silver dollar.

[coubs]

Custom made hickory shafted golf clubs from St. Andrews Scotland. My grandfather was a teaching professional. The clubmaker was T.Stewart and they are dated around 1895 - 1905.

[richw930]

Originally posted by sfhondapilot
an 1881 silver dollar.

Yeah, I have quite a coin collection myself - some dating back to the 1850's...

[Dano]

1st edition Huckleberry Finn, near mint condition.