Spot A Clock: Clock Tower Building, N. Prospect Ave.

September 2014 “Spot a Clock”
This month’s ‘Spot a Clock’ is the Clock Tower Building, located at 2266 North Prospect Avenue in Milwaukee.

The portion of the building with the clock was constructed in 1926 by Coakley Brothers, a Milwaukee-based warehousing and shipping company.. Alexander Eschweiler, the architect of the Wisconsin Gas Building, designed an addition that was constructed in 1928. The current building owner leases space out to a variety of businesses, and features the clock in their promotional materials.

The NAWCC’s Seth Thomas records indicate that the movement for this clock was a Seth Thomas Model 6, serial number 2504. A trip to the clock tower, however, found an electrified movement. The transfer gears from the original installation are still present and in use.

According to the Seth Thomas records, the clock dial was constructed with the letters “COAKLEY BROS” instead of the standard numerals. The current dials feature numerals, and show evidence of modification at some point in the past.

One may ask, what happened to the original movement. If you have been to the NAWCC Museum, you have seen it. The Seth Thomas tower clock movement from this building is on display.

If you would like to suggest a clock for the newsletter’s ‘Spot a Clock’, please contact Ed Buc at the Chapter meetings or by email.

September Spot a Clock— Can you guess the location of this clock? unnamedSeptClockThe answer will be posted at the September meeting, by the coffee.

Recent Posts

Next meeting is May 18, 2025.

Presidents Message,
We will continue to need some help setting up and taking down.  So arrive at 9:00 and help setup and stay after the educational talk to help return the room in the condition, we found it in.  Thank you for your help in this.
Doors open at 9:00 for setup and mart. Mike Dempsey will talk about assembling a clock movement beginning at 10:00 during the mart.  The educational talk at 11:00 is by Craig entitled “Isaac Rogers Turkish Dial Lantern Clock Restoration”.  Replacement of bell spider is explained and side fret repair and more.

Patrick Hansen Jr. is a new member and has volunteered to be our new secretary.  Thank you for joining and volunteering to help, Patrick. 

Mike Demsey gave a demonstration of tools used for watch hairspring and staff Thank you Mike for Part 1 and we are looking forward to Part 2 soon. Part 2 will show the replacement live. 

Danno thank you for your presentation on disassembling a Schwalbach tower clock.
Schwalbach was the founder of the Star Tower Clock Company in Milwaukee.  His firm is known to have installed between 55 to 70 tower clocks during its 42-year existence.
Schwalbach first established his own business in 1873 after having been an important contributor to the invention of both the typewriter and the sewing machine. Schwalbach built and installed tower clocks in 11 states from Oregon to New York.

Elections for Officers and Directors
Mike Dempsey will take the lead as our as chairperson of the nominating committee.  The election will be held at our November meeting.  The nominating committee will also invite suggested names from the floor. Please contact him if you would like to run for one of the positions.  

We still need some volunteers for talks for 2026.  Please contact Harry Schulz or myself with ideas or suggestions.
Educational Talks Planned for 2025:
May 2025      Isaac Rogers Turkish Dial Lantern Clock Restoration, by Craig White
Sept 2025     Gear Cutting, by Mike Demsey
Nov. 2025     Battery Clocks, by Mike Demsey
Free tables!!  A free silent auction table will also be available. 

Hope to see you all there. 
Thanks,
Craig

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