Original Listing Description

EXCEEDING YOUR EXPECTATIONS, BOTH WITH THE ANTIQUE CLOCK PURCHASE, AS WELL AS MY LONG-TERM AVAILABILITY FOR ASSISTANCE AFTER THE PURCHASE, IS MY PLEDGE TO YOU.PART OF MY DNA IS THE LONG TERM AND CONTINUING PASSION FOR THE PROPER RESTORATION OF SELECTED ANTIQUE CLOCKS, PRIMARILY SETH THOMAS AND HERSCHEDE.EACH RESTORATION IS ACCOMPLISHED VIA BEST METHODS AND PRACTICES, ACQUIRED THROUGH DECADES OF EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE, AND TECHNIQUES ACQUIRED.THE CLOCKS THAT I SELECT FOR RESTORATION AND SUBSEQUENT RESALE REPRESENT SPECIFICALLY SELECTED MODELS, WHICH ARE BEST CANDIDATES FOR THE RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER, OR SMALL BUSINESS OWNER, WHO DESIRES TO OWN AN HIERLOOM ANTIQUE CLOCK, AS WELL AS TO ENJOY A TASTE OF ANTIQUE CLOCK AMERICANA PURCHASES FROM ME ARE GENERALLY FOR PERSONAL USE AND ENJOYMENT, FOR COLLECTORS, OR FOR GIFTING TO SPECIAL FRIENDS, RELATIVES, OR ASSOCIATES SINCERELY PRESENTED, STEVE IN SOUTH CAROLINA PLEASE VISIT MY STORE“SETH THOMAS RESTORED ANTIQUE CLOCKS”TO SEE MANY MORE INVESTMENT COLLECTOR QUALITY CLOCKS. JUST FOLLOW THE LINK AT THE “SELLER’S OTHER ITEMS” INFORMATION PART OF THE LISTING HEADER. SOUND FILES ARE INCLUDED IN THE “E COMMERCE AUDIO PLAYER” AT THE TOP OF MY LISTING TO ASSIST YOU IN REVIEWING THE8 BELL SONORA CHIME CLOCK NUMBER 257 - 1914 Powered by eCommercePlayer comPowered by eCommercePlayer comPowered by eCommercePlayer comPowered by eCommercePlayer comPowered by eCommercePlayer comPowered by eCommercePlayer com OFFERED TODAYAS A VERY SPECIAL GIFT PURCHASE,FOR YOUR COLLECTION,OR FOR ONE’S OWN PLEASURE IS THE GRAND AND RARE ELEGANT AND TASTEFULLY DESIGNED 8 BELLSETH THOMAS DORIC CABINET SONORA CLOCK NUMBER 257 - 1914. THIS ONE IS ALL ORIGINAL COMPONENTS INCLUDING THE “BOY ON A FENCE” PENDULUM BOB. BOTH CLOCK MOVEMENTSAS WELL AS ALL ASPECTS OF THIS LOVELY 8 BELL SONORAHAVE BEEN COMPLETELY SERVICED AND RESTORED. ONE WILL HAVE TO LOOK AN AWFULLY LONG TIME AND WILL STILL NOT FIND A FULLY RESTORED 8 BELL SONORA CHIME CLOCK NO. 257 AS FINE AS THIS ONE! DESCRIPTION AND FEATURES THIS IS A SONORA CHIME CLOCK WITH A NEST OF 8PATENTED SONORA RESONATED BELLS – THE CHIMES ARE RESONANT, WITH SUPERB TIMBRE AND DECAY AFTER EACH NOTE IS SOUNDED – OTHER NON-SETH BELL CHIME ANTIQUE CLOCKS SIMPLY CANNOT COMPARE WITH THE TIMBRE AND RESONANCE OF THE BELL SOUNDS FROM THIS SONORA CHIME 257 SONORA. THE NEW OWNER WILL DEFINITELY WANT TO PLACE THE SETH 257 IN A VERY SPECIAL LOCATION IN THE HOME. THE SETH THOMAS SONORA CHIME CLOCK NUMBER 257 - 1914 IS LISTED IN NOTED AUTHORITY TRAN DUY LY’S “SETH THOMAS CLOCKS AND MOVEMENTS” THIRD EDITION, VOLUME 1, PAGE 168. THE SONORA 257 IS A DELIGHT TO VIEW, WITH A HIGHEST GRADE SATIN RUBBED AND FRENCH POLISHED RIBBON MAHOGANY PATINA AND A CLEAN AND STYLISH CABINET DESIGN THAT REALLY ATTRACTS ATTENTION. NOTE THE SUPERIOR RIBBON MAHOGANY CLARITYAND GRAIN PATTERNS ON THE SONORA 257 CABINET – SIMPLY LOVELY TO LOOK AT! THE DORIC STYLING WITH ROUND TOP AND GENTLE SIDE CURVES, COUPLED WITH THE 180 DEGREE BONNET MOULDING OVER THE DIAL AND FULL PEDIMENT BASE IS AN INVITING PRESENTATION - AND A GREAT COMPLEMENT TO THE SUPERIOR AND EASILY READ RESTORED AND RESILVERED 6 ½ INCH DIAL, SIGNATURE SETH FULL SPADE HANDS, POLISHED BRASS BEZEL, AND HEAVY CONVEX AND BEVELED DIAL GLASS. TAKE A LOOK AT THE DIAL AND HEAVY BEVELED GLASS IN SUPERSIZE PHOTO FOUR. THE DIAL IS FLAWLESS AND HAS THE DESIRED PATINA, AND THE ARABIC NUMERALS ARE VIVID AND CLEAR. THIS PARTICULAR DORIC CABINET STYLE SONORA IS REALLY AN ATTENTION GETTER BECAUSE OF ITS STYLE AND STATEMENT WHEN DISPLAYED – IT ALWAYS DRAWS GUESTS OR FRIENDS BACK FOR ANOTHER LOOK. THE 32 NOTE WHITTINGTON MELODY AND THE 16 NOTE WESTMINSTER SEQUENCES ON THE RESONATED BELLS IS JUST GRAND, AND THE HOUR STRIKE CONSISTS OF A DEEP BELL NOTE STRUCK ON BELL NUMBER 8 – A BLEND OF SUPERB TIMBRE, THAT SAYS “LOOK AT ME – I AM OVER 100 YEARS OLD, AND STILL A TREASURE TO BEHOLD!” BY ALL MEANS LISTEN FOR YOURSELF VIA THE ATTACHED E COMMERCE AUDIO PLAYER LINKS AT THE START OF THE LISTING. WITH THE SONORA 257 DESIGN, SETH ACHIEVED THE SONORA SOUND IN A MODIFIED DORIC MAHOGANY CABINET WITH FLEXIBLE PLACEMENT OPTIONS - A SMART CHOICE FOR BOTH COLLECTING AND ADORNING THE HOME. INDEED, THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST SOUGHT AFTER SONORAS BECAUSE IT CAN BE PLACED PRACTICALLY ANYWHERE AND IS GUARANTEED TO ATTRACT ATTENTION NO MATTER WHERE IT IS LOCATED, WHETHER IT BE USED PRIMARILY FOR TIME KEEPING, AS A DÉCOR ITEM, OR BOTH! PLEASE TAKE A LOOK AT THE SUPERSIZE PHOTOS FOR HIGH RESOLUTION CLOSE IN VIEWS. THE ORIGINAL SHELLAC ON THE RIBBON MAHOGANY FINISH WAS AMALGAMATED WITH FRESH AMBER SHELLAC, AND THE ENTIRE CABINET WAS PROFESSIONALLY CONDITIONED AND RESTORED WITH MY SPECIAL PROCESS, IN ORDER TO BRING FORTH THE RICHNESS OF THE ORIGINAL GRAINED MAHOGANY – TIME CONSUMING, YES – BUT JUST LOOK AT THE BEAUTY OF THIS SONORA NO. 257 DORIC STYLE CABINET! THE RIBBON MAHOGANY BEAUTY AND SATIN PATINA ARE BOTH IN ABUNDANCE WITH THIS SONORA 257 CABINET – ONE OF THE BEST I HAVE EVER COME ACROSS. EVERY ASPECT OF THE SONORA 257 HAS BEEN RESTORED TO ORIGINAL SPECIFICATIONS, INCLUDING THE NEST OF RESONATED SONORA BELLS. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO PURCHASE ONE OF SETH THOMAS’ FINEST SONORA BELL ANTIQUE CLOCKS – AND YOU CAN BE ASSURED OF THE QUALITY, BECAUSE MY PERSONAL OBJECTIVE, AS ALWAYS, IS TO EXCEED YOUR EXPECTATIONS! ANYONE WHO DESIRES SHOULD FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME AND I WILL BE HAPPY TO DISCUSS DETAILS OF THE SONORA 257, AS WELL AS DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE VARIOUS SONORAS IN GENERAL. THE WINDING HOLE NEAR THE “8” IS FOR THE HOUR COUNT CHIME; THE ONE NEAR THE “4” IS FOR THE TIME TRAIN. BOTH THE HOUR COUNT AND TIME TRAIN ARE HANDLED BY THE NO. 89AG MOVEMENT. ANOTHER HOLE AT THE “3” IS FOR WINDING THE QUARTER-HOUR WESTMINSTER CHIMES, HANDLED BY THE NO. 104H MOVEMENT. A SMALLER HOLE BELOW THE HAND SHAFT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DIAL IS FOR ACCESSING THE SLOW-FAST TIME ADJUSTMENT. A SLIDE LEVER ON THE SIDE OF THE CASE IS FOR CHIME-SILENT OPERATION. WHEN OPERATED, THE QUARTER HOUR CHIMES WILL BE SILENCED A CLOSE-UP OF THE LEVER IS SHOWN AS AN INSET IN SUPERSIZE PHOTO 3. AN ADDITIONAL SLIDE LEVER IS PRESENT FOR SWITCHING BETWEEN THE WHITTINGTON AND THE WESTMINSTER CHIME SEQUENCES. THE 89AG MOVEMENT HANDLES THE TIME AND HOUR STRIKE FUNCTIONS AND THE 104H MOVEMENT HANDLES THE QUARTER HOUR FUNCTIONS. EACH QUARTER HOUR SEQUENCE IS SOUNDED ON THE RESONATED BELLS WITH RICH HARMONICS, TIMBRE AND LINGERING DECAY WHEN STRUCK. THE WESTMINSTER SEQUENCE IS SOUNDED ON FOUR OF THE BELLS. THE WHITTINGTON SEQUENCE IS ANNOUNCED VIA ALL 8 BELLS. THE HOUR COUNT IS SOUNDED AS A FULL BODIED MUSICAL NOTE ON BELL 8. PLEASE MAKE IT A POINT TO LISTEN AND CAREFULLY REVIEW THE ATTACHED SOUND PLAYER FILES IN ORDER TO FULLY APPRECIATE WHAT OWNERS IN THE 1914 TIME FRAME EXPERIENCED WITH THEIR NEW AND, AT THE TIME, VERY EXPENSIVE SONORA 257 CLOCKS. RESTORATION AND TECHNICAL DETAILS PLEASE OBSERVE THAT NEARLY HALF OF MY LISTING PORTFOLIO CONTAINS INFORMATION ABOUT THE MECHANICAL ASPECTS AND MOVEMENT RESTORATION OF THE CLOCK.YOU DESERVE, AND SHOULD EXPECT, A RESTORED ANTIQUE SETH OF THE HIGHEST QUALITY AND RELIABILITY.I STRIVE TO EXCEED YOUR EXPECTATIONS RATHER THAN SIMPLY SELL YOU AN ANTIQUE CLOCK. THE NEST OF SONORA BELLS THE RESTORATION PROCESS INCLUDED COMPLETE DISASSEMBLY AND INSPECTION OF EVERY ASPECT OF THE CLOCK. THE SONORA CHIME BELLS AND CHIME BLOCK ASSEMBLY WERE CAREFULLY DISASSEMBLED, CLEANED TO RESTORE THE RESONANT TIMBRE OF THE SONORA BELLS, AND EXAMINED FOR CONDITION TO INSURE THE ABSENCE OF HAIRLINE CRACKS, ETC. SUPERSIZE PHOTO 9 SHOWS THE DISASSEMBLED, CLEANED AND INSPECTED BELLS AND BELL NEST WITH SOUND CAVITIES THAT CAN BE SEEN ON THE END. CAREFUL INSPECTION OF THE BELLS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT: · ONE HAIRLINE CRACK CAN CAUSE A SONORA BELL TO LOSE ALL TONE AND TIMBRE, AND THE BEGINNING OF A HAIRLINE WILL ALMOST ALWAYS GROW TO A FULL HAIRLINE CRACK. · IN ADDITION, OTHER ISSUES WITH CRACKED, BROKEN, OR DETERIORATED WOODEN AND PRESSED FELT BELL SPACERS, USED TO SEPARATE THE BELLS, WILL IMPACT THE SOUND, YET CANNOT BE DETECTED BY CASUAL INSPECTION. · THE ONLY WAY TO ASSURE YOURSELF OF NOT BECOMING VICTIM TO PROBLEMS IS VIA FULL AUTHENTICATION OF THE COMPONENTS, WHICH IS MY PLEDGE TO YOU, THE BUYER. MOVEMENTS - #89AG AND #104HBOTH THE 89AG TIME AND HOUR STRIKE MOVEMENT, AND THE 104H CHIME MOVEMENT WERE DISASSEMBLED, CLEANED WITH ULTRASONICS, INSPECTED IN DETAIL FOR CONDITION OF THE PIVOT BUSHINGS, GEAR TRAIN, AND ARBOR OR PIVOT ABNORMALITIES. OUT OF TOLERANCE BUSHINGS WERE REPLACED. EVERY OPERATIONAL ASPECT OF EACH MOVEMENT WAS ADDRESSED. THE MOVEMENTS WERE THEN REASSEMBLED AND PROPERLY LUBRICATED; BOTH MAINSPRINGS IN THE 89AG WERE UNLOADED, AND SERVICED. THE GREAT MAINSPRING IN THE 104A MOVEMENT WAS UNLOADED, INSPECTED FOR HAIRLINE CRACKS, PROPERLY SERVICED AND RELOADED INTO THE GREAT WHEEL BARREL. THE MAINSPRING EXCEEDED THE DELIVEED FORCE REQUIREMENTS BOTH AT THE START AND AT THE END OF ITS FORCE CURVE - REST ASSURED THE 104H MOVEMENT WILL PERFORM RELIABLY AND PROPERLY. IMPORTANT: THERE ARE THREE CRITICAL COMPONENTS IN THE #104H CHIME MOVEMENT: THE GREAT WHEEL GEAR, THE SECOND WHEEL GEAR WITH PINION, AND THE CHIME DRUM THAT SYNCHRONIZES AND DRIVES THE CHIME HAMMERS. IF ANY OF THESE COMPONENTS IS ABOUT TO FAIL, IT MAY NOT BE OBVIOUS. WHEN IT OCCURS, THE COST TO REPAIR WILL GIVE YOU A JOLT, BECAUSE THERE ARE NONE IN SUPPLY CHANNELS; ANOTHER MOVEMENT WILL BE REQUIRED. THAT IS WHY I ALWAYS MAKE SURE THESE CRITICAL COMPONENTS ARE IN TOP CONDITION ON MY RESTORED SETH SONORA CLOCKS. I WILL BE GLAD TO FULLY EXPLAIN THESE CONSIDERATIONS AS WELL AS OTHER IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS WHEN BUYING A SONORA – JUST EMAIL ME OR BE IN TOUCH. GOOD COUNSEL ON A CONTEMPLATED SONORA ACQUISITION WOULD BE: IF ONE ELECTS TO PURCHASE A SONORA OF UNKNOWN CONDITION – EVEN IF WORKING, BY ALL MEANS HOPE FOR THE BEST, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, BE PREPARED FOR PROBLEMS, SUBSEQUENT OPERATIONAL ISSUES AND EXTREME FRUSTRATION, AS WELL AS CONSIDERABLE EXPENSE. JUST LISTEN TO THE ATTACHED E COMMERCE PLAYER AUDIO FILES FOR AN ACCURATE RENDERING OF THE CLARITY, RESONANCE, TONE, AND RICH DECAY OF EACH NOTE STRUCK WHEN THE SONORA 257 CHIMES AND STRIKES THE HOUR. AFTER REASSAMBLY, APPROPRIATE ADJUSTMENTS FOR TIME, CHIME, HOUR STRIKE, SYNCHRONIZATION PENDULUM RATE AND BEAT ERROR ETC. WERE ACCOMPLISHED USING MECHANICAL AND ELECTRONIC MEANS. AN EXTENDED BENCH RUN TEST FOLLOWED. SEVERAL PHOTOS OF THE RESTORATION WORK ARE PART OF THE PORTFOLIO. ADDITIONAL TECHNICAL INFORMATION: · AS PART OF THE TESTS AND ADJUSTMENTS PROCEDURES ON THE #89AG MOVEMENT, THE PENDULUM BEAT ERROR AND THE PENDULUM BEAT RATE ARE CHECKED AND SET - AN OBJECTIVE OF NEAR ZERO FOR BEAT ERROR IS DESIRED. THIS RESTORED 89AG MOVEMENT ADJUSTED TO ZERO ERROR AND STABILIZED AT ZERO ERROR. · FOR PENDULUM BEAT RATE, THE 89AG IS DESIGNED TO RUN AT 9,777 BEATS PER HOUR. THE RESTORED MOVEMENT EASILY HELD THE 9,777 BEAT RATE, MEANING THE TIME KEEPING WILL BE DEPENDABLE AND THE MOVEMENT WILL GIVE RELIABLE SERVICE. IN FACT, BOTH MOVEMENTS IN THE SONORA 57 WERE RESTORED TO SUPERIOR CONDITIION. · THE PENDULUM SWING ARC OF THE RESTORED 89AG MOVEMENT IS A FULL 3 1/2 INCHES, VERY ROBUST AND EXCEEDING ORIGINAL SPECIFICATIONS. A WIDE PENDULUM SWING IS A POSITIVE INDICATOR OF A HEALTHY MOVEMENT THAT HAS VERY LITTLE FRICTION AND LOTS OF ENERGY. BEWARE OF A #89AG MOVEMENT WITH A PENDULUM AMPLITUDE OF 2 ½ INCHES OR LESS – A SIGN OF POOR MOVEMENT HEALTH. THE FULL RESTORATION SERVICE WORK ON THE SONORA MOVEMENTS AND SONORA BELLS ASSEMBLY, AS DESCRIBED ABOVE, IS AN $1000 VALUE IN AND OF ITSELF. IF YOU PURCHASE A SETH THOMAS SONORA CLOCK OF UNKNOWN OPERATIONAL RELIABILITY, A TRIP THE CLOCK DOCTOR IS LIKELY AND COSTLY. WHY NOT PURCHASE ONE THAT YOU CAN DEPEND ON FROM THE GET GO!!! THE SONORA CHIME NO. 257 - 1914 WILL BE THE CENTER-PIECE OF A GRAND DECORATIVE SETTING, AND IT IS AN EXCELLENT INVESTMENT, BECAUSE ITS VALUE WILL CONTINUE TO APPRECIATE YEAR AFTER YEAR. THIS IS A FULL SIZE DORIC CABINET SONORA CHIME CLOCK, SUITABLE FOR MANTLE, TABLE, OR SHELF DISPLAY - IDEAL FOR A GIFT, A MEMORABLE PRESENT FOR SOMEONE SPECIAL, YOUR PERSONAL USE, OR AS AN ADDITION TO YOUR COLLECTION. MEASUREMENTS ARE 17 ½” W X 11 ½”H X 8 ¼” D. WORKMANSHIP AND QUALITY – ALL OF MY SETH THOMAS ANTIQUE CLOCKS ARE FULLY RESTORED IN EVERY WAY UNLESS SPECIFICALLY STATED OTHERWISE. GREAT CARE IS TAKEN TO INSURE THAT EACH AND EVERY ONE FUNCTIONS PROPERLY, IS FULLY OPERATIONAL, MEETS OR EXCEEDS ORIGINAL PERFORMANCE SPECS, AND IS BENCH TESTED WHEN SHIPPED. MY SINCERE HOPE IS TO EXCEED YOUR EXPECTATIONS IN EVERY WAY. AS WITH ALL MECHANICAL CLOCK MOVEMENTS, SOME ADJUSTMENTS MAY BE NECESSARY WHEN SETTING UP AFTER SHIPMENT, AND THE CLOCK IS SOLD AS IS. ENJOY THE LISTING – IF YOU NEED OR DESIRE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, EMAIL OR CALL STEVE. IMPORTANT NOTE – E COMMERCE SOUND PLAYER FILE LINKS ARE ATTACHED; THERE ARE 6 SOUND PLAYER LINKS. THE FIRST LINK IS THE INTRODUCTION TO THE REMAINING LINKS. THE LINKS ARE INCLUDED AT THE START OF MY LISTING. PLEASE PLAY THEM IN SEQUENCE. SIX SOUND FILES OF THE SETH SONORA CHIME 257 - 1914 WITH #89AG AND # 104H MOVEMENTS IN OPERATION ARE AVAILABLE IN .MP3 FORMAT:1. VOICE INTRODUCTION2. HIGHLY AMPLIFIED PENDULUM BEAT ESCAPEMENT VERGE CRUTCH AND TIME GEAR TRAIN OPERATION SOUNDS OF THE FRONT #89AG MOVEMENT – LISTEN FOR CLEAN AND EVEN SOUND, REGULARITY, AND THE ABSENCE OF ODD NOISES.3. WHITTINGTON SEQUENCES AT 6:15 – 6:30 – 6:45 - LISTEN FOR PURE NOTES WITH GOOD TIMBRE, RICH DECAY AND ZESTY TEMPO OF THE MOVEMENT RATHER THAN A SLOW, SLUGGISH OR DRAGGING TEMPO.4. THE FULL 32 NOTE WHITTINGTON SEQUENCE AND HOUR COUNT AT 7:00. AGAIN, LISTEN FOR PURE NOTES WITH GOOD TIMBRE AND RICH DECAY - AND AGAIN THE ZESTY TEMPO OF THE MOVEMENT RATHER THAN SLOW, SLUGGISH OR DRAGGING TEMPO. 5. WESTMINSTER SEQUENCES AT 7:15 – 7:30 – 7:45 - LISTEN FOR PURE NOTES WITH GOOD TIMBRE, RICH DECAY AND ZESTY TEMPO OF THE MOVEMENT RATHER THAN A SLOW, SLUGGISH OR DRAGGING TEMPO 6. THE FULL 16 NOTE WESTMINSTER SEQUENCE AND HOUR COUNT AT 8:00. AGAIN, LISTEN FOR PURE NOTES WITH GOOD TIMBRE AND RICH DECAY - AND AGAIN THE ZESTY TEMPO OF THE MOVEMENT RATHER THAN SLOW, SLUGGISH OR DRAGGING TEMPO. (Condition: Pre-Owned)

Note: This item has been sold and is no longer available. This page serves as a historical price reference for clocks collectors and appraisers.