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The clocks on display are primarily from the large donation of clocks and watches by Mrs. Hazel Oldt. The Pantograph (engraving) Machines are from the Star Watch Case Company, which was one of the leading industries of Ludington for many years. To our knowledge there is only one other of these machines left in the United States and it is in private hands. All the other machines were sold into the European market when the Star Watch Case Company closed its door in 1982. The Pantograph Machine was invented by Andrew Halberg somewhere between 1913 to 1919. He had no formal college training, but had a keen mechanical ability and was originally hired by the Elgin Clock Co. in Illinois. They sent him to take charge of the tool and die room at Star Watch Case Company in 1903. It might be considered a form of mass production as the design that the stylus follows on the master plate is transferred identically to 28 - 31 reduced in sized watch cases. The brass clock with the ornate long pendulum run by weights is of French origin and is called a Morbier clock from the region of France where it originated. The style of decoration (the figures of farmers at the top of the case) helps to date the clock to approximately 1815. The large Seth Thomas one-weight clock was from the Hudsonville, MI area where it was used attached to external batteries to ring the bell for the Hudsonville High School. It dates from 1900-1910. The Cuckoo clock dates from about 1850 and is a fine example of a Black Forest German Clock. |
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