I have loved tower clock movements since I was much younger and visited the NAWCC Museum in Columbia, PA back in 1979 for the first time. In the early 1980's I worked for a clock shop in Lancaster, PA repairing all kinds of antique clocks. I also went on several tower calls to repair tower clocks.
The desire to own a tower clock was always in the back of my mind, but I knew they were hard to find and expensive. Also, I only wanted an E. Howard or a Seth Thomas as they were my favorites.
E. Howard Tower Clock Model #1 - Circa 1880
Six or seven years ago I had the urge to fulfill the desire to have one, so I went to a few auctions and I was very disappointed at the high prices they were going for, so I kept looking. I then stumbled onto an obscure ad online about a tower clock movement for sale. After a few calls, I planned a visit to see it, and quickly made the purchase. The clock was in an old train station in Athol, Massachusetts. The owners had sold the building to the local county, who did not want the old clock. So we removed the clock from the tower of the station in the middle of summer. It was so hot in the attic I almost fainted and had to take a break and have my assistant get the remaining parts from the tower. I was so happy with this purchase because it was the exact model I wanted. It was an E. Howard from 1880, Model #1 one of the smallest free-standing models they made, so it had those very nice E. Howard style legs.
The clock is in our small lobby here at RGM; I often point it out to visitors.
Hope you enjoyed the little story about my Tower Clock.
Roland
Original Location of Our E. Howard Tower Clock