SETH THOMAS RESTORED ANTIQUE 8 BELL SONORA CHIME CLOCK NO. 255-1914 IN
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IMPORTANT – WHAT TO EXPECT FROM ME 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 E COMMERCE PLAYER MP3 SOUND FILE LINKS ARE BELOW TO ASSIST YOU IN REVIEWING THE 8 BELL SONORA CHIME CLOCK NUMBER 255 - 1914
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.com OFFERED TODAY FOR THAT SPECIAL PERSON FOR YOUR COLLECTION, OR FOR ONE’S OWN PLEASURE IS AN ELEGANT AND TASTEFULLY DESIGNED SETH THOMAS 8 BELL SONORA CHIME CLOCK NUMBER 255 – 1914. THIS ONE IS EQUISITE AND FLAWLESS, PLAYS THE 32 NOTE WHITTINGTON AND 16 NOTE WESTMINSTER CHIMES, AND BOTH CLOCK MOVEMENTS, NEST OF BELLS, CABINET AND ALL ASPECTS OF THIS LOVELY SONORA HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY SERVICED AND RESTORED. ONE WILL HAVE TO LOOK AN AWFULLY LONG TIME AND WILL STILL NOT FIND A FULLY RESTORED SONORA CHIME CLOCK NO. 255 AS FINE AS THIS ONE! YES THIS RESTORED SONORA 255 IS EXCEPTIONAL AND MERITS SERIOUS ATTENTION, BECAUSE AN 8 BELL SONORA 255 IN THIS CONDITION ALWAYS REMAINS IN A PRIVATE COLLECTION, NOT AVAILABLE IN THE MARKET PLACE – THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO OWN THE BEST - EVEN BETTER THAN THE 255 IN MY PERSONAL COLLECTION. THE SHELLAC GRAINING AND PATINA ON THIS PARTICULER SONORA 255 IS MARVELOUS!! TAKE A CLOSE IN LOOK VIA THE HIGH RESOLUTION PHOTOS, PARTICULARLY PHOTO 6. DESCRIPTION AND FEATURES THIS IS A SONORA CHIME CLOCK WITH A NEST OF EIGHT RESONATED BELLS – THE CHIMES ARE RICH AND RESONANT, WITH SUPERB TIMBRE AND DECAY AFTER EACH NOTE IS SOUNDED – OTHER NON-SETH BELL CHIME ANTIQUE CLOCKS SIMPLY CANNOT COMPARE WITH THE BELL SOUNDS FROM THIS CHIME 255 SONORA. THE NEW OWNER WILL DEFINITELY WANT TO PLACE THE SETH 255 IN A VERY SPECIAL LOCATION IN THE HOME. THE SETH THOMAS SONORA CHIME CLOCK NUMBER 255 – 1914 IS LISTED IN NOTED AUTHORITY TRAN DUY LY’S “SETH THOMAS CLOCKS AND MOVEMENTS” THIRD EDITION, VOLUME 1, PAGE 151. NOTE THE CATALOGED DATE IS 1914. THE SONORA 255 IS A DELIGHT TO VIEW, WITH A HIGHEST GRADE SATIN DULL RUBBED RIBBON MAHOGANY PATINA AND A CLEAN AND STYLISH YET COMPACT CASE DESIGN THAT REALLY ATTRACTS ATTENTION. THE DORIC TOP STYLING COUPLED WITH THE DUAL SIDE PANELS AND FULL BONNET PRESENTS AN INVITING TRANSITION TO THE EASILY READ 5 ½ INCH DIAL AND COMPLEMENTING POLISHED BRASS BEZEL WITH HEAVY CONVEX AND BEVELED DIAL GLASS. BRASS BUTTON STYLE FEET AND BEVELED VERTICAL FRONT CABINET EDGES GIVE THE SONORA 255 AN ADDED ELEGANCE. THIS PARTICULAR SONORA ALWAYS DRAWS GUESTS OR FRIENDS BACK FOR ANOTHER LOOK, BECAUSE THEY WILL WONDER HOW SUCH A LOVELY WESTMINSTER BELL CHIME SOUND CAN COME FORTH FROM A PETITE CABINET CLOCK! WITH THE SONORA 255 DESIGN, SETH ACHIEVED THE SONORA SOUND IN A SMALLER CABINET SO THAT CUSTOMERS LOOKING FOR A SONORA WITH FLEXIBLE PLACEMENT OPTIONS WOULD HAVE A SMART CHOICE IN THE SONORA 255. 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 SHELLAC TO RESTORE CABINET LUSTRE AND CLARITY, AND THE ENTIRE CABINET WAS PROFESSIONALLY CONDITIONED AND RESTORED WITH MY SPECIAL PROCESS, IN ORDER TO BRING FORTH THE RICHNESS OF THE ORIGINAL MAHOGANY – TIME CONSUMING, YES – BUT JUST LOOK AT THE BEAUTY OF THIS SONORA NO. 255 DORIC STYLE CABINET! THIS SONORA 255 IS AN ALL-ORIGINAL FULLY RESTORED BEAUTY THAT YOU WILL TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN OWNING AND USING. EVERY ASPECT OF THE SONORA 255 HAS BEEN RESTORED TO ORIGINAL SPECIFICATIONS, INCLUDING THE NEST OF EIGHT 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 255, AS WELL AS DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE VARIOUS SONORAS IN GENERAL. MY CONTACT INFORMATION IS IN THE ENDING PARAGRAPHS OF THIS TEXT. THE GENEROUS RESTORED 5 ½” SILVERED SONORA DIAL CAN BE VIEWED FROM ACROSS A LARGE ROOM, AND HAS LARGE AND CLEAR BLACK ARABIC NUMERALS AND SETH THOMAS ORIGINAL LARGE HALF SPADE CUT STEEL MINUTE AND HOUR HANDS. SURROUNDING THE DIAL IS A LOVELY POLISHED BRASS SASH AND BEZEL, WITH A CONVEX, HEAVILY BEVELED DIAL GLASS. THE BEZEL SNAPS CLOSED NICELY, AND DOES NOT SAG, AS DO SOME. SUPERSIZE PHOTO 4 INCLUDES CLOSE UP INSETS OF THE DIAL, BEVELED GLASS AND BRASS BEZEL. 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. 89Z MOVEMENT. ANOTHER HOLE AT THE “3” IS FOR WINDING THE QUARTER-HOUR CHIMES, HANDLED BY THE NO. 104G 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. ANOTHER SLIDE LEVER ON THE SAME SIDE OFFERS THE SELECTION BETWEEN WHITTINGTON AND WESTMINSTER CHIMES. A CLOSE OF THE SLIDE LEVERS IS SHOWN IN SUPERSIZE PHOTO 3. THE WHITTINGTON SEQUENCES ARE: 8 NOTES AT THE ¼ HOUR, 16 AT THE ½ HOUR, 24 AT THE ¾ HOUR AND 32 NOTES ON THE HOUR, FOLLOWED BY THE HOUR COUNT. THE WESTMINSTER SEQUENCES ARE: 4 NOTES AT THE ¼ HOUR, 8 AT THE ½ HOUR, 12 AT THE ¾ HOUR AND 16 NOTES ON THE HOUR, FOLLOWED BY THE HOUR COUNT. NATURALLY, MOST SONORA LOVERS PREFER THE WHITTINGTON, BUT FREQUENTLY PLAY THE WESTMINSTER AS WELL. THE 89Z MOVEMENT HANDLES THE TIME AND HOUR STRIKE FUNCTIONS AND THE 104G 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 WHITTINGTON AND WESTMINSTER SEQUENCES ARE SOUNDED ON THE NEST OF BELLS. THE HOUR COUNT IS SOUNDED AS A FULL BODIED MUSICAL NOTE ON RESONATED BELL NUMBER 8. PLEASE MAKE IT A POINT TO LISTEN AND CAREFULLY REVIEW THE ATTACHED SOUND FILES IN ORDER TO FULLY APPRECIATE WHAT OWNERS IN THE 1914 TIME FRAME EXPERIENCED WITH THEIR NEW AND, AT THE TIME, VERY EXPENSIVE SONORA 255 CLOCKS. THE SOUND FILES ARE BELOW. ALSO INCLUDED IS THE ORIGINALLY ISSUED “BOY ON A FENCE” PENDULUM BOB AND A CORRECT BRASS DOUBLE ENDED WIDE WING KEY. A CLOSE-UP VIEW IS SHOWN IN PHOTO 2. THIS IS A MID/COMPACT 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 11” W X 9 ½”H X 8 ¼” D. RESTORATION AND TECHNICAL DETAILS 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 10 SHOWS THE CLEANED AND INSPECTED BELLS AND BELL NEST WITH SOUND CAVITIES THAT CAN BE SEEN ON THE END. ALSO PICTURED IS THE SONORA PATENT MARK THAT IS EMBOSSED ON THE TOP OF THE WOODEN BELL NEST. 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 - #89Z AND #104G BOTH THE 89Z TIME AND HOUR STRIKE MOVEMENT, AND THE 104G 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 89Z WERE UNLOADED, INSPECTED, SERVICED AND RELOADED. MAINSPRING ENERGY AND LACK OF METAL FATIGUE ARE CRITICAL FOR PERFORMANCE AND LONG TERM RELIABILITY. I ALWAYS MAKE SURE THE SPECIFICATIONS ARE EXCEEDED FOR MAINSPRINGS. THE GREAT MAINSPRING IN THE 104G SONORA MOVEMENT WAS REMOVED FROM ITS RETAINING BARREL, FULLY UNWOUND, PROPERLY CLEANED, INSPECTED, REWOUND, AND LUBRICATED WITH MAINSPRING INDUSTRUAL GRADE LUBRICANT. REPLACEMENT OF THE 136 INCH #104G MAINSPRING IS NEITHER RECOMMENDED NOR REQUIRED, AS LONG AS THE EXISTING MAINSPRING EXCEEDS SPECIFICATIONS, AS THIS ONE DOES. IMPORTANT: PAY SPECIAL NOTICE TO THREE CRITICAL COMPONENTS IN THE #104G SONORA 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 BE IN TOUCH WITH ME, STEVE. GOOD COUNSEL ON A CONTEMPLATED SONORA ACQUISITION WOULD BE: IF ONE ELECTS TO PURCHASE A SONORA OF UNKNOWN CONDITION, ESPECIALLY AN 8 BELL SONORA – 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. IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THE VERY BEST AND CLEAREST SONORA SOUND, THE OLD DETERIORATED LEATHER CHIME HAMMER TIPS WERE REMOVED AND REPLACED NEW LEATHER, AND PROPERLY TEMPERED TO OBTAIN THE BEST TIMBRE AND NOTE DECAY, CHARACTERISTIC OF THE ORIGINAL SONORA BELLS. JUST LISTEN TO THE ATTACHED SOUND FILES FOR AN ACCURATE RENDERING OF THE CLARITY, RESONANCE, TONE, AND RICH DECAY OF EACH NOTE STRUCK WHEN THE SONORA 255 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 #890 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 89Z MOVEMENT ADJUSTED TO ZERO ERROR AND STABILIZED AT ZERO ERROR. THIS ADJUSTMENT PROCEDURE IS HIGHLIGHTED IN PHOTO 11. • IN THE RIGHT INSET OF PHOTO 11, FOR PENDULUM BEAT RATE, THE 89Z 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 255 WERE RESTORED TO SUPERIOR CONDITIION. • THE PENDULUM SWING ARC OF THE 89Z FRONT MOVEMENT IS A FULL 3 1/2 INCHES, VERY ROBUST AND EXCEEDING ORIGINAL SPECIFICATIONS. A HEALTY PENDULUM SWING IS A POSITIVE INDICATOR OF A HEALTY MOVEMENT THAT HAS VERY LITTLE FRICTION AND LOTS OF ENERGY. BEWARE OF A #89Z 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 A $900 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. 255 - 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. WORKMANSHIP AND QUALITY – ALL OF MY DISTINCTIVECLOCKS 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 PLEDGE 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. OTHER INFORMATION - SELLER RESERVES THE RIGHT TO END THE AUCTION FOR ANY REASON. ENJOY THE LISTING – IF YOU NEED OR DESIRE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, PLEASE BE IN TOUCH. IMPORTANT NOTE – E COMMERCE SOUND FILES ARE ATTACHED AT THE BEGINNING OF MY LISTING. SIX SOUND FILES OF THE SETH SONORA CHIME 255 - 1914 WITH #89Z AND # 104G MOVEMENTS IN OPERATION ARE AVAILABLE IN .MP3 FORMAT: 1. VOICE INTRODUCTION TO THE FILES 2. PENDULUM BEAT-ESCAPEMENT/VERGE/CRUTCH AND TIME GEAR TRAIN OPERATION SOUNDS OF THE #890 MOVEMENT – LISTEN FOR CLEAN AND EVEN SOUND, REGULARITY, AND THE ABSENCE OF ODD NOISES. 3. WHITTINGTON QUARTER HOUR SEQUENCES AT 5:15 – 5:30 – 5:45 4. FULL 32 NOTE WHITTINGTON SEQUENCE AND HOUR STRIKE AT 6:00 5. WESTMINSTER QUARTER HOUR SEQUENCES AT 6:15 – 6:30 – 6:45 6. FULL 16 NOTE WESTMINSTER SEQUENCE AND HOUR STRIKE AT 7:00. BE SURE TO NOTICE THE PURE NOTES WITH GOOD TIMBRE AND RICH DECAY, WITH CLEAN TEMPO OF THE MOVEMENT RATHER THAN SLOW, SLUGGISH OR DRAGGING TEMPO. IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT SOUND RECORDING: THE MICROPHONE IS IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE MOVEMENT FOR RECORDING PURPOSES, AND SOME NORMAL GEAR TRAIN OPERATION SOUNDS WILL BE HEARD. THE OPERATION SOUNDS ARE NOT NOTICED AT TYPICAL LISTENING DISTANCES.
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.com OFFERED TODAY FOR THAT SPECIAL PERSON FOR YOUR COLLECTION, OR FOR ONE’S OWN PLEASURE IS AN ELEGANT AND TASTEFULLY DESIGNED SETH THOMAS 8 BELL SONORA CHIME CLOCK NUMBER 255 – 1914. THIS ONE IS EQUISITE AND FLAWLESS, PLAYS THE 32 NOTE WHITTINGTON AND 16 NOTE WESTMINSTER CHIMES, AND BOTH CLOCK MOVEMENTS, NEST OF BELLS, CABINET AND ALL ASPECTS OF THIS LOVELY SONORA HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY SERVICED AND RESTORED. ONE WILL HAVE TO LOOK AN AWFULLY LONG TIME AND WILL STILL NOT FIND A FULLY RESTORED SONORA CHIME CLOCK NO. 255 AS FINE AS THIS ONE! YES THIS RESTORED SONORA 255 IS EXCEPTIONAL AND MERITS SERIOUS ATTENTION, BECAUSE AN 8 BELL SONORA 255 IN THIS CONDITION ALWAYS REMAINS IN A PRIVATE COLLECTION, NOT AVAILABLE IN THE MARKET PLACE – THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO OWN THE BEST - EVEN BETTER THAN THE 255 IN MY PERSONAL COLLECTION. THE SHELLAC GRAINING AND PATINA ON THIS PARTICULER SONORA 255 IS MARVELOUS!! TAKE A CLOSE IN LOOK VIA THE HIGH RESOLUTION PHOTOS, PARTICULARLY PHOTO 6. DESCRIPTION AND FEATURES THIS IS A SONORA CHIME CLOCK WITH A NEST OF EIGHT RESONATED BELLS – THE CHIMES ARE RICH AND RESONANT, WITH SUPERB TIMBRE AND DECAY AFTER EACH NOTE IS SOUNDED – OTHER NON-SETH BELL CHIME ANTIQUE CLOCKS SIMPLY CANNOT COMPARE WITH THE BELL SOUNDS FROM THIS CHIME 255 SONORA. THE NEW OWNER WILL DEFINITELY WANT TO PLACE THE SETH 255 IN A VERY SPECIAL LOCATION IN THE HOME. THE SETH THOMAS SONORA CHIME CLOCK NUMBER 255 – 1914 IS LISTED IN NOTED AUTHORITY TRAN DUY LY’S “SETH THOMAS CLOCKS AND MOVEMENTS” THIRD EDITION, VOLUME 1, PAGE 151. NOTE THE CATALOGED DATE IS 1914. THE SONORA 255 IS A DELIGHT TO VIEW, WITH A HIGHEST GRADE SATIN DULL RUBBED RIBBON MAHOGANY PATINA AND A CLEAN AND STYLISH YET COMPACT CASE DESIGN THAT REALLY ATTRACTS ATTENTION. THE DORIC TOP STYLING COUPLED WITH THE DUAL SIDE PANELS AND FULL BONNET PRESENTS AN INVITING TRANSITION TO THE EASILY READ 5 ½ INCH DIAL AND COMPLEMENTING POLISHED BRASS BEZEL WITH HEAVY CONVEX AND BEVELED DIAL GLASS. BRASS BUTTON STYLE FEET AND BEVELED VERTICAL FRONT CABINET EDGES GIVE THE SONORA 255 AN ADDED ELEGANCE. THIS PARTICULAR SONORA ALWAYS DRAWS GUESTS OR FRIENDS BACK FOR ANOTHER LOOK, BECAUSE THEY WILL WONDER HOW SUCH A LOVELY WESTMINSTER BELL CHIME SOUND CAN COME FORTH FROM A PETITE CABINET CLOCK! WITH THE SONORA 255 DESIGN, SETH ACHIEVED THE SONORA SOUND IN A SMALLER CABINET SO THAT CUSTOMERS LOOKING FOR A SONORA WITH FLEXIBLE PLACEMENT OPTIONS WOULD HAVE A SMART CHOICE IN THE SONORA 255. 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 SHELLAC TO RESTORE CABINET LUSTRE AND CLARITY, AND THE ENTIRE CABINET WAS PROFESSIONALLY CONDITIONED AND RESTORED WITH MY SPECIAL PROCESS, IN ORDER TO BRING FORTH THE RICHNESS OF THE ORIGINAL MAHOGANY – TIME CONSUMING, YES – BUT JUST LOOK AT THE BEAUTY OF THIS SONORA NO. 255 DORIC STYLE CABINET! THIS SONORA 255 IS AN ALL-ORIGINAL FULLY RESTORED BEAUTY THAT YOU WILL TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN OWNING AND USING. EVERY ASPECT OF THE SONORA 255 HAS BEEN RESTORED TO ORIGINAL SPECIFICATIONS, INCLUDING THE NEST OF EIGHT 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 255, AS WELL AS DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE VARIOUS SONORAS IN GENERAL. MY CONTACT INFORMATION IS IN THE ENDING PARAGRAPHS OF THIS TEXT. THE GENEROUS RESTORED 5 ½” SILVERED SONORA DIAL CAN BE VIEWED FROM ACROSS A LARGE ROOM, AND HAS LARGE AND CLEAR BLACK ARABIC NUMERALS AND SETH THOMAS ORIGINAL LARGE HALF SPADE CUT STEEL MINUTE AND HOUR HANDS. SURROUNDING THE DIAL IS A LOVELY POLISHED BRASS SASH AND BEZEL, WITH A CONVEX, HEAVILY BEVELED DIAL GLASS. THE BEZEL SNAPS CLOSED NICELY, AND DOES NOT SAG, AS DO SOME. SUPERSIZE PHOTO 4 INCLUDES CLOSE UP INSETS OF THE DIAL, BEVELED GLASS AND BRASS BEZEL. 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. 89Z MOVEMENT. ANOTHER HOLE AT THE “3” IS FOR WINDING THE QUARTER-HOUR CHIMES, HANDLED BY THE NO. 104G 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. ANOTHER SLIDE LEVER ON THE SAME SIDE OFFERS THE SELECTION BETWEEN WHITTINGTON AND WESTMINSTER CHIMES. A CLOSE OF THE SLIDE LEVERS IS SHOWN IN SUPERSIZE PHOTO 3. THE WHITTINGTON SEQUENCES ARE: 8 NOTES AT THE ¼ HOUR, 16 AT THE ½ HOUR, 24 AT THE ¾ HOUR AND 32 NOTES ON THE HOUR, FOLLOWED BY THE HOUR COUNT. THE WESTMINSTER SEQUENCES ARE: 4 NOTES AT THE ¼ HOUR, 8 AT THE ½ HOUR, 12 AT THE ¾ HOUR AND 16 NOTES ON THE HOUR, FOLLOWED BY THE HOUR COUNT. NATURALLY, MOST SONORA LOVERS PREFER THE WHITTINGTON, BUT FREQUENTLY PLAY THE WESTMINSTER AS WELL. THE 89Z MOVEMENT HANDLES THE TIME AND HOUR STRIKE FUNCTIONS AND THE 104G 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 WHITTINGTON AND WESTMINSTER SEQUENCES ARE SOUNDED ON THE NEST OF BELLS. THE HOUR COUNT IS SOUNDED AS A FULL BODIED MUSICAL NOTE ON RESONATED BELL NUMBER 8. PLEASE MAKE IT A POINT TO LISTEN AND CAREFULLY REVIEW THE ATTACHED SOUND FILES IN ORDER TO FULLY APPRECIATE WHAT OWNERS IN THE 1914 TIME FRAME EXPERIENCED WITH THEIR NEW AND, AT THE TIME, VERY EXPENSIVE SONORA 255 CLOCKS. THE SOUND FILES ARE BELOW. ALSO INCLUDED IS THE ORIGINALLY ISSUED “BOY ON A FENCE” PENDULUM BOB AND A CORRECT BRASS DOUBLE ENDED WIDE WING KEY. A CLOSE-UP VIEW IS SHOWN IN PHOTO 2. THIS IS A MID/COMPACT 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 11” W X 9 ½”H X 8 ¼” D. RESTORATION AND TECHNICAL DETAILS 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 10 SHOWS THE CLEANED AND INSPECTED BELLS AND BELL NEST WITH SOUND CAVITIES THAT CAN BE SEEN ON THE END. ALSO PICTURED IS THE SONORA PATENT MARK THAT IS EMBOSSED ON THE TOP OF THE WOODEN BELL NEST. 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 - #89Z AND #104G BOTH THE 89Z TIME AND HOUR STRIKE MOVEMENT, AND THE 104G 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 89Z WERE UNLOADED, INSPECTED, SERVICED AND RELOADED. MAINSPRING ENERGY AND LACK OF METAL FATIGUE ARE CRITICAL FOR PERFORMANCE AND LONG TERM RELIABILITY. I ALWAYS MAKE SURE THE SPECIFICATIONS ARE EXCEEDED FOR MAINSPRINGS. THE GREAT MAINSPRING IN THE 104G SONORA MOVEMENT WAS REMOVED FROM ITS RETAINING BARREL, FULLY UNWOUND, PROPERLY CLEANED, INSPECTED, REWOUND, AND LUBRICATED WITH MAINSPRING INDUSTRUAL GRADE LUBRICANT. REPLACEMENT OF THE 136 INCH #104G MAINSPRING IS NEITHER RECOMMENDED NOR REQUIRED, AS LONG AS THE EXISTING MAINSPRING EXCEEDS SPECIFICATIONS, AS THIS ONE DOES. IMPORTANT: PAY SPECIAL NOTICE TO THREE CRITICAL COMPONENTS IN THE #104G SONORA 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 BE IN TOUCH WITH ME, STEVE. GOOD COUNSEL ON A CONTEMPLATED SONORA ACQUISITION WOULD BE: IF ONE ELECTS TO PURCHASE A SONORA OF UNKNOWN CONDITION, ESPECIALLY AN 8 BELL SONORA – 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. IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THE VERY BEST AND CLEAREST SONORA SOUND, THE OLD DETERIORATED LEATHER CHIME HAMMER TIPS WERE REMOVED AND REPLACED NEW LEATHER, AND PROPERLY TEMPERED TO OBTAIN THE BEST TIMBRE AND NOTE DECAY, CHARACTERISTIC OF THE ORIGINAL SONORA BELLS. JUST LISTEN TO THE ATTACHED SOUND FILES FOR AN ACCURATE RENDERING OF THE CLARITY, RESONANCE, TONE, AND RICH DECAY OF EACH NOTE STRUCK WHEN THE SONORA 255 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 #890 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 89Z MOVEMENT ADJUSTED TO ZERO ERROR AND STABILIZED AT ZERO ERROR. THIS ADJUSTMENT PROCEDURE IS HIGHLIGHTED IN PHOTO 11. • IN THE RIGHT INSET OF PHOTO 11, FOR PENDULUM BEAT RATE, THE 89Z 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 255 WERE RESTORED TO SUPERIOR CONDITIION. • THE PENDULUM SWING ARC OF THE 89Z FRONT MOVEMENT IS A FULL 3 1/2 INCHES, VERY ROBUST AND EXCEEDING ORIGINAL SPECIFICATIONS. A HEALTY PENDULUM SWING IS A POSITIVE INDICATOR OF A HEALTY MOVEMENT THAT HAS VERY LITTLE FRICTION AND LOTS OF ENERGY. BEWARE OF A #89Z 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 A $900 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. 255 - 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. WORKMANSHIP AND QUALITY – ALL OF MY DISTINCTIVECLOCKS 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 PLEDGE 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. OTHER INFORMATION - SELLER RESERVES THE RIGHT TO END THE AUCTION FOR ANY REASON. ENJOY THE LISTING – IF YOU NEED OR DESIRE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, PLEASE BE IN TOUCH. IMPORTANT NOTE – E COMMERCE SOUND FILES ARE ATTACHED AT THE BEGINNING OF MY LISTING. SIX SOUND FILES OF THE SETH SONORA CHIME 255 - 1914 WITH #89Z AND # 104G MOVEMENTS IN OPERATION ARE AVAILABLE IN .MP3 FORMAT: 1. VOICE INTRODUCTION TO THE FILES 2. PENDULUM BEAT-ESCAPEMENT/VERGE/CRUTCH AND TIME GEAR TRAIN OPERATION SOUNDS OF THE #890 MOVEMENT – LISTEN FOR CLEAN AND EVEN SOUND, REGULARITY, AND THE ABSENCE OF ODD NOISES. 3. WHITTINGTON QUARTER HOUR SEQUENCES AT 5:15 – 5:30 – 5:45 4. FULL 32 NOTE WHITTINGTON SEQUENCE AND HOUR STRIKE AT 6:00 5. WESTMINSTER QUARTER HOUR SEQUENCES AT 6:15 – 6:30 – 6:45 6. FULL 16 NOTE WESTMINSTER SEQUENCE AND HOUR STRIKE AT 7:00. BE SURE TO NOTICE THE PURE NOTES WITH GOOD TIMBRE AND RICH DECAY, WITH CLEAN TEMPO OF THE MOVEMENT RATHER THAN SLOW, SLUGGISH OR DRAGGING TEMPO. IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT SOUND RECORDING: THE MICROPHONE IS IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE MOVEMENT FOR RECORDING PURPOSES, AND SOME NORMAL GEAR TRAIN OPERATION SOUNDS WILL BE HEARD. THE OPERATION SOUNDS ARE NOT NOTICED AT TYPICAL LISTENING DISTANCES.
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