HELP! Colonial Model 1694 Question...

by Paul Remington
(Henrietta, NY)

In 1968, my father gave my mother, for their anniversary, a beautiful grandfather clock -a Colonial 1694. Just prior to my mother’s death in May 2015, I inherited this clock. I grew up with its beautiful sound and comforting tick-tick. I'm 50 now and am so happy to have it. It's a family heirloom, for sure!

After receiving it, I contact a local clock repairman. It needed a cleaning, alignment, etc. He came to the house, took it apart, showed me how some of the bushings were loose and dirty. He said he'd clean it up, send it to have the bushings replaced/repaired, and then run it in his shop for a week to ensure the clock was running accurately.

Great! He took the timepiece mechanism along with a weight and the pendulum. I asked for new weights and pendulum, since these appeared aged and tarnished.

This was in March. It’s now July. He said he had a number of jobs in the queue ahead of mine and it would be about three months. It's been over four.

I called and he said I must be thinking of someone else. He said he has no clock like I'm describing in his shop! OMG!!! I told him I know it was him... I asked about his past, reminding him of details he told me. He said I was correct about his past. He's an old man... been doing this for years. He said he'd look in his shop and let me know if he sees any Colonial clock parts in his queue. He never called back.

I've been calling every day. He never returns my calls. I'm terrified he has either lost or stolen my clock parts, and there is NOTHING I can do about it! :-(

My question is this: Is it possible to replace the pieces he's lost, if he in fact doesn't call me back? I'd be willing to pay for a new clock head unit (dial mechanism with moving moon/sunshine) along with a pendulum and weights.

I just want to have our clock functioning again in our family. Can anyone recommend a source that might be able to acquire these pieces.

This I so upsetting! I can't believe someone can lose a clock like that. The sentimental value to our family makes this loss immeasurable.

Any help would be appreciated.