new bern tower clock restoration

WELCOME

New Bern Preservation Foundation

2009 Antique Show

Tower Clock Restoration

2010 New Bern 300th Anniversary

365 Days of Celebrationwww.newbern3oo.com

June 25th, 2010Grand Opening of North Carolina History and Education

Center

Background Information1909. The King Lumber Company of Charlottesville, VA was awarded the contract to construct the present tower in what is now City Hall and install a Seth Thomas (4) faced clock and bell. This work was completed in 1911.

1971.The Verdin Company, Cincinnati, OH was contracted to renovate the clock for it had deteriorated to the point that required it be be rebuilt. It was also converted from a manual crank eight-day clock to electric auto-winding. The clock was reinstalled the City Hall tower in 1974.

1999. Due to ongoing mechanical problems and long repair time, the Seth Thomas clock works were taken out of service and replace by an electrical/digital system which now control the clock faces and bell.

Project Objective

Restoration of the Seth Thomas tower clock, retired form service in 1999. Following restoration, put the clock on permanent display in time for New Bern’s 300th Anniversary Celebration

New Bern, NCTower Clock Restoration Project

Sponsors:•National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors, Eastern North Carolina Chapter 191

•Swiss Bear Downtown Development Corp., New Bern 300th Anniversary Celebration Connectivity Committee

•New Bern Fireman’s Museum

•Tryon Palace Historic Sites and Gardens

•Bern, Switzerland Delegation

•Tryon Tower Clock Volunteers

Presentation by: Dobert Owsley, New Bern Tower Clock Restoration Chairman

New Bern, NCTower Clock Restoration Committee

Ed Gray Robert Papasodero

Mike B. Hatttem Fred Swartout

Glenn Irving Robert Weeks

Kenneth and Yvonne Johnston Sid Weiner

Francis J. Murphy

Dobert Owsley , Chairman

Restoration Support

• New Bern Public Works

• Hatteras Yachts

• Damco Inc.

• Precision Molding and Woodworks

• Sun Journal

• Channel 12 TV

Repairing Worm Gear

Project Overview Phase One. Restoration and Temporary Display of Clock Works (estimated time 6-8 months)

Activities. 1. Plans and Administration. An on going activity which address project need and resources.2. Removal. Clock parts cataloging, disassembly, removal from tower, transport to the Fire Museum, cleaning and cosmetic repair to tower clock room.3. Restoration. Identifying mission or broken parts and making replacements, cleaning and finishing parts, reassembly, adjusting. Keeping a detailed photo and written restoration journal.4.Temporary Display. Put the clock on display at the Fire Museum, less clock faces and bell, to gather public interest and recommendations for a perminenant display.

Things To DO

• Provide technical input to display design

• Fabricate motion works, hands and dials

• Bell restoration

• Advise on selection on 3rd party installer

• Document maintenance criteria and service schedule

• Develop interpretative historical narrative