Rare clock in Fayette County may cost $56,000 to fix

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Fixing a rare clock in Fayette County may set the county back $56,000 according to an estimate provided Monday.

The #19 Seth Thomas clock is located in the tower of the historic Fayette County Courthouse. An engraved plate dates the clock to Nov. 26, 1884. Repairs are needed to keep the 132-year-old clock working in original condition.

Phil Wright, owner at The Tower Clock Company in South Charleston, Ohio, inspected the clock while resetting the movement, motion works and dials for time and provided the estimate.

Wright has traveled across the country restoring tower clocks for 32 years and said this is the only #19 Seth Thomas tower clock he’s ever seen.

The rare clock’s gear assemblies (called the motion works) are in very bad original condition. The motion works distribute the time to the four dials and operate the hands. These gear works are constructed in the largest style made by the Seth Thomas company.

Fixing broken parts and hardware, and cleaning and painting the gears and hands to restore the original condition of the motion works is estimated to cost $38,000. Wright estimates the cost of restoring the dials on the clock will be another $18,000.

Expenses for the clock’s restoration may in part be paid for by the Fayette County Travel and Tourism Bureau at the Center for Economic Opportunity, according to the county commissioners.

People interested in making donations to the clock restoration fund can contact the office of the Fayette County Commissioners.

The clock is located inside the tower of the historic courthouse in Fayette County.
http://www.recordherald.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2017/03/web1_FC-Court-House-1-3-1-.jpgThe clock is located inside the tower of the historic courthouse in Fayette County.

Repairs are needed to the motion works and dials to keep the 132-year-old #19 Seth Thomas clock working in original condition.
http://www.recordherald.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2017/03/web1_RareClock.jpgRepairs are needed to the motion works and dials to keep the 132-year-old #19 Seth Thomas clock working in original condition.

By Ashley Bunton

[email protected]

Reach Ashley at (740) 313-0355 or on Twitter @ashbunton

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