1930s Yorke Clock Information

[gordonf]

I'd appreciate any help the community here can provide.  I purchased a 1930s Yorke clock a few months ago.  I wasn't familiar with this brand, but I figured they used a synchronous motor / movement from one of the common manufacturers - Telechron, Seth Thomas, Hammond, etc.  Turns out there are no markings on any part of the movement.

Any ideas on who made this movement or info on Yorke clocks? All I can find is a 1930s patent drawing for showing the case design.  It was issued to a company that made custom cases for common watches of the time.

I've been able to get the clock apart and the movement cleaned.  The back had to be trimmed to fit properly and the lumps of silicone glue barely holding the glass in place have been replaced with secure mounting blocks. It took a while to tame the motor noise.  It's at a tolerable level now.

Thanks for any help you can provide!

[gordonf]

Here's a picture of the Yorke clock case

[gordonf]

Back of movement...sorry, I haven't figured out how to insert multiple photos in one post.

[shipnerd]

Beautiful clock! 

I'm not 100% positive but it looks like it could be a Hammond movement. I've seen similar movements in some of their kitchen wall clocks, plus Hammond supplied movements for other makers as well. Not sure if Yorke was one of them but I do know they supplied movements for Manning Bowman clocks.

[Larry]

That is a beautiful art deco clock.  The movement looks like a typical late 1920s/early 30s design, but I do not recall encountering one just like it.  It does not look like any of the Hammond movements I have encountered, so I doubt that it was made by Hammond.  There were hundreds of manufacturers making electric clocks before the Great Depression put most of them out of business, so there are many possibilities.

Larry

[shipnerd]

And inserting multiple pics into one post is easy. Under "Attachments and other options" where you see the "Choose File" button to add photos, click on "More Attachments" right below it. File size is limited so your photos can't be too big. I usually resize mine to 800 x 600 pixels. Big enough to show the detail but small enough to keep the Forum gods happy.
 

[gordonf]

Larry, Shipnerd, thanks for the quick replies.

Shipnerd, I had been looking at mantle and desk clock movements for a match.  It never occurred to me to look at wall clocks - that's a good tip that I'll follow up on.

Larry, given the date on the patent drawing - Dec 15, 1931 - I think your comments on the depression sinking this enterprise are right on.  My guess is "Yorke Specialty Company" was planning to offer fancy cases to existing clock companies.  This is similar to what they had been doing for high end watch manufacturers under the name "Dinstman".

If you come across any other clues about Yorke, please let me know.