This Clock Is Something to Tock About

Mention the word clock, and most people picture a round or rectangular face, two hands and some type of decorative case. Early clocks had these parts because the mechanism required it.

By the 19th century, however, inventors had created new ways to measure time. The pendulum that kept the hands moving was replaced by a key-wound mechanism or electricity.

Designers tried to make timepieces decorative and unusual. Chimes were added, dials were decorated, statues decorated the cases.

“Mystery” clocks became popular in the mid-1900s. A statue of a woman holding a pendulum decorated the top of a box-shaped clock case, but there seemed to be no way to explain how the pendulum moved the clock hands. Another mystery clock was made of clear glass with no obvious mechanism to run it.

One type of mystery clock featured a globe that rotated around the hands instead of a clock face that had hands that moved. Another style clock had a statue of a woman holding a round clock above a swinging pendulum. At first it appears to be a decorative figure, but careful examination shows that the clock is run by a watch movement that makes the pendulum swing for at least a week at a time.

Collectors pay premium prices for mystery clocks.

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Question: I received a Shirley Temple doll when I was 10. I am now 70. The doll was my treasure, and I never played with her. She has been wrapped in a blanket and tucked in my cedar chest all these years. What is she worth?

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Answer: Your doll could be from the first series of Shirley Temple dolls made by the Ideal Novelty & Toy Co. between 1934 and 1939. You don’t describe your doll or tell us what size she is.

Ideal’s 1930s Shirley Temple dolls were made in several sizes, between 11 and 27 inches. The company also manufactured a Baby Shirley.

The value of a doll that has never been played with depends on her size, costume, tags and rarity. Some sizes and outfits are rarer than others. A recent auction of mint 1930s Shirley Temple dolls sold for $1,300 to $2,500. Not all of the dolls sell for that much.

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Q I collect Dragonware. I have been told it is still being made. How can I tell the old from the new?

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A Dragonware is a form of Moriage pottery. It has raised, white designs applied to a colored pottery piece.

One way to determine the age is by the appearance of the dragon. Early dragons have well-defined scales and wings. Even the eyes are well-drawn. The new pieces have dragons that are flatter and have less detail.

The pottery was often unmarked. The marks “Occupied Japan,” “Nippon” or “Made in Japan” can help date a piece.

Newer pieces, from the 1990s, often had paper labels. From about 1890 to 1910, pieces were made by Noritake and others. The colors were bright from the 1930s to 1960s, and the pieces had flatter dragons. Many were marked “Made in Occupied Japan.”

Dragonware made after the 1960s seems to have background colors that are less bright.

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Q My grandmother’s kitchen “junk drawer” is full of old key chains that advertise everything from local hardware stores to national products such as Coca-Cola. I don’t think Grandma realizes she accumulated a collection over the years. Are the key chains worth anything? Who first thought of adding advertising to a key chain?

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A Some key loops from the turn of the century were printed with the manufacturer’s name, a simple form of advertising. It wasn’t until the end of the first decade of this century that companies such as Coca-Cola and Pepsi started paying for small advertising decorations that hung from key chains.

By the 1920s, the most popular chain for keys was the simple, beaded type used to turn electric lights on and off.

During the 1930s, auto makers, tire manufacturers and petroleum companies thought it was appropriate to give key chains to their customers. The practice gradually expanded to all types of businesses and even hospitals, universities and charities.

Because so many key chains were made, and because they were usually made from durable materials, few are rare. Generally, the older the key chain and the more famous the product, the higher the chain’s value.

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Q I like tropical fish and antique furniture. Is there such a thing as an antique aquarium that might look better with my furniture than a modern aquarium?

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A Aquariums were first manufactured in the 1830s. Early ones were made of very thick glass framed with heavy metal. Many were mounted on cast-iron stands.

You might be able to find an old one at an antique store or a salvage yard. Most old aquariums are likely to leak, but you can buy a sealant that will make yours watertight.

Before the days of filters and air-supply systems, fish lovers stocked their tanks with snails, crabs and lots of underwater plants. Today’s collectors can use a modern, air “bubbler” system in an old tank and can decorate the bottom of the tank with collections of marbles, stones or seashells.

For a listing of helpful books and publications, include a self-addressed, stamped (55 cents) envelope to Kovels, Los Angeles Times, King Features Syndicate, 235 E. 45th St., New York, NY 10017.

Current Prices

Figures are recorded from antique shows, flea markets, sales and auctions throughout the United States. Prices vary in different locations because of local economic conditions.

* Chesterfield trolley sign, heavy paper, photo of Fred Waring and Henry James promoting cigarettes, red ground, 21 by 11 inches, $55.

* Nalley’s Pop Corn pail, boy eating popcorn, red ground, white lettering, bail handle, 9 ounces, $110.

* Royal Doulton figurine, Daffy Down Dilly, HN 1712, $170.

* Mr. Wiggles hand puppet, Jell-O premium, $210.

* Shawnee teapot, Granny Ann, purple apron, $230.

* Graniteware bucket, cream and green trim, wood and bail handle, with Emaillerie Parisienne label, 12-quart, $110.

* Carnival glass butter dish, cover, Water Lily & Cattails pattern, marigold, $370.

* Chippendale-style high chair, mahogany, cabriole legs, ball-and-claw feet, slip seat, shaped arms, hinged tray, early 20th century, $440.

* Salesman’s sample Sears cast-iron pot-belly heater, 1950s, 8 1/2 inches, $500.

* Lawn mower, salmon-color paint, Charter Oak Mfg. Co., iron, 1875, 58 inches, $1,525.