Things Fall Into Disrepair
Although the purchase of the clock was documented with great fanfare, almost nothing exists which describes how the clock was installed or how it would be maintained in good working order. All that has survived is a one-page document (see image) that was provided by the clock’s manufacturer, the E. Howard Clock Company, at the time of purchase.
While this document provides some insight into proper care, it’s clear that it was intended for individuals who were already familiar with clock maintenance. It contains only a few sentences on oiling the clock when, in fact, an E. Howard Model 0 clock has over 60 specific points that must be oiled or greased every 90 days. The instructions state that “proper oil” must be used, but does not state the type or viscosity of the oil to use or the damage that would be caused by improper oiling. Moreover, these instructions deal only with the clock engine itself. The care of the bell, the motion work, the clock face and all of the connections leading from the clock engine to the clock face are not mentioned. It is not totally unsurprising, then, that on March 8, 1918, the Cranbury Press published a short article containing the following sentence:
[The clock] has been out of order for a long time now, and people keep asking why it is.
The article fails to state what was wrong with the clock or when it stopped functioning, only that it hadn’t been working “for a long time now”. For a clock that the manufacturer claimed could last a century, this had to be a shocking revelation. The article also noted that the clock was not illuminated and therefore of little use to the town at night. It’s not clear when the clock was repaired, but it was back in working order – and illuminated! – when the Cranbury Press published the following terse statement on July 20, 1928:
The Town clock has been lighted with electric lights so that time will now be visible day and night.
By the mid-1900’s, though, the clock had once again fallen on hard times. According to town lore, the original clock face was blown off the school tower by a hurricane in the 40’s or 50’s and was never re-attached By the late 1960’s, the bell was no longer striking the hours. Even worse, the old school had fallen into disrepair. By 1964, plans were being made for a new school and the Old School was slated for demolition.
What would save Cranbury’s historic clock from the scrap heap?
