While examining the electrical remains of the tower clock in the First Church in Dedham, MA, I discovered that the clock was made by Simon Willard. The restoration of this historically significant, extremely rare, one of a kind tower clock (by one of the most famous of early American clock makers) is complete with time and striking trains fully operational as of 2002.
Following consultations with the Smithsonian Museum and with Harvard's Fogg Museum analytical laboratory I have duplicated missing parts, including: both wooden winding barrels (made from separate staves), the brass 6 spoked pinwheel, the pinwheel arbor, numerous screws and square head bolts, the large striking train circular winding ratchet, the entire pendulum including cast iron ball and 2 sectional rod and suspension spring, missing weight pulleys, etc. All remaining original brass parts have been polished and lacquered, original paint on wooden base and iron bar framework preserved and waxed, steel arbors polished and lacquered. Many mysteries concerning this jumble of old parts (gathered from various - sometimes unusual - locations in the tower) have been solved along the way.

Contact: Andrea Gilmore, Director, Building Conservation Associates, Inc., 66 Church Street, Dedham, MA 02026 (781) 329-4145