Seth Thomas antique grandfather? Mercury pendulum clock

[wagyu52]

My wife inherited this clock from her mom, her grandfather dabbled in clock repair. It’s been in their house for at least half a century, she always bragged that it was valuable and she turned down $8000 years ago.
Seth Thomas on the dial but no model number can be seen, has a mercury pendulum and small electrical wires running around the back which i have no clue They connect somewhere on the bottom with some interesting brass hardware. It’s about 20” wide and 58’ high it has a hook to hang on the wall and it will run.
wanting to know anything about it and maybe have it apprised, no clue where. My wife is a little freaked out about the Mercury but it doesn’t bother me that much or should it?

 

[red_zr24x4]

Don't know anything about it but it's pretty cool

 

[wagyu52]

Don't know anything about it but it's pretty cool

I love the quarter sawn oak, what drew me to wanting it.

 

[churchmouse]

Ease up on the mercury unless you intend to drink it.

 

[red_zr24x4]

Any idea what the brass things are inside on the bottom? And are the brass screws holding the bottom together or is it a compartment?

 

[wagyu52]

They are not connected at the top and no clue at the bottom, looks like it has a false bottom but when I got a screwdriver out my wife....suggested I not do that.

 

[churchmouse]

They are not connected at the top and no clue at the bottom, looks like it has a false bottom but when I got a screwdriver out my wife....suggested I not do that.
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Those levers are contact switches of some sort. Man I would have to look in there now. Wait until she goes to bed but if you break anything I did not say this.

 

[joncon]

I collect clocks. Your clock is listed in my Seth Thomas clock books as a Regulator #70 made in 1936. They made them with mercury pendulums and with brass ones. My book is a 2005 issue and lists the brass at $4750 and the mercury at $6000 in the price guide. This info is from Seth Thomas Clocks & Movements by Tran Du Lay

 

[maxwelhse]

At that value, I believe I'd be convinced to ship it on down the road for fear of theft or fire making the decision for me.

 

[wagyu52]

I collect clocks. Your clock is listed in my Seth Thomas clock books as a Regulator #70 made in 1936. They made them with mercury pendulums and with brass ones. My book is a 2005 issue and lists the brass at $4750 and the mercury at $6000 in the price guide. This info is from Seth Thomas Clocks & Movements by Tran Du Lay

what I came up with too. Sure would be interested in having it looked at for multiple reasons, if anything make sure it’s safe with the mercury and all. If you have some recommendations I’m in.

 

[OurDee]

I would guess there is or was a battery in the base and it used electricity for chimes or bells.

 

[Rookie]

The mercury is not a problem until it's ingested. Just sitting there in its tubes won't do anybody harm.

 

[wagyu52]

Really sucks when one generation doesn’t leave information about things they want to hand down through subsequent generations. Clearly this clock was important enough that it hung in a house for 2 generations only to have the 3rd go

My thinking is that this clock hung in a train station, perhaps right there in my wife’s home town and that the wiring would have been for electrical chimes or alarms.
My F-in-L always told story of a guy wanting to buy it but my M-in-L would never sell it, was her fathers house and nothing he had was ever removed, like time capsule But without the importance of the story. Likely the guy always trying to buy it knew the story and origins of the clock but he is lost to time.
Should be a lesson to all of us all, if you want your grandkids and great grandchildren to understand what you are leaving them, write it down!