Can anyone tell me where I can find info on Hamilton Sangamo clocks. Saw one yesterday in an antique mall and thought it was interesting but I do no know anything about this type clock.
Thanks in advance for any info.
Pete Cronos

I am going to bid on the clock. I think it is a neat clock.

This will help with the company history. The text is from AMERICAN CLOCK AND WATCHMAKERS by Spittlers and Bailey.

In my opinion, the best Sangamos to collect were the self-winding models. They used an 11 jewel Illinois watch movement to run the clock. It was kept constantly wound by an electric motor. So, if power went off, and that happened a lot, the clock would run for up to 30 hours, and then rewind itself when the power came back on. Those early Sangamos had cases made by a Chicago area desk manufacturer. The wood and construction, were superior. I had one of the large square walnut gallery self winders for many years and let my son have it.

Clyde Welch, a founding member of Tennessee Valley Chapter, had one of the self-winding models in a beautiful wood case. I don't know what happened to it when he passed away and his family settled his estate. Many of Clyde's clocks as well as some belonging to two other members of the chapter who are also deceased appear in Robert Miller's book "Clock Guide; Identification with Prices", which was published in 1971 by Wallace-Homestead Book Company.

A couple of years ago a presentation was given at the Regional in Milwaukee Wisconsin on Sangamo clocks. There was also an extensive display of clocks. I regret not getting a copy of the text from the presentation and taking pictures of the clocks. As I remember, the speaker said that there were a lot of errors in published works about the Sangamo Company. Does anyone remember this or have the information?
The picture below is a Sangamo I "snagged" on Ebay for less than $20.00. Art Deco design with burl wood veneer on the case. New braided cord and the clock works fine. As with most, it is not self starting. There is a lever on the back that one must flick when the power goes off or the clock gets unplugged.
Best Regards,
Dick Feldman

A few years ago I was in a small municipal electric plant in Oklahoma where two large matched Sangamos, one self winding and the other synchronous, were mounted over the switch gear. The second hands on both clocks were synchronized so that if the generators drifted off cycles the synchronous clock leading or lagging would notify the operator. The plant was mixed Fairbanks and Superiors and had been built in the mid 20s.

Very interesting Donald. I did not know they used them that way. Thanks for the post.

I saw a Sangamo clock on Ebay and was not sure of it,s origin or any connection to the watch company so i did not give it a second look.I will keep my eye open for them now on.