Treasure Hunting SCORE!!

About once a year I find something that really "does it" for me!  This find should do me for many years to come!  Look at this treasure!

 

The photos may not reflect it, but it's BIG.....over 2 feet in diameter and 9" thick!!  And the case is iron, yes....IRON!  It weighs about 70 pounds, the face and hands are also heavy metal.  Military time on the dial combined with the iron case led one vendor to believe it is a clock from a military ship. 

Look at the chippy old paint on the iron case....isn't it fabulous?!  I knew this was an extraordinary find, I could just feel it, does that ever happen to you?

 

Turns out I was right!  When we got it home and finally managed to get the case open (no easy feat), engraved on the gears was "Linderoth Stockholm".  Through research I learned that G. W. Linderoth is considered by many to be one of the best clock makers in the world!  I had goosebumps as I read about him.  He was born in 1816 in Sweden and began making clocks in 1844.  In 1860 he recieved his first order for a train station clock, which also began a long and successful production of Tower clocks before his death in 1871.  He was also commissioned to design and build many clocks for upscale hotels, not only in Sweden but around the world!  Most of his work was custom designed for specific landmarks.

On the back of the clock face was "Karlslund" in handwritten engraving, which is a location in Sweden.  There is other engraved writing that we haven't been able to make out as of yet.  We know this is a special find, and I feel very certain it was a focal point for a prominent location, but where?  Perhaps we will one day find out!

No plans to let go of this big beauty anytime soon, in fact I have plans to use it in a future room makeover at 5th Place!  I love the history it brings!

Isn't it fabulous?!!