Jefferson Golden View

By Roger Russell

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Catalog Number 580-151-002 (front), 580-151-001 (rear)

The Golden View has a 6" dial and chapter ring very similar to the Golden Minute. The engraved chapter ring is flat black and has gold numerals at 3, 6, 9 and 12 o'clock as well as radial lines at the other hours. The hand assembly is brass and plated with 24 kt gold. The hands have a black line painted on them. This paint actually covers radium paint that is underneath. Normally, luminescent paint used on the Golden Hour and Golden Minute has a very light greenish white color. I found this by accident when checking these clocks with a Geiger counter. Despite being covered with black paint, it is still radioactive and radium has a half life of 1600 years.

The outer gold ring is made of a cast zinc alloy, the same as that used in the Golden Hour. See my page showing a cross section and a metal analysis. It is plated with pure 24-karat gold. See my Gold Reference Page for information about gold and karat ratings. It has a brushed satin finish. The retainer ring on the back of the clock is steel and plated with 24 kt gold. The glass is mounted in a steel, nickel plated ring gear. It is single strength select grade glass and is 3/32" thick. Replacement glass instructions are available including the purchase of shatter resistant acrylic instead of glass.

The dial assembly is mounted on a Honduras mahogany base finished in dark stained or bleached color trimmed with gold anodized aluminum around the bottom. The base is 1-3/4" high near the dial and 1" high at the ends. It's 14" wide and 3-1/2" deep. Height including the dial is 7". The ring diameter is 6 inches. Four brown felt discs are on the bottom near the corners. The cord and plug are brown plastic.

The picture shows the rear of the hands and the pear shaped counterweight assembly. The minute hand is located at front of the glass and is attached to it by friction so that it can be easily turned to set to the minutes. The hour hand and gear assembly is located behind the glass and can turn freely. A shaft attached to the center of the glass has a gear on it that's in the counterweight gear assembly. The counterweight always stays in a vertical position. It provides a fixed location needed to drive other gears that advance the hour hand as the glass turns.

A small counterweight of metal is attached to the rear portion of the hour hand. It's the same shape and can be seen behind the main counterweight near the bottom of the picture. It serves to hold the hour hand in proper position relative to the minute hand.

A cold-rolled steel plate 3-1/8" square is painted black and is recessed at the center in the bottom of the wood base. The motor can be found by removing two screws holding the plate. The motor in this clock is dated 11-57. Power requirements are 115V.A.C 60CY only, 2.5 watts. Motor sources were Haydon Manufacturing Company, International Register Company and Bowman Electrical Products Corporation. It has a UL approved seal. Made in U.S.A. Weight is 2.8 lbs. First date of manufacture is in 1956.

The patent, 2,642,713, is actually for a different clock made by the Etalage Reclame Corporation of New York. Jefferson bought the patent rights and restyled it to become the Golden Hour, Exciting Hour, Golden Minute, and Golden Helm. For more information, see The Clocks of Leendert Prins