Some major changes are instore for the Ceiling clock, On the previous page in the picture you can see the poor condition of the casing, this will be steam cleaned, some parts striped then rebronzed, the metal shroud around the face of the clock will removed, it was put on in the 1940's when the clock had frosted glass dials, they were replaced because of problams. They were illuminated with incandescent bulbs that burned out all the time, that left parts of the faces dark most of the time. So the dials were replaced with white porcelain over metal, to reflect light, the shroud was then put on with a neon tube installed just inside of it to illuminate the faces, a transformer put in the base of the clock to power the neon. In the top picture just over my shoulder you can see the shroud and the neon tube. With the shroud off the clock, the clock will retain it’s original look, the dials will be replaced with white Plexiglas with off white neon lights inside the clock witch will illuminate the faces. But the later restoration of the dials will have to wait.
A tour of the Malls, then back Home to the Station The Union Station committee has a plain for everyone in the Kansas City area to have a close up look at famous Union Station Clock, by having the Clock take a tour through out the KC area Malls. First the clock will be fitted up with a internal clock mechanism so the clock will be on time where ever it goes, a rolling platform is made to make moving a 1,200 lb clock easer, other displays will be there to describe some of the restoration that is underway, some major changes that are being made to give us a entertainment and educational place for people to enjoy for years to come. After the tours of the malls, it's time to send the clock back to Medfield mass. To prepare for the final changes before it goes back up in the archway in the Station. The Electric Time company removes the porcelain dials and installs the original dial cluster gears and hand shafts, to accommodate the dviveshaft coming down from the old boiler room above the clock, and installs the neon lighting system and installs the new white Plexiglas dials, a new clock drive is made that is connected to a computer that tells the clock when to change the hands for daylight savings time, and if the power goes off for any reason the computer will reset the clock back on time. The clock and new clock drive is shipped back to KC. In October 1999 The Ceiling Clock makes its ascent back up 85 feet to its place in the archway. I install the new clock drive and connect it to the driveshaft. It's ready for the Grand opening of Science City.
