‘Zaporoshye’ Clock

Kroeger Clock no. 4537, ca. 1910 (MC0005)

This clock was owned by a Mennonite family who had not been able to leave Russia during the Revolution. The owners lived in the city of Zaporizhia (also spelled Zaparoshye), thus its nickname. When the owners passed away, long-lost friends of Arthur Kroeger (who were also Mennonite and whose families had stayed in Russia) purchased the clock on Arthur's behalf and brought it to Canada.

The face was originally decorated with a winter scene of three horses pulling a Russian sleigh, and in the distance a small house. When the paint started to peel, the owners had the face repainted with a Ukrainian dancing scene. Arthur Kroeger restored the face (date unknown) to a design more typical of Kroeger clocks after it came into his possession.

• Description Thirty-hour wall clock with pendulum and weight-driven movement, made by Kroeger Clockmakers in Rosenthal, Russian Empire (now Ukraine), ca. 1910, serial number 4537. Arched dial with a raised chapter ring is green with a single gold border around the perimeter. Arch has a hand-painted decoration of abstract leaves and flowers in white and beige. Spandrels are hand-painted gold scrolls. Black chapter ring with gold Roman numerals. Two hands; bell, alarm, and repeater functions; chain drive; six weights.

• Mennonite Clock Number MC0005

• Object Name Kroeger Clock

• Serial Number 4537

• Date Created ca. 1910

• Maker Kroeger Clockmakers

• Location Made Rosenthal, Chortitza Colony, Russian Empire (now Ukraine)

• Other Markings No. 4537 (stamped on brass frame); 7 (stamped on frame and gears); 7 dots (stamped on frame and gears)

• Movement Type Brass frame

• Functions Bell, Alarm, Repeater

• Owner Kroeger Clocks Heritage Foundation

• Publications Arthur Kroeger, Kroeger Clocks (Steinbach, MB: Mennonite Heritage Village, 2012), pp. 82, 114.

• Notes Arthur Kroeger referred to this as the "Zaporoshye Clock."