Legendary Lemp clock comes to market
An 8-foot ‘wonder’ hits the block
Ben Lennox, Head of Sales at Miller& Miller Auctions, stands next to the 8-foot clock by John K. Lemp that will be offered in the February 8th Canadiana auction.
It’s a phrase every generation has heard from their parents: “This will be yours one day!”. Over the next 25 years, Baby Boomers are set to pass down $100 trillion in assets, marking what’s being called the greatest wealth transfer in history. Younger generations, weighed down by soaring housing costs and crushing student debt, are eager to inherit the money – but when it comes to physical heirlooms, many will take a pass.
With skyrocketing rents and shrinking living spaces, younger generations are living differently than their parents and grandparents. Minimalist apartments and compact homes have become the norm, leaving little room for large inherited items. Combined with a cultural shift that values experiences over possessions, it’s no surprise that many are making the difficult decision to let go of family heirlooms. These transitions, though bittersweet, allow the pieces to find new homes where their legacy and craftsmanship will be valued, preserved, and safeguarded for generations to come.
One such heirloom – a monstrous 8-foot-tall handcrafted clock that appears to belong on the set of Frankenstein – stands at this very crossroads.
If we could step back a century in time to Tavistock, Ontario, we would likely find John K. Lemp (1860–1938) tucked away, hard at work in his workshop. A highly skilled Lutheran-German carpenter and machinist, Lemp was well-known in the community for his expertise in repairing machinery and steam engines, earning a reputation for being able to fix nearly anything. Every year, he attended the Toronto Exhibition, where he studied the latest tools and machinery, bringing new knowledge back to old Tavistock. In 1908, he built the town's first horseless carriage for the local milling company owner. Lemp also built his family home in the late 1800s, a residence that still stands today. With its beautiful inlaid wood floors, carved bannisters, and relief carvings beneath the windows, the home is a testament to his craftsmanship and the pride that fuelled it.
Pictured above is the family home John K. Lemp built in the late 1800s. The house still stands today.
Yet, despite his many achievements, Lemp is best remembered for his passion project – the monumental grandfather clocks he crafted as gifts for his family. There are only five known to exist.
And these were no ordinary clocks. They were masterpieces with what we now call ‘the wow factor’. With stacked dual dials the size of saucers (one to display the time of day and the other the day of the month), each shared distinctive characteristics such as intricate inlays and precise hand-carved details. The mechanics were a work of art, with hand-cut cogs, steel wheels, ball-bearing axles, and 50-pound weights. Resourceful by nature but also a product of tough economic times, Lemp used found items to make his clocks, such as adapting a Ford ‘Model T’ wheel hub to function as a pendulum.
This photograph from 1928 shows Lemp standing in the shadow of one of his creations, a humble man next to a giant of his own making.
In June 1900, The Tavistock Gazette published a glowing feature on Lemp, with a reporter praising one of his clocks as "a wonder." Remarkably, despite the mechanical brilliance of these creations, Lemp had no formal training in clockmaking.
A glimpse inside the Lemp clock offered in Miller & Miller’s February 8th Canadiana Auction
As the years passed and life moved on, these incredible yet imposing gifts slowly began to evade the family. One now resides in the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, Quebec, another is on display at the famous Queen’s Hotel in Stratford, Ontario, while the remaining are privately held. The latest of these clocks to surface will be sold at Miller & Miller’s February 8th Canadiana auction.
Lemp is pictured here with the clock offered in the upcoming auction, which was originally gifted to his nephew in 1931, the year this photo was taken.
For Ethan Miller, CEO of Miller & Miller Auctions, the clock is special for more than just its remarkable build. "It is symbolic of John Lemp’s pride for his family,” Miller explains. “Lemp’s ‘gift’ to a relative of this 8-foot monstrosity is endearing, but also slightly humourous. You really have to see the size in person to appreciate the humour. The clock is absolutely massive.”
The current owner acquired the clock after a friend inherited it. It had been passed down through three generations in the friend’s family. "I collect antique clocks as a hobby," says the owner, "But this 8-foot-tall piece of workmanship is out of my league."
At a time when space is at a premium, preserving monumental pieces like this clock is no small feat. Yet, for the right collector, this clock is a one-of-a-kind centerpiece.
While Lemp’s work is documented in a handful of historical archives and books, there is more work to be done to ensure his legacy lives on.
“These clocks are at risk,” says Ethan Miller, “as much of their documentation is offline in out-of-print books."
Lemp’s work is documented in books such as Early Canadian Timekeepers (Connell & Varkaris, p. 194, Fig. 327) and Splendid Harvest (Bird & Kobayashi, p. 120, plate 91).
Unlike a mass-produced gift easily purchased at the ‘drop of a hat,’ these five awe-inspiring creations Lemp bestowed on his family carry a profound sense of meaning. Their significance now extends far beyond anything Lemp could have imagined. In this ‘case,’ his work stands as a lasting legacy – honoring his small community and, on a grander scale, embodying the Canadian identity.
Story by Tess Malloy
Tess is a freelance writer and history enthusiast who enjoys unearthing interesting stories about remarkable people and objects. Tess has written for The Miller Times for seven years.
Sale Details:
Canadiana
February 8, 2025 | 9am EST
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