What are these finishes on antique clock?

A. You've got several things going on there.

The internal parts look like nickel electroplating, which was in use at the time this clock was made.

The face and case are paint, and the filigree work is probably gold leaf.

If non-original works for you, I'd clean up the internal parts and leave them alone, paint the case with gloss black, and spray aerosol gold semigloss on the filigree work - all after toothbrush cleaning and a bit of sandpaper on the case.

Hi Jeffrey

Thank you for your reply. My plan was to polish the cast iron pieces and have it blued at a gun shop. Also strip and gold plate the face. However, the value of this clock is not that much and I would be over-investing in it. Therefore I would probably follow your suggestions.

Best regards,

A. Hi Philip. I am certainly no antiques expert, but based on the age of your clock and he fact that it was made in America, I'd guess that the gold coloring on the cast brass or cast iron face plate was paint or possibly gold-leaf gilding, but readers looking into older clocks of European manufacture may be interested in thread 7289 about Ormulu (a gold finish applied by dissolving gold in mercury and burning off the mercury).

Luck & Regards,