A Piece from Time Gone By

As America’s economy began it’s move from agriculture to being a major industrial engine, there were many opportunities for inventors and entrepreneurs.  Ideas for new things to make, as well as ideas of better ways to make and sell things found fertile ground in America of the early 19th century.

With more complex interactions, it became more important for everyone to be on the same time schedule.  As a result, the need for more accurate and more widely available clocks was huge.  Some of the best minds of the era devoted their energies and careers to making clocks more accurate, more reliable, and less expensive.

One of those was Eli Terry.  During his career, he was the first to apply the ideas of mass produced, interchangeable parts to clocks.  He began making clocks that could set on a shelf or table, instead of large clocks that could only stand on the floor.  He developed machine tools to make the parts of the clocks, instead of relying on highly skilled craftsmen.  From about 1800 to 1830, his shop in Connecticut was the premier manufacturer of clocks in the US.  Seth Thomas worked for him and applied many of the patented Eli Terry ideas when he started his own clock making factory.

For this year’s NMRS, we have a shelf clock made by the shop of Eli Terry Jr., son of Eli Terry.  This clock incorporates the ideas and techniques developed by Eli Terry that changed the clock making industry.  It has all wooden gears and wheels, along with an all wood frame for the works.  Wire parts are used for many of the levers and stops on the clock. The front of the clock shows the beautiful face, plus a hand-painted scene on the glass door that hides the weights and pendulum.

Check out more photos of this clock in the General Auction page of this website.

There is no date on the label or any part of the clock, but it is consistent with clocks made in that shop from about 1830 to after 1850.  By 1900, new methods for metal work meant that new clock works were 100% metal.

This clock is a RARE piece of American clock making history.  Be the winning bidder on August 3, 2013, and take home this special item.