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Tools 'N Tips: Clock Resources

Introduction Dates of Some Popular Antique Clock Styles

From Savage & Polite's Antique Clocks Identification & Price Guides

� Dial with Drop Trunk (England) c. 1720
� Dial or Gallery (England) c. 1770
� Dial or Gallery (USA) c. 1845
� Skeleton (France) c. 1750
� Skeleton (England) c. 1830
� Banjo (USA) c. 1802
� Carriage (France) c. 1803
� Carriage (England) c. 1820
� Cuckoo (Germany) c. 1730
� Portico or Column (France) c. 1804
� Pillar and Scroll (USA) c. 1816
� Lyre shape (USA) c. 1820
� Lighthouse Shelf (USA) c. 1822
� Looking-glass (USA) c. 1822
� OG, brass works (USA) c. 1830
� Etched Glass Tablets (USA) c. 1840
� Steeple (USA) c. 1840

� Beehive (USA) c. 1847
� Iron Front (USA) c. 1850
� To-and-Fro Swing (France) c. 1860
� Black Mantel (USA) c. 1870
� Walnut Parlor (USA) c. 1875
� Drop Octagon/Schoolhouse (USA) c. 1875
� Novelty Clocks c. 1875
� Oak Kitchen (USA) c. 1880
� 400-Day ("Anniversary") (Germany) c. 1880
� Round Alarm (USA) c. 1880
� Art Nouveau Style c. 1890
� Swingers (France) c. 1880
� French Style Swingers & Figurals (USA) c.1890
� China or Porcelain Case (USA) c. 1890
� Tambour c. 1900
� Mission Style (USA) c. 1900
� Art Deco Style c. 1925

Typical Manufacturers and Dates

Waterbury Clock Co., 1857-1944
Seth Thomas, 1813-53
Seth Thomas Clock Co., Plymouth Hollow, CT, 1853-65
Seth Thomas Clock Co., Thomaston, CT, 1866-1930
Seth Thomas div. of General Time, 1930-
W.L. Gilbert & Co., 1845-48, and 1851-66
Gilbert Mfg. Co., 1866-71
William L Gilbert Clock Co., 1871-1934
William L. Gilbert Clock Corp., 1934-57
Elias Ingraham & Co., 1857-60
E. Ingraham & Co., 1861-1958
E.N. Welch Mfg. Co., 1864-1903
Sessions Clock Co., 1903-56
New Haven Clock Co., 1853-c. 1965
F. Kroeber (& Co.), 1863-1887
F. Kroeber Clock Co., 1887-1904

A Brief History of the Ansonia Clock Company

1850--Theodore Terry and Franklin C. Andrews, then operating a large clock-making shop under the name "Terry & Andrews" in Bristol, CT, were approached by Anson G. Phelps with the proposal that they sell him 50% interest in the business and move to Ansonia, CT, where Phelps had his brass mill. The company was named "Ansonia Clock Company" in May of that year.

1854--The factory burned down. The Ansonia Clock Co. ceased to operate. A related company, the Ansonia Brass and Battery Co., continued to make some clock movements to sell to other clockmakers.

1869--The Ansonia Brass & Copper Co. was incorporated to resume full-scale clock production. (One of my steeple clocks is from this company.)

1877--The Ansonia Clock Company is once again established.

1879--A new factory is opened in Brooklyn, New York.

1880--The new factory burned down.

1881--Another new factory is built on the same site.

1883--The Ansonia, CT, factory is closed and all operations are moved to New York. (My "Cottage Extra" clock was made during the transitional period between 1879 and 1883. It has both addresses on the label.)

1929--The company went into receivership. The machinery and dies were sold to Amtorg, a purchasing agent for Soviet Russia. A couple of different firms have attempted to use the Ansonia name in the last half of the 20th century. Their clocks should not be confused with the original Ansonia Clock Co. of New York or Ansonia, CT.