Clock, Shelf

Object Name:

Clock, Shelf

Object ID:

1972.089.055

Creator:

Forbes, Wells (1812-1880)Manufacturer

Place of Origin:

Bristol, NH

Date:

1842-1844

Description:

Shelf Clock. Made by Wells Forbes (1812-1880), Bristol, NH; 1842-1844. Mahogany; tulip poplar (dial); secondary wood white pine; assorted hardwoods (movement). Vertically oriented rectangular door with two glazed panels; clear glass above and mirror below. Upper panel 9.75" high, lower panel 11.5". Case with canted front corners, flared cornice and rectangular base. Door fastened with brass catch. Square painted wooden dial, beneath upper glass panel, with roman hour numerals and pierced steel hour and minute hands matching in design. Painted gilt decoration, partly in relief, including spandrel decoration and border around center of dial, both largely composed of teardrop-shaped elements and dots. Three winding holes with brass grommets. Brass alarm dial. Terry-type 30-hour wooden movement with strike and alarm mechanism. Case veneered. Mirror backed with heavy paper. Five nail holes in backboard. Bell and weight sheaves projecting through top of clock. Dial probably tulip poplar. Large printed label glued to inner surface of lower backboard reading in part: "NEW CLOCK / FACTORY. / 'TIME FLIES.' / PATENT BRASS SPRING, / BRASS BUSHED, ALARM / AND / IMPROVED / CLOCKS, / MANUFACTURED AND SOLD BY / WELLS FORBES, / BRISTOL, N. H., 1842". Label printed by Asa McFarland of Concord, N.H. Roman numeral "XI" incised inside top of case. Several pencil inscriptions on inner surface of door giving names and dates of cleanings and/or repairs from 1848 to 1896, including "R. Morrill / Dec. 8, 73.". Figure "14" written on back of dial. Separately stored parts: pendulum bob, winding key.

Material:

Wood
Mahogany
Pine
Poplar
Brass
Glass

Dimensions:

H-26.75 W-17 D-5.5 inches

Provenance:

Clock made by Wells Forbes (1812-1880), Bristol, NH, in sole business 1842-44. Movement may have been produced in Connecticut, as Forbes had purchased a large number of movements from the Connecticut clockmaking firm of Boardman & Wells; Forbes then assembled and marketed the clocks. This clock also has the name of Reuben Morrill (1825-1879), 1873, inscribed; Morrill was a known clock repairer in Concord, NH. Acquired by donor for $10 in 1953 from Mrs. Bailey Antiques, Mont Vernon, NH.
Part of a large clock collection (and related materials) including not only clocks made in NH, but also several made elsewhere, acquired in NH, by the donor (Charles S. Parsons, 1904-1988) and probably used here.

Credit Line:

Gift of Charles S. Parsons

People:

Forbes, Wells (1812-1880), McFarland, Asa (1804-1879), Morrill, Reuben (1825-1879), Parsons, Charles S. (1904-1988)

Subjects:

Manufacturing