Clock, Shelf

Object Name:

Clock, Shelf

Object ID:

1980.016.01

Creator:

Gilbert Manufacturing Company; Owen, George B. (1834-1916)Clockmaker

Place of Origin:

Winsted, CT

Date:

1868-1871

Description:

Shelf Clock. Made by the Gilbert Manufacturing Company, Winsted, CT; 1868-1871. Label on backboard: "GILBERT MANF'G CO., WINSTED, CONN. / MANUFACTURERS OF / EIGHT DAY AND THIRTY HOUR CLOCKS. / Case Patented by GEO. B. OWEN, March 31st, 1868." Round arched top with straight sides and flat rectangular base. Rosewood veneer, with secondary woods of white pine and others. The front door has a cut-out for the clock face, a brass bezel, and is glazed. Small brass door pull. The dial is round and made of enameled metal (probably zinc) attached with brass screws. The dial is painted in black with Roman numerals, which are slightly smeared. The center of the dial has a circular cut-out with scalloped edges, inside of which is a brass alarm dial. Metal hour and minute hands with matching pierced circle designs. Two winding holes below the center, lined with brass grommets. Brass movement with strike and alarm. Inside th clock is a polished brass bob (2" diam) with lead back, a metal wire pendulum rod, and a brass winding key. The case back is white pine. Inscribed on the exterior of the pine is: "REPAIRED / 6-11-69 / W. C. JENKINS". There is also a pencil inscription: "20522 / 33506".
Stored separately: 2" diam brass bob, and brass winding key.

Material:

Wood
Rosewood
Glass
Metal
Brass

Dimensions:

H-13.125 W-10 D-4 inches

Provenance:

Clock used in the Concord, NH, home at 5 Union Street, where the donor's aunt, May Schayltz Dowland (1891-1979), resided. The original owner of the clock would have been the previous resident at 5 Union Street, Horace B. Bartlett (1836-1923), from whom the Dowlands acquired the house and contents in 1917, after Bartlett moved to Manchester to reside with his nephew, Lewis Gilford Gilman; the Dowland's were caregivers to Bartlett until he moved. The clock was made by the Gilbert Manufacturing Company, Winsted, CT, subsequently William L. Gilbert Clock Company. The case was patented in 1868 by George B. Owen, who worked for the Gilbert Manufacturing Company and who held several clock part patents.

Credit Line:

Gift of James C. Lahar

People:

Bartlett, Horace B. (1836-1923), Owen, George B. (1834-1916), Dowland, May (1891-1979), Jenkins, W. C.

Subjects:

Clocks and watches