Clock, Shelf

Object Name:

Clock, Shelf

Object ID:

1972.089.056

Creator:

Forbes, Wells (1812-1880)Clockmaker; Brewster, E. C. & CompanyClockmaker

Place of Origin:

Bristol, NH/Bristol, CT

Date:

1842-1844

Description:

Shelf Clock. Made by Wells Forbes (1812-1880), Bristol, NH; Movement attributed to E. C. Brewster & Company, Bristol, CT; 1842-1844. Ogee type. Materials: mahogany; brass (movement); zinc (dial); secondary wood white pine. Vertically oriented rectangular door with two glazed panels, clear glass above and mirror below. Lower panel slightly greater in height. Front of case surrounding door, molded in shallow ogee curve with fillet at all four outer edges. Door fasted with brass catch. Square painted zinc dial, beneath upper glass panel, with roman hour numerals on convex chapter ring and steel hour and minute hands differing in design. Each spandrel decorated with a floral spray painted in light brown with green foliage. Tow winding holes below center of dial. 30-hour brass spring movement with strike. Case veneered on front and sides. Top and bottom of pine. Mirror backed with heavy paper. Several nail holes in backboard. Two printed labels glued to interior, on backboard and mirror panel respectively. One is headed: "DIRECTIONS FOR KEEPING IN ORDER FORBES' PATENT BRASS SPRING CLOCK". The other reads 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". Both labels printed by Asa McFarland of Concord, N.H. Pencil inscriptions on first label giving names and dates of cleanings and/or repair work in 1878 and 1897. Number "167" and maker's name in chalk on top. Separately stored parts: pendulum bob, winding key.

Material:

Wood
Mahogany
Pine
Brass
Glass

Dimensions:

H-26.375 W-16 D-4 inches

Provenance:

Clock made by Wells Forbes (1812-1880), Bristol, NH, in sole business 1842-44. Movement is attributed to E. C. Brewster & Co., in business 1840-1843. 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:

Brewster, Elisha, McFarland, Asa (1804-1879), Forbes, Wells (1812-1880), Parsons, Charles S. (1904-1988)

Subjects:

Manufacturing