Clock, Wall

Object Name:

Clock, Wall

Object ID:

1979.052.02

Creator:

Morrill, Benjamin (1794-1857)Clockmaker

Place of Origin:

Boscawen, NH

Date:

circa 1815

Description:

Wall Clock. Made by Benjamin Morrill (1794-1857), Boscawen, NH; c. 1815. Coffin Case type. Materials: white pine (case); brass (movement); iron or steel (dial). Plain, slightly trapezoidal, red-painted case (slightly wider at base than at top), with glazed circular cut-out (~7" diam.), behind which is circular enameled dial. Eight-day brass weight-driven movement. Dial signed on front, below center: "B. Morrill, / Boscawen". Roman numerals; one winding hole, above and to right of center; hour and minute hands are metal (probably steel), of matching spear design. Entire front of case opens as a door on two brass hinges, with hand-wrought brass hook closure. Evidence of an intent to insert a lock on case door; filled in diamond-shaped cutout for escutcheon, partial cut out for lock, cut out for lock plate, as well as several small filled and painted-over holes. Case is of dovetail construction, with glue-block support; several hand-wrought nails visible in interior. Evidence of a ~1" diam. hole in bottom of case, which has been filled in and painted over. Evidence of former cream-colored paint on interior of case. At least 12 holes through back of case, probably from hanging. Two zinc plates (appear to be a recent addition) cover central channel inside case; these plates are attached with several types of nails and screws. Iron hanger attached to upper back of case. Inscriptions on door interior: large black paint inscription "F. L.", in early 19th-century style; pencil inscriptions include, "COST / RT / AE / LE / CE & Ref / BOT / ESTATE / JAS. CONLON / 6-50" (the aforementioned are in the hand of Donald Packard), "A. J. C[oomb]s / __ Falls / R. Morrill / July 31, 63 / F. / Frank W. Ricker. / Cleaned Dec 2nd, 1861 / __ Stevens / Lebanon / J. Jewell 66 / W.P. Folsom East Rochester / Cleaned & Repainted / Oct 18-1869."

Material:

Wood
Pine
Glass
Metal
Brass

Dimensions:

H-29.9 W-10 D-3.3 inches

Provenance:

Clock with movement by Benjamin Morrill (1794-1857) of Boscawen, NH. From the clock collection of pioneer collector, Donald K. Packard (1893-1974). Notes in Donald Packard's hand include "BOT ESTATE JAS. CONLON 6-50", which probably indicates that he purchased the clock from the estate of James Conlon (1880-1948), June 1950; Conlon was a Boston-area clockmaker & repairer, and did repair work on at least one other clock owned by Packard. Identified cleaning/repair marks are all from New Hampshire locations, including: R. Morrill of Concord, 1863; William P. Folsom of Rochester, 1869; Lebanon (n.d.); and possibly Coombs of Salisbury (n.d.).

Credit Line:

Gift of Beatrice Joy Packard

People:

Packard, Donald (1893-1974), Conlon, James (1880-1948), Coombs, A. J., Folsom, William P. (1826-1884), Morrill, Benjamin (1794-1857), Morrill, Reuben (1825-1879)