Terry and Andrews Shelf Clock, 1840s

Description:

Made in the 1840s by the firm of Terry and Andrews, this clock represents an effort to incorporate imported springs, instead of falling weights, to drive the brass movement. At the time of its manufacture, there was no spring-making industry in the United States.

Theodore Terry and Franklin Andrews formed a partnership in 1842 in Bristol, Conn., to make brass clock movements, which began to replace wooden ones after 1838. In 1850 they moved to Ansonia, Conn., to form a company with Anson Phelps who owned a brass mill there. Beginning as a subsidiary of Phelps’ firm, the Ansonia Clock Company went on to build millions of clocks until it went out of business in 1929.

This clock has a brass time-and-strike movement. Its case has a beehive-shaped iron front inlaid with mother of pearl. The white painted dial has Roman numerals. A label inside the case has directions for setting up and regulating the clock and the makers’ names.

Date Made: ca 1840s

Maker: Terry & Andrews

Location: Currently not on view

See more items in: Work and Industry: Mechanisms, Measuring & Mapping

Exhibition:

Exhibition Location:

Credit Line: James Arthur Collection, New York University

Data Source: National Museum of American History

Id Number: 1984.0416.030Catalog Number: 1984.0416.030Accession Number: 1984.0416

Object Name: shelf clock

Physical Description: iron (overall material)mother of pearl (inlay material)Measurements: overall: 15 3/4 in x 8 3/4 in x 3 13/16 in; 40.005 cm x 22.225 cm x 9.652 cmbezel: 5 in; 12.7 cmpendulum window: 2 3/4 in; 6.985 cm

Guid: http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746aa-80bc-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

Record Id: nmah_1203358

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