Clocks 365-370
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365.     $950

Forestville Manufacturing Co. ripple-front “Round Gothic”, 1842-1849.  The torn label shows J.C. Brown on the label under the Forestville name, indicating the period of manufacture.  The 8-day time-and-strike movement is signed “J. C. Brown Forestville CT, USA” and is running, keeping time, and striking.  There’s good and bad here: both glasses are replacements; the dial is original, signed, and very dirty with chipping paint.  The hands are correct but new.  The ivory door handle is original, the ripple molding is in excellent shape.  The finials are probably not original; one may be. The veneer is intact on the sides and top.  I only found three Forestville/JC Brown ripple-front “onion-tops” in the Antique Clocks Price Guide, with the most recent sale at Schmitt’s in 2015 for $1600.  $1200-$1600.

Left side     Right side      Interior      Back

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366.     $140

Ellis Clock Co. Calendar OG, ca. 1880’s.  From the Department of Unknown Clock Companies, here is one by the Ellis Clock Co.  No location is given on the label, and no listings can be found in the Antique Clocks Price Guide. The movement is unsigned, but looks to be original to the case as there are no additional mounting holes.  The Spittlers and Bailey (American Clocks, American Clockmakers and Watchmakers, Vol. 3) list the Ellis Clock Co. but provide no information other than “No town.  Ca. 1880’s, OG calendar clock with Gilbert spring movement.”  The standard OG case, designed for a weight-driven movement, is 26 inches high and enhanced by the gold trim inside the outside border; the veneer appears to be rosewood, but there is a dark stain and finish on the sides and parts of the front.  Both glasses are old, probably original, and the tablet is unusual in design.  The paper dial is soiled, the hands old and probably original.  The pendulum is Gilbert style, but as noted, the movement is not signed.  It is running and striking on a wire gong on schedule and the calendar hand is advancing. This clock came from a collector of very fine clocks who specialized in original and uncommon clocks.  $150-$200.

Interior     Label

367.     $175

E. N. Welch “Grecian”, ca 1880.  Of course, the popular Grecian model is associated with Ingraham, but Welch got in the act with this rare model.  Note the carved piece that spans the door below the dial and distinguishes this model from the Ingraham clocks.  The clock stands 14.5 inches high and 11.25 inches wide.  Welch mixed veneers and woods on this model, using rosewood and possibly walnut veneers and maple trim.  The carving is stained darkly and the bezel is grain-painted; the dial glass is original.  The dial pan is original with numerous signatures and repairs noted on the back; the front is the original paint, touched up professionally where the original paint chipped off.  You have to look closely.  There are some flaws: A corner of the door on the left is missing, and the hinges have been poorly replaced.  The movement is signed Welch and sits loosely in its mount; we couldn’t keep it running, but it will run and strike.  It is an 8-day movement.  There is an excellent label on the back.  There are no sales of this clock listed in the Antique Clocks Price Guide, but there are two recent sales on eBay; one for $163 in 2014, and one for $500 in 2015.  This clock is uncommon, but $500 seems a bit high. $175-$250.

Left side      Right side      Interior     Back

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368.     $75

Chauncey Jerome “Union”, ca. 1850.  This classic cottage clock is 14 inches tall with beautiful mahogany veneer all around.  It holds an 8-day time and strike unsigned (but clearly Jerome) movement that strikes on an iron bell with a great sound.  It is running and striking.  There is old glass in the brass bezel in the door but it may be a replacement, as the putty is newer.  The biggest disappointment here is the replacement dial with the smeared Jerome signature. Notably, both hands are original, heavy iron, with the mainstem square cutout slightly off center.  You don’t see hands like this often.  There is a very dark blue-green label inside that is unreadable, but clearly a Jerome label typical of this period. The push-button latch on the door is working.  $100-$200. 

Left side      Right side     Interior     

369.     $50

Chauncey Jerome “David Crockett” cottage, ca. 1850.  A 30-hour, time-only cottage clock, 12.75 inches high.  The softwood case appears to have been stripped of its black paint, revealing the softwood sides and rosewood-veneered front.  It would have also had a gold stencil on the front (see #370).  The glass is nice, but a lot of loss to the pink background.  Note that it is signed bottom center “FROM C. JEROME | NEW HAVEN CONN”.  The dial board is wood with paint loss around the winding port and some smearing of the numbering.  Hands look original.  The 30-hour movement is unremarkable, unsigned, and running vigorously.  $50-$100.

Left side      Right side     Movement

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370.     $100

Chauncey Jerome “David Crockett” cottage, ca. 1850.  This cottage is slightly smaller than #369, at 11.75 inches tall.  It retains its black paint over softwood sides and rosewood veneer on the front, and the veneer can be seen faintly on the door frame.  There is also a gold stencil design and border barely visible on the bottom front of the case. The original glass and stencil is in nice shape here, and the Chauncey Jerome signature is clear under the dial.  The dial board is wood, with some touch-up.  The hands are original.  The 30-hour time-only, upside-down movement is an attraction here, with a brass spring and the pendulum suspended from the top of the case.  The movement is signed and running.  $100-$200.

Left side      Right side      Open      Movement