502.    $5000

Joseph Ives “Brooklyn” shelf clock, ca. 1830.   Ives invented the “wagon spring” (multi-leaf spring) movement and first used it in these Brooklyn shelf clocks.  This is the second edition of that clock, with an improved strap brass movement in a mahogany-veneered case.  He used a 10-inch papered wooden dial signed at the bottom, above two gilded metal rosettes and a large reverse-painted glass door.  The clock stands on two claw feet in front and turned feet in back. I don’t have reason to think that anything is unoriginal except the repainted, unsigned door glass; both glasses are old.  There is no label, sometimes found on the back wall behind the early wagon springs.  We wound the time side a bit but could not get it running, but we didn’t try very hard.  The cord attaching the strike side to the spring is broken and we let that go too. I’m sure it could be made functional if you wanted to put in a bit of effort, but many would argue that is not necessary.  Note that a second mount for the suspension spring has been installed below the mainstem – the original mount is over the escape wheel and looks perfectly functional; perhaps a previous owner did not have access to a suspension rod that could be bent to fit around the mainstem (see Figure 588 in Ly’s book American Clocks Vol. 3, pages 210-212).  The clock is 29 inches high and 16 inches wide.  $5000-$10,000.