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twig field
Jun 13,2025
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Extremely rare, Samuel Terry's "Whales Tails", pillar and scroll shelf clock.

Anonymous (not verified)
23 October 2024
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Eli and Samuel Terry were in partnership from 1824-1827. For the next 150 years it was thought the only Wales-Tail clock was owned by Samuel Terry and passed down to his great-granddaughters. The label in that clock said, "Eli & Samuel Terry". Samuel made movements and case son his own from 1827-1829 at Plymouth, CT and moved to Bristol in 1829. The label in this case reads, "Made and Sold at Plymouth, Connecticut / by/Samuel Terry." That would date this clock about 1828. The warranty on the label states, "N.B. the public may be assured that this kind of clock will run as long without repairs, and be as durable and accurate for keeping time,as any kind of clock whatever." Eli Terry is credited on this label as being the inventor. It has the original finials, turned from wood, 29 inch mahogany veneer case, with original top but repaired, bottom original but some veneering. The veneer match is not perfect. One column replaced, glasses original but bottom glass has a crack in the upper right corner. Period weights, pendulum and dial. I had the movement running, but I am confident you will need to service the movement. The dial is good with some stretch marks. Notice the striped trim each side by the doors. From the research I have done and discussions with other collectors about the "Whales-Tail" clocks, it appears there maybe as many as 4 or 5 known to exist, and 2 or 3 of them are in museums. I don't see how any of them could be in any better condition than this one. The movements in all of them are different, one has no label. This clock sold privately several years ago for $11,500. It had previously been in the possession of one family for most of its history. References: NAWCC Bulletin, Dec. 1949, Whole Number 31, page 26. References: Eli Terry and the Connecticut Shelf Clock," Second Edition Revised, References: by Kenneth D. Roberts and Snowden Taylor, Chapters 3 and 8.

Clock image
Model
Whales Tails
Price Type
auction
Manufacturer
Terry, Samuel
Credit
Horton's Antique Clocks
Creditor url
http://www.hortonsantiqueclocks.com
Text search
Extremely rare, Samuel Terry's "Whales Tails", pillar and scroll shelf clock. Eli and Samuel Terry were in partnership from 1824-1827. For the next 150 years it was thought the only Wales-Tail clock was owned by Samuel Terry and passed down to his great-granddaughters. The label in that clock said, "Eli & Samuel Terry". Samuel made movements and case son his own from 1827-1829 at Plymouth, CT and moved to Bristol in 1829. The label in this case reads, "Made and Sold at Plymouth, Connecticut / by/Samuel Terry." That would date this clock about 1828. The warranty on the label states, "N.B. the public may be assured that this kind of clock will run as long without repairs, and be as durable and accurate for keeping time,as any kind of clock whatever." Eli Terry is credited on this label as being the inventor. It has the original finials, turned from wood, 29 inch mahogany veneer case, with original top but repaired, bottom original but some veneering. The veneer match is not perfect. One column replaced, glasses original but bottom glass has a crack in the upper right corner. Period weights, pendulum and dial. I had the movement running, but I am confident you will need to service the movement. The dial is good with some stretch marks. Notice the striped trim each side by the doors. From the research I have done and discussions with other collectors about the "Whales-Tail" clocks, it appears there maybe as many as 4 or 5 known to exist, and 2 or 3 of them are in museums. I don't see how any of them could be in any better condition than this one. The movements in all of them are different, one has no label. This clock sold privately several years ago for $11,500. It had previously been in the possession of one family for most of its history. References: NAWCC Bulletin, Dec. 1949, Whole Number 31, page 26. References: Eli Terry and the Connecticut Shelf Clock," Second Edition Revised, References: by Kenneth D. Roberts and Snowden Taylor, Chapters 3 and 8.

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