Soloman Spring mantle clock with modified Birge and Peck 8-day movement with modified 24 hour count wheel.
Some Connecticut clock firms did not make their own movements but purchased them from competitors. Clock hands, dials, cases and other parts were made by various Bristol, Connecticut firms and sold between the makers. Through the years, John Birge had over 14 partners although he himself was neither a clockmaker or salesman. Instead, he financed the makers with whom he was associated through the years. One of these many associations was named Birge, Peck and Company. Later, the three remaining partners of this firm sold their water rights, factory buildings and property to Soloman C. Spring on April 29th, 1864. Spring had worked for Silas B. Terry and Irenus Atkins before launching his own clockmaking enterprise. Among other types of movements that he made was this eight-day weight-driven strap brass works. The label said, "REGULATOR/STRIKE EXTRA EIGHT DAY ROLLING PINION BRASS CLOCKS/ MANUFACTURED BY S.C. SPRING SUCCESSOR TO BIRGE, PECK AND COMPANY, BRISTOL, CONNECTICUT. The label in this particular clock is mostly gone by now (see photograph), but was certain to have had this wording when new. Note that the movement in this clock was modified from that used by Birge, Peck and Co. in that the friction plate, 12 hour count wheel originally designed by Noble Jerome was used in place of the 24 hour Ives type mounted on the great wheel. This was the last of the roller pinion type movements by Joseph Ives. This excellent example of the work of Soloman Spring retains its original finish, a wonderful primitive reverse painted door glass (see photograph) with a few minor touch ups and fine gilded capitals and pediments. Inside the case is the business card of a repairman named H.E.K. Erb with his address in Pottstown, Pennsylvania and penciled notations indicating the dates when he overhauled the movement of this clock(see photograph). For the clock collector who knows and appreciates an historic piece of Connecticut clockmaking, and wants to have one of the remaining examples of this type clock...THIS IS THE ONE FOR YOU!! Height: 30 in. (76.20 cm) Depth: 6 in. (15.24 cm) Width: 18 in. (45.72 cm) Weight: 6