American first generation banjo clock. Original iron dial is signed "warranted by William Cummens", ca 1810.
Cummens and Elnathan Taber were apprenticed to Simon Willard at the time this clock was made and it is entirely possible that Willard and Taber had a hand in the making of this clock. 8 day T bridge movement, time only, weight driven. The weight, pendulum, weight chute metal cover, are all found on this type early banjo clock. The tie down for the pendulum is incomplete. Push button latches on the bezel and bottom door. Mahogany veneer cross-banded case is a tad over 33 inches tall. The earliest and finest of the Cummens banjo's were cross banded cases A furniture maker in Grand Rapids, MI made veneer repairs on the door edges over 50 years ago. Other repairs made over the years are noted on the dial and case. We believe both the throat glass and the eagle decorated bottom glass, to be original, but rebacked. We cannot vouch for the authenticity or vintage of the acorn finial, but it appears as if it could have been part of the original clock. Other banjos by Cummens and Willard have the same acorn finial. A similar clock is pictured in "The Banjo Timepiece" by Chipman P. Ela, page 25, item 4. This clock and other Cummens banjo clocks can be documented by reading the book by Ela. Small details such as hinge castings, casting marks on side arms, movement plates and the bolt mountings, will help authenticate this clock. The book, "Simon Willard and his Clocks", shows and describes many of Willard's and Cummens clocks.
Clock types
