Shelf Cottage
William L. Gilbert and Co. miniature cottage clock.
The movement in this clock is a ladder movement designed by Silas B. Terry with narrow plates and the main spring outside the back plate. It is correct and original to this clock. Gilbert apparently purchased movements, etc. from Terry after Terry went bankrupt. The door has been regilded and the mirror is debatable. If the clock had a Silas B. Terry label in lieu of a Gilbert full label, it would be quite valuable. The mahogany veneer case is just under 9.5 inches high, and the entire case is near perfect except for the door paint and wear around the door latch.
Seth Thomas "Cottage Extra", ca 1865. Great little 9.5 inches high mahogany veneer case, gilt around the glasses mostly still intact.
Excellent full label inside, old mirror tablet and upper glass, zinc painted dial has only a small amount of paint loss, all around the alarm set ring. One day movement, alarms on a large iron bell. The tiny brass bob and brass key are correct for this model. Ly-Seth Thomas No. 967.
Seth Thomas "Cottage", ca 1875. 8 day movement strikes a coil gong hourly.
Dial possibly a repaint, many years ago, tablet and glass are original and still very good. Hands and all case hardware is original. 14 inches mahogany veneer case is grungy, never cleaned, a small chip top right, a large chip off the left base. Full label inside, old pendulum bob, clock is running. Certainly a restorable early clock. Ly-Seth Thomas No. 972.
Cottage clock, "Henry Sperry and Co., New York", on the dial and the full label.
Grain painted soft wood cottage clock case is a tad under 12 inches high, original dial and glass, both clean and untouched. 30- hour movement is time only and runs strong. This clock and movement is pictured and described in Ly- American Clocks, Volume 3, page 93.
Winterhalter and Hoffmeyer miniature cottage clock.
Marketed by another German company, "Camereer, Kuss and Co.", who had offices in London. Not real sure of the wood, may be a light mahogany burl, but very unusual. This rare little 9.5 inches high clock has a one day movement, solid plates, enclosed spring barrels, nice little brass bob. Continues running without the bob in place. Alarms on a small iron bell. Full label on the back door with numerous repair notes dating back 100 years. Two official looking inscriptions, "No. 43", and 1-3-94 F. St". The faded dial is signed by Camereer, Kuss.
Gilbert Clock Co. cottage clock, ca. 1880.
17 inches high mahogany veneer case, carved gold gilt half spools on corners, excellent full label inside. Small piece of veneer wood missing on both top sides, hard to notice. Glasses old with minor flaking on painting. Old hands, original dial with scalloped opening for alarm has small flaking at mounting screws and time winding arbor. 8-day movement strikes the hour on a wire gong, running. Overall a nice example of an early cottage clock.
Flat-top 30-hour cottage clock.
The Jerome Clock Company later became the New Haven Clock Company. Around 1830, they manufactured a line of inexpensive clocks that were often used by homeowners in bedrooms as an "alarm clock". This nice little example includes an alarm mechanism. It did not include a strike on the hours because it was used in the bedroom where that would have been distracting. The design on the lower door glass is quite attractive and in good condition. And, take a look at that super fancy pendulum "bob" inside the case (see photograph)!!
Eight-day mantle clock with strike on the hours and alarm mechanism.
The Ansonia Brass and Copper Company in Connecticut produced this nice eight-day mantle clock with strike on the hours and a working alarm mechanism (few owners actually wind and use the alarms on these clocks...because they continue ringing until fully wound down...but it is nice to have it anyway as an original component of the clock). The case retains its original lower door glass with the impressive American Eagle symbol (see photograph).
Cottage clock by Atkins Clock Company, Bristol, Connecticut ca 1859.
The Atkins Clock Company of Bristol, Connecticut was formed on West Street around 1859. The company was a large manufacturer of shelf and wall clocks. They were in business until about 1879 when they closed. The business was sold in 1880 to Carlisle and Harry Barnes who continued in the old Atkins clock manufacturing building until about 1884 under the name Barnes Brothers Clock Company.
Flat top 'cottage clock' with reverse-painted lower door glass
30-hour shelf clocks were often used in modest homes that couldn't afford a grandfather (tall case) clock or more expensive timekeeper. These are therefore known in the trade as 'cottage clocks'. This little sweetheart has pretty veneer with a few chips off the bottom edge of the case and a some rubs on the top (see photographs). The Zinc dial is perfect, having been repainted professionally and the lower door glass is quite colorful with some flaking in the center of the design which has been filled-in properly.