March 1, 2015

           If you’ve been following our page on Facebook, you’ll have seen photos of some of the acquisitions we made this month.  The one we’re featuring in the newsletter is an Eli Terry clock since Bob’s such a clock fanatic.  Others can be seen on our website at http://irongateantiques.com/clocks/

Eli Terry, Sr. (1772 – 1852) was an inventor and clockmaker in Connecticut who received a patent for a shelf clock mechanism.  By introducing mass production to the art of clockmaking, he made clocks affordable for the average America and occupies an important place in the beginnings of the development of interchangeable parts manufacturing.  The photo below shows the pillar and scroll clock we have available.  In his autobiography, Terry’s employee and assistant Chauncey Jerome, later a great clockmaker and owner of the world’s largest clock factory, mentions building the 1st pillar and scroll in Terry’s workshop with the master’s design and under his direction.  The pillar and scroll case provided a large, clear dial in a wooden case about 30” tall and 6” deep.  The clock face was on the upper part with the lower part either a mirror or a picture back-painted on glass.  Despite the relatively small size of the clocks compared to traditional long case clocks, Terry was able to provide sufficient power through gearing for the clock to run a full 30 hours before it needed to be rewound.  Anticipating a successful product, Terry had the foresight to patent his arrangement of clockworks.

Terry became the first recipient of a patent from the US Patent Office for a clock mechanism with his 1801 equation clock, which showed solar time—something of interest to those used to sundials.  In about 1802, Terry purchased a mill to produce wooden clock wheels that had to be finished by hand by skilled journeymen clockmakers.  He used the water wheel and main shaft to run saws and lathes to speed the production of parts.  Later Terry created jigs and fixtures to produce a large number of interchangeable clock parts.  This allowed for the rapid adjustment and assembly of clocks, freeing Terry from the task of fitting and modifying every piece of each clock.  Through his ingenuity and inventiveness, Terry was thus able to speedily cut wheels, pinions and other important clock parts accurately and repetitively.  In 1806, he signed a contract to produce 4000 clocks at a time when skilled clockmakers only made 6-10 clocks per year!  From 1808 to 1833, Terry focused his time and effort on the production of standardized wooden clocks, which helped him accumulate a modest fortune.  At least five patents were issued to him through the years up to 1825.  In 1826-7, Terry filed a lawsuit against former assistant, and later well-know clockmaker, Seth Thomas for patent infringement; judgement was in favor of Terry, but it is unclear if he ever collected compensation.

There are no special hours to report this month, but we wish you the luck o’the Irish and a Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Lynne & Bob McCann