Shelf Clock, 1850-1870

01

Artifact Overview

By the 1840s, clockmakers were substituting small, light coil springs in clock movements for the previous bulky weights. No longer hindered by the size and weight of their internal mechanisms, clocks could take on all kind of different shapes and sizes. Clocks could even be made out of decorative cast iron, like this one.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Shelf clock

Date Made

1850-1870

Creator Notes

Probably made by Bradley & Hubbard of Meriden, Connecticut. Distributed by the American Clock Company of New York.

Location

at Henry Ford Museum in Clockwork

Object ID

29.865.1

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford.

Material

Cast iron
Wood (Plant material)
Brass (Alloy)
Steel (Alloy)

Dimensions

Height: 21.625 in
Width: 13.5 in
Length: 4.5 in

Inscriptions

Label inside box reads, in part, MANUFACTURED AND SOLD BY THE / AMERICAN CLOCK COMPANY / DEPOT, 3 CORTLANDT STREET, NEW YORK.