Re: Links This 30-hour, time-and-strike clock does not appear in vol. one of Tran's Waterbury but is shown in vol. 2 from the 1875 catalogue (p. 837, fig. 3176). It is called the Dexter. The patent for the Dexter case design was granted to Robert Dunn on December 20, 1870. He assigned the patent to the Waterbury Clock Company. I discovered four additional patents granted to Robert Dunn in 1870. He assigned these to Waterbury, as well. Three of the patents, all granted August 30, 1870, were for the case designs of the Consort, Ruby, and Persian. The catalogue pictures, as found in vol. 2 of Tran's Waterbury, are shown below. Dunn's fifth patent was granted October 18, 1870. It was a design patent for a clock case that does not appear in Tran, and which I have not been able to identify elsewhere. It is roughly a round-top version of the Persian. Chris Bailey's introduction to Tran's Waterbury (p. 31) lists the Consort, Ruby, and Dexter among the "shelf models with names offered in 1873." The full list of these shelf models includes the "Consort, Courier, Dexter, Eclectic, Rough & Ready, Ruby, Sharp Top, Round Top, Pillar Gothic, Pillar Arch Top and Pillar Tudor." The last five on the list are not in Tran, at least not under the name given in Bailey's introduction. The unknown model patented by Dunn in October 1870, if it was ever put into production, might, I suppose, be the Round Top. I found two examples of the Dexter on antiqueclockspriceguide.com, here. The description of one states that "[a] small paper label on the door says, "Patented Aug.30th, 1870, DEXTER." It is interesting that the label has the wrong patent date, understandable perhaps, as well, since three other clocks offered at the same time had the August 30 patent date. Although Robert Dunn got the patents for the above-mentioned five case designs, there seem to have been ancestors of some of these cases offered earlier by Waterbury. Tran's Waterbury, vol. 1, p. 408 shows a group of six clocks from 1867. Three of these have similarities to three of the clock cases designed by Dunn: Black Walnut Arch Top (the unknown); Black Walnut Gothic (the Dexter); and the Black Walnut Extra Gothic Pillar (the Persian). There are, of course, notable differences, as well, but possibly they suggested to Dunn the designs of the three later clocks. View attachment 454653
Re: Links Was told this Waterbury clock was late 19th century, could someone put a year to it for me please? I think its the oldest clock I own, only movement I have that is pinned. Seen one like it and they said it was from 1875 so just curious, it is one of my favorite clocks. I did the stencil on the glass, it was clear. Thanks , Eric
Re: Links 1875 might be a plausible date for this clock, maybe even earlier. Although steeple (sharp gothic) clocks were offered even into the early 20th century, the pinned movement and the woo mounting blocks mark it as well before then. This particular movement is also found with a patent date of September 22, 1874, on it (see example below). The patent refers to a lifting hook developed by a John Connor of Jersey City, NJ. Here is a link to the patent document. The absence of the patent date on yours suggests that the movement was made before that date, and possibly the clock as well. Does your movement have the lifting hook? View attachment 456966 View attachment 456967
Oops I thought you meant lifting hook on the great wheel to make it strike without removing dial. I don't see anything that looks like the patent , but I don't see it on the example movement either , so not sure.
The patented lifting hook is there, but you can't see it from the pictures I posted or, for that matter, from a picture I have of the back. I posted the pictures simply to show the patent date.
One of my flea market finds , the case looks like the finish was stripped and never refinished. I cleaned and oiled just the bits I could without removing and disassembling the movement. It has been running for a few months keeping time (close enough for me ) . Very pleasing Westminster chimes. If anyone has any information please let me know. Thank you ! View attachment 456994
I recently purchased this Waterbury wall clock. It is the "Lobby" model. The clock is 39 inches tall. The case is made from oak. It contains a double wind 30 day time only movement. Tran Duy Ly shows an example of this clock from the 1912 Waterbury catalog in his 1989 Waterbury book. The hanging kitchen clock is the Waterbury "Huron" model. David, Owen.or
I have a couple of Waterburys if someone could be so kind as to give some dates and on one maybe the model name. These two are superb runners, very strong and both strike nice and loud. The small one is an 8-day Cottage Extra according to the label on the back The kitchen clock has no label. Don
i've got three.... both of the regulators have deadbeat escapements, the movement is in a franken-clock
Glad someone brought this thread back to life. I love Waterbury's and this is my latest find. It's a Regulator No. 5 in the two weight version. It's a big clock being about 70". The cases are why I love the Waterbury's as much as I do. Most of the makers built clocks and timepieces that would keep time. But to put that mechanism into a beautifully carved piece of furniture is something special.
Hi all, I have a very old Waterbury clock that I’m having trouble identifying. It is very heavy and appears to be brass it is 9.25” high and 6.25” wide at the base. Any help identifying would be greatly appreciated
Do you have the book that you quoted so that maybe you could take a picture of the page that shows my clock? I have done searches for “geneva” clocks and that is clearly not my clock. All of my searches including “old brass” Waterbury clocks didn’t produce any results either. I was hoping to find another example of my clock somewhere else.
Glad the Waterbury thread got brought to the front. I love Waterburys. Here's another one that I'd not posted previously. A No. 81.
A recent find that came with out a weight, key or any information. I haven't been into it to discover any numbers or information it carries yet. Had it running with a fishing weight, but it hasn't stayed running using the replacement W weight yet. You can see the rubber band anchor at the top (left in the photo) of the suspension spring. And I'm still learning more about posting photos... David
Hi Just acquired this Waterbury mantle clock around 18 inches high, both case and movement are in really bad condition so a fair bit of work to come. Movement is marked E.N. Welch, Forest Village, U.S.A. Barry
Despite the dial, I wonder whether this might be a Welch clock, specifically the Italian No. 2, V.P., from about 1880. There appear to be a few additional holes in the semi-circular dial mounting board. That said, it is similar to the Waterbury Sultan No. I, V.P. from about the same period. I assume no label? BTW and just FTR, it's Forestville, not Forest Village.
Hi Thanks for the reply. The extra holes I believe are because the originals were elongated so as a botch new holes were drilled in the dial which explains the extra holes. There is no label on the case only markings are on the dial and stamped on the movement plate. You are quite right it is stamped Forestville CT ( it was lost in translation). The pendulum is also Welch style. Do you think it has been re-dialed or is the clock original? Many thanks Barry
I can't be entirely sure from what I see. If there are no extra holes in the backboard where a different movement might have been mounted, I would suggest the dial is a replacement. The catalogue illustrations of the Sultan No. 1, V.P., show door glass with some reverse design. The catalogue illustration for the Italian No. 2, V.P. shows plain glass in the door, as on your clock. However, there is always a fudge factor involved in relying solely on catalogue illustrations.
Attached are 2 pics of a Waterbury works I found in a garage. It has no case or other parts as you can see. Anybody have some idea what it was? It is marked Waterbury clock co. patent 1899 all in very fancy script. I am guessing it came out of a mantel or camel back case.
As demonstrated by this thread, Waterbury made a number of nice wall and floor "regulators". Some have interesting movements and many have rather nice cases in the Victorian style. Honestly, as nice as these clocks are, a bit late for me. Also, some also take up some serious real estate which is in very short supple around here. However, today on one of my picking routes I came across a Waterbury that seemed so straight and unmolested, just had to "pull the trigger". It's a Waterbury No. 18 regulator. To my eye, a very original clock. Solid oak case in wonderful old original finish. Retains all the decorations and appliques. Still has the label in the bottom of the case along with the original beat scale: The movement is time only double weight driven that mounts on a ornate gilt cast iron bracket: I believe the between the plates escapement is dead beat. I like the original flat weights that are grain painted to match the case: Seemed like a pretty nice clock? Wish I had a better place to display it then my basement/work area/man cave. Might have to do some shuffling around to find a place up stairs. RM
nice! even though i think they have the same movement and pendulum, your case styling is much nicer than my waterbury regulator no. 4 (aka 'rosedale') and you have the original weights. perhaps i could ride along on one of your picking routes some time?
I would greatly appreciate a little help identifying this crystal regulator model pictured here. I cannot find it in any of the Tran Duy Ly books. The movement, pendulum, hands and escapement have Waterbury-identifying details. There are no inappropriate holes that would indicate a marriage of varying manufacturer parts. The cast top and base have no identification marks, numbers, etc. The finish on the cast parts is identical to the novelty/boudoir clocks of the same period with its gilt highlights.
I wonder whether this might be a clock made/marketed by Jennings Brothers, makers of metal ware between 1890 and 1953. Clock cases were in their repertoire, and we have seen a Jennings Brothers crystal regulator or two on the message board. The one shown in this earlier thread, for instance, bears close similarities (but not exactilarities) to yours and has an Ansonia movement. Jennings Bros. Crystal Reg & Black Forest. Here is yet another that seems to be the same as the one in the earlier thread and is called an Ansonia, probably on the strength of the movement. I can't make out the logo on the dial. Antique Clock Details. Both Ansonia and Waterbury supplied movements to Jennings Brothers. OTOH, I would be happier making this suggestion if the dial carried the Jennings Brothers logo. Perhaps Jennings Brothers made the case for Waterbury, who then sold it as their own. It then just did not make it into Tran, which happened frequently.
I don’t remember seeing one of the Waterbury English drop clocks on this thread, so here’s mine. When I first saw it I wanted it, and finally had a chance to buy it. It didn’t cost much, as I got it and a New Haven Referee store regulator at the same time. I think I paid $150 for the pair. Probably a good thing i didn’t pay much, because I brought it home, overhauled the movement and cleaned up the case, and then discovered my wife hates the look of the Waterbury...So it sits to the right of my workbench in the back room mostly getting dusty, and I start it up once in a while. English Drop Number 3, about 1890 according to one reference. ...Maybe someone here will like it! John
hi, I know this is old but the regulator #7 looks like the weight cable is bird nested, might be reason it will not run. I am posting my recently rescued and restored Waterbury #1 ships bell. I rescued it from Ebay it was non-working and had been "polished" since someone told them it would sell better shiney. UGH. When I purchased photos showed the label on back of case, when it arrived it was missing. Fortunately the seller was kind enough to find the label that fell off during packing and sent it to me, yay for them!! It is a very heavy brass case with detachable rear flange and unusual mounting at rear of movement to back of case. Case was filled with brasso and had been brillo padded. The dial has a nice plum color. Not the highest quality jeweled escapement but interesting. Joe
