The Ansonia Clock company has a stellar reputation for quality and we whole-heartedly endorse that sentiment. They started making brass movement clocks in 1850 when the change from wooden clock works was in transition. They were quite successful and held a good segment of the market until about 1914 when the novelty clock became subject to fierce competition. This was Ansonia's strongest selling line, and, rather than maintain profit, Ansonia attempted to gain volume by offering clocks at "old pricing".
This tactic racked up huge debts, and by 1920 the number of models was down to 136 from a previous 440 models, and then 47 by 1927. In 1926 the company sold its Brooklyn warehouse, but this could not stem the inevitable. In 1929 the majority of the timekeeping machinery and tooling was sold to the Soviet government's US trading company Amtorg, just before the stock market crash.
This particular Ansonia was made during their heyday and what a beauty it is. The entire case, which measures 11.5" tall by 8.5" wide, by 4.25" deep, is beautifully gold gilded. There is a central, three dimensional, Putti holding a floral bough just below the dial. The porcelain dial is double sunk and displays one of Ansonia's "Exposed Escapements" that our head clock maker has ticking like the proverbial top. This escapement action is fascinating to observe and Ansonia installed this type of movement in their best clocks. Even the escapement bridge is gilded for maximum effect. This is a very "Art Nouveau" Clock that really gives one a sense of the design esthetic at the turn of the last century. The photos say it all and coupled with our one year warranty for parts and labor this is a clock that will please for generations to come.
The Waterbury Clock Company is an old one that was incorporated in the city of Waterbury, Connecticut, on March 5, 1857, but their origins harken back to January 14, 1843, when its parent company, the Benedict & Burnham Manufacturing Company, was founded.
Benedict & Burnham were manufacturers of sheet brass, and anything else that involved brass which they could fabricate. The industry was moving to all-brass movement plates by mid-1800s and brass clock movements were being used in millions of clocks manufactured by such companies as Seth Thomas, Gilbert Clock Co., Ansonia Clock Company and virtually all other clock manufacturers. It was natural for Benedict & Burnham to expand their influence by making clock movements themselves so that they had a hand in fabrication, from raw material, right on through the finished product. This particular Waterbury, made in New Haven, Connecticut was know as the "Galesburg", circa 1906. It has survived several lifetimes of use with great panache. Our head clockmaker has it running just as Waterbury intended. It is such an impressive and handsome clock that you can't help but feast your eyes on it. The solid oak case is in fantastic condition and it is highlighted by the tree finials that stand atop the crown molding. These finial shapes are repeated by no less than seven iterations, just opposite the 9 and the 3, again opposite the top of the pendulum bob, just below the bottom edge, and finally at the very bottom of the clock. The Roman numeral dial has a ring of brass at its center and an outer bezel, also made from brass. This brass matches the pendulum bob and even the gong base which is visible just under the six o'clock position at the back of the case. It strikes the hours and half hours on a very resonant gong coil that lets you know of its presence. There are two winding arbors for time & strike and it is an eight day movement. The dial is 8" in diameter and the case is 52" tall, by 14.75" wide, by 5.5" deep. Yes, it is an impressive long-case wall clock that you can be proud to own. Our one year warranty, for parts & labor, will allow you to buy with confidence.
It doesn't matter if you are Eloi or Morlock, this Hamilton "Flight II" will look great on your wrist. This reference to H.G. Wells' "Time Machine" does have its parallels with the passage of time and the ability to go back and re-live those forever-lost moments in time. Made over 60 years ago at the Hamilton Watch Factory in Lancaster, PA, this wonderful wristwatch was launched as one of Hamilton's avant-garde styling triumphs. The "Boomerang" motif was proof of their advanced styling, which was right in step with the automotive industry of that time. As a matter of fact, Hamilton had hired Richard Arbib from that industry to help bring the unusual shape to the Hamilton "Ventura" (the first electric watch). This "Flight II" is housed in a 10k gold-filled case that measures 28mm at its mid point (between the 9 & the 3), by 35mm at its extreme height, by 10mm thick (including the crystal). It is a manual wind caliber 770, 22 jewel movement that our head watchmaker has running like the day it was made. This is the nicest one of these scarce watches that we have owned in over 38 years. It sports a beautiful gold dial that has Arabic numerals at all the cardinal points with gold "pips" at all the other chapters. It also has the cross hair "gun sight" markings at the dial center. The finish is nothing short of spectacular. No one seems to know exactly how many of these watches were made or how many survive today, but I can tell you it is a fairly low number. When you take a look at the photo array, notice how crisp the cross-hatch texture is in the "Boomerang" shape at the top of the case and how it wraps all the way around the left side of the case. Many times this is where you will notice a great deal of wear...but not on this watch. We paired it with a textured expansion band that carries the motif all the way around your wrist. Our one-year warranty, for parts and labor, will allow you to put this watch on your wrist with complete confidence. We have only one... don't miss it!
Corum was founded in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland by Gaston Ries and his nephew, René Bannwart in 1955. One year later, the first Corum watches were being produced. Corum's claim to fame came early on, when the company introduced a watch made out of a $20 gold coin, which was an instant best-seller. That's what we have here and what a striking watch it is. The 18k gold $20 gold coin that it is made from has a beauty all its own. It's what is commonly referred to as the "Double Eagle". The pencil-line thin black hands are in stark contrast to the elegant, slightly rose colored, gold coin surface that displays the wonderful engraving of a coin from 1891. The reign of the "Double Eagle" as the premiere U.S. gold coin ended when FDR issued an executive order in 1933 which required all Americans to turn in their gold coins and bullion. So that is why so few of these beauties survive. You can see "In God We Trust" in an arch just under the twelve o'clock position atop the American Eagle holding a serpent in its beak centered by a shield and the motto "E Pluribus Unum" in a flowing banner. When you flip the watch over you can see the beautiful "Liberty Head" that is surrounded by an array of 13 stars representing the original 13 colonies. You can't help but feel the pride of country in this piece. The case sides have the original "coin edge" from which we derive the term, and the bezel is notched at the hour intervals to make it easy to read. The crowning glory is the "Blue Cabochon Crown" opposite the 3 o'clock position. The movement is a battery operated, highly accurate, quartz mechanism that is virtually trouble-free. The case measures 37mm in diameter (not including the crown), by 44mm lug to lug, by 5mm thick (including the crystal). We have fitted it with a genuine croco 19mm band in the "Havana" color for a interesting look. What's not to like here? Our one-year warranty will allow you to purchase with complete confidence and then you can show off your lucky $20 gold piece!
This wonderful Empire-style French Pillar Clock, circa 1820-1860, has such a regal appearance that it is joy to behold. The porcelain dial is carefully adorned with hand painted floral garlands fired into the porcelain surrounding the chapters. Is is quite dramatic. This theme is repeated with the gilded gadroon that is draped between the two innermost pillars. Gilded caps surmount the pillars and the gilding is repeated on the urn finial, the base ornament, and the gilded feet. These French movements usually strike on a bell, as does this one, plus they are highly precise. If you wish to have an elegant clock for your mantle, this may be the one for you! All of our clocks are warrantied for one-year for parts and labor so that you may buy with confidence.
By 1838, brass clock movements had been introduced to replace the wooden and cast iron movements that were the standard of the day. Then, in 1844, metal dealer Anson Greene Phelps formed the Ansonia Brass Co. in Connecticut, to supply the expanding clock business with brass sheet goods. In 1850, the Ansonia Clock Company was formed as a subsidiary of the Ansonia Brass Company by Phelps and clockmakers, Theodore Terry and Franklin C. Andrews. Terry & Andrews were the largest clock manufacturers in Bristol, with more than 50 employees using 58 tons of brass in the production of about 25,000 clocks, circa 1849. Phelps decided to get into the clockmaking business to expand the market for his brass, while Terry and Andrews got access to better quality brass at better prices. They then sold 50% of their business to Phelps, and moved the business to Ansonia, Conn. By 1877, the Ansonia Clock company acquired a factory in New York, and moved the lion's share of their production there after it was spun off from the brass company. Henry J. Davies of Brooklyn, himself a clockmaker, inventor, and case designer, joined the newly reconstituted company as one of its founders. As President, he is thought to be largely responsible for the figurine clocks, swinging clocks and other unusual and novel clocks for which Ansonia became known.
A little known fact: the inventor, Thomas Edison, visited the factory in 1878 to experiment combining clocks with his newly developed phonograph. But the experiments proved unsuitable.
By 1879, a second factory opened in Brooklyn, N.Y. and by June 1880, Ansonia was employing 360 workers, while the Connecticut factory continued producing clocks as well with a work force of 100 men and 25 women. Hence, clocks marked "Connecticut" were generally produced before 1879, while those marked "New York" were all produced after 1880.
Alas, the New York factory burnt down in 1880 - with the reported loss to be $750,000 with only $395,000 insured. Like the proverbial Phoenix arising from the ashes, Ansonia rebuilt the factory on the same site, reopening the expanded factory in 1881, with capacity to exceed that of the Connecticut factory - which closed completely in 1883. By 1886, the company had sales offices in New York, Chicago and London, with more than 225 different clock models being manufactured. The prosperous and debt-free Ansonia Clock Company reported having an inventory worth $600,000 and receivables valued at $250,000. No small feat at that time. By 1904 Ansonia added non-jeweled watches to their line and produced an estimated 10 million of these by 1929.
Here we have one of the most popular Ansonia China Clocks, with their famous "Exposed Escapement." Royal Bonn made the cases for these clocks and they are simply splendid. Combined with the high quality of Ansonia's movement, you have a clock that you can't beat. The clock is an 8-day, time and strike (on a coiled gong) with a brass "Egg & Dart" bezel a double sunk dial, and the fabulous "Exposed Escapement" just below the 12 o'clock position. As the clock ticks, you can see two ruby pallet stones moving back and forth just under the 12 o'clock position on the dial. They are interacting with the escape wheel teeth and parsing the passing seconds with great precision. It is fascinating to observe. Our head clockmaker has it winding, running, and keeping time just as it did back in the late 1890s. Couple this with our famous one-year warranty, for parts and labor, and you have an unbeatable combination!
Movado is a Swiss manufacturer probably best known for its "Museum Watch". Designed in 1947 by Bauhaus-influenced artist Nathan George Horwitt, the watch dial has a very simple design defined by a solitary dot at 12, symbolizing the sun at high noon, but Movado also made some very nice solid gold dress watches that are of superior quality...and this is one of those. It is an 18k solid gold gentleman's wristwatch that is "chronometer" rated, indicating that it has passed rigorous standards for accuracy. It is, in fact, at the pinnacle of mechanical watches in a world where few qualify for this mark.
Some Movado watch models had Esperanto names such as Bela ("beautiful"), Belamodo ("beautiful fashion"), Fiero ("pride"), Brila ("brilliant"), and Linio ("line"). The company's name itself means "movement" in Esperanto. This model's name probably has a simpler origin: "King" for being top-of-the-line in terms of case material and movement precision, and "matic" for the automatic winding feature.
This Movado has the high grade 28 jewel "Kingmatic S" movement with the model name just above the 6 o'clock position indicating that it is an automatic (self-winding) watch. The case, which measures 34 mm in diameter (not including the crown), by 40 mm lug to lug, by 9.5 mm thick (including the crystal), is a beauty to behold. To gild the lily, we have fitted it with a luxurious, medium brown, genuine lizard band that really suits it. Here is a solid gold watch, in a nice size case that is a top quality performer for a very reasonable price when you compare modern watches of the same quality but at twice the price. Our one-year warranty will allow you to buy with confidence.
This French desk clock and inkwell combination, by Bonnet & Pottier, is just stunning. The black marble base is naturally streaked with wonderful tan incursions that give the marble a wonderful look. The clock has a porcelain dial that exhibits hand-painted gadroons that arch from one chapter to another. This is contrasted by the Louis XIV gold hands which are artfully pierced and indicate the time opposite Arabic numerals. The movement is an eight jewel, balance wheel movement that is running like the proverbial top. It measures 18" long, by 7" wide, by 10" tall. The top of the clock is ornamented by two cavorting gilded birds and the base is flanked by twin inkwells with hinged tops. This would be a lovely piece to grace your desk. Our one-year warranty for parts and labor will allow you to buy with complete confidence.
The English Fusee Gallery Clock is a Classic and this is one of the nicest ones we have ever had the pleasure to own. It measures 16" in diameter, by 7" deep. These clocks were used in many public places and the pendulum was kept hidden inside of the case so that it could not be easily tampered with nor would it be a distraction. If you are not familiar with the concept of the "Fusee," try to imagine a short cone with a grooved track that starts at the base of the cone and then in one continuous track ascends to the top of the cone. This was a very clever device that allowed a very even power distribution from fully wound to almost wound down. The mainsprings that were being made at this time, circa 1870, were not capable of delivery an even amount of power to the movement over the course of a week. The clock would run faster when fully wound-up, and slower as the spring lost power over the course of 7 days. To circumvent this problem the mainspring barrel had a tiny chain (made like a bicycle chain) that wrapped around the outside of the barrel (the housing for the mainspring). When the clock was wound the chain was pulled off the barrel and on to the "Fusee" cone, with the first windings taking up the biggest diameter of the cone. Once fully wound, the spring would exert a force around the smallest diameter of the cone, but as the mainspring lost power it would pull across an increasingly larger and larger diameter of the cone, thereby getting a mechanical advantage and delivering very even power for an entire week. Very clever...No? This is one of the reasons that these clocks are of interest today. Pocket watches of the era had the same mechanism in them for the same reason. As steel became more readily available and with better composition the power issues were a thing of the past. This is interesting if you are into mechanical things as we are but the clock has such great panache that its presence really overshadows the mechanical aspects. I think it is the silvered dial that is inlaid with fired enamel that makes the statement loud and clear! The fact that the maker's name "I. Wynn" is a homophone and a desirable victory cry just makes me smile. This particular maker hailed from Windsor and I'm sure caught the attention of the royal family due to the exceptional quality of his clocks. The clock is fully restored and warrantied for one year. If you are looking for a really nice fusee then this may be the one for you! Our one-year warranty for parts and labor will allow you to purchase with complete confidence.
It isn't often that we come across such a nice example of a French wall clock, but even a blind squirrel finds a nut now and then. The three-dimensional carving on the case is just spectacular and every other element just adds to the drama. The central lion's head protrudes from the case just above the 12 o'clock position as though it were leaping out of the case itself. The "wing-like" finials and overtopping urn shape add to the overall effect and are balanced by the wonderful treatment at the case bottom. The chapters are porcelain cartouches that really make the dial easy to read and are quite dramatic. The gilded hands are pierced to give them an elegant appearance and a nice contrast against the walnut dial. The entire façade of this great timepiece is hinged to open like a book so that the owner can gain access to the movement and the pendulum. As you articulate the façade the dial remains in place as the façade moves away for access. The entire case is French walnut and is executed in the grand style of an 1870s gallery clock. The movement is a "threaded verge" which is an eight day, time and strike, on a coiled gong. Our head clock maker has fully restored the movement so that it can give you a lifetime of dependable timekeeping. It is just a fabulous clock...don't miss it!
Made in Budapest, Hungary, circa 1900, this fabulous, enameled easel clock is the perfect Art Nouveau desk clock. It is key wind, and key set, from the rear. The Swiss movement winds, sets, and runs just as it did over 100 years ago. The gilded tendrils that form the case work are indicative of the age as they embrace the hand painted panels that depict three "putti's" hovering above an enthralled couple in a sylvan glade. The enamel work is exquisite and undamaged. We constantly search for high quality examples of the enameller's art...especially from the Art Nouveau period...and they are few and far between. As an added bonus, the dial is mother of pearl that provides a great shimmering background for the "blued steel" hands. If you are desirous of a really nice enameled Art Nouveau clock this may be the one for you. Our one-year warranty for parts and labor will allow you to buy with confidence.
Movado is a Swiss manufacturer known for its Museum Watch. Designed in 1947 by Bauhaus-influenced artist Nathan George Horwitt, the watch dial has a very simple design where the dial is defined by a solitary dot at 12, symbolizing the sun at high noon, but Movado also made some very nice solid gold dress watches that are of superior quality... this is one of those. It is an 18k Solid Gold, gentleman's wristwatch that is "Chronometer" rated, indicating that it has passed rigid standards for accuracy. It is, in fact, at the pinnacle of mechanical watches in a world where few qualify for this mark.
Some Movado watch models have Esperanto names such as Bela ("beautiful"), Belamodo ("beautiful fashion"), Fiero ("pride"), Brila ("brilliant"), Linio ("line"), and Verto. The company's name means "movement" in Esperanto.
This Movado has the high grade, 28 jewel "Kingmatic" movement with the model name just above the 6 o'clock position indicating that it is an automatic (self-winding) watch. Another neat thing is that has a date feature at the 3 o'clock position. The case which measures 36mm in diameter, by 41mm lug to lug, by 8mm thick, is 18k solid gold which is a beauty to behold... it is a very handsome watch! To gild the lily we have fitted it with a luxurious dark brown genuine crocodile band that really suites it. Here is a solid gold watch, in a nice size case that is a top quality performer for a very reasonable price when you compare modern watches of the same quality but at twice the price. This would be a great watch to wear "In The Heat of the Night"!" Our one-year warranty will allow you to buy with confidence.