The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1845-09-09
THE CLOCK. MAKERS.

Although Mr.. Samuel Slick told very good
story, and was in other respects worthy
and companionable man, he was not much OF
clockmaker. This is branch of business
about which great deal is said and a very
little generally known. The following facts
have been furnished Us by yankee opera
tor from Connecticut, who is considerable Of
Clock ease himself, and is familiar with
the business and It's details.
The number of Clocks manufactured in this
| country is very great, and the improvements
in the manufacturer of this article introduced
during the last four years have materially re-
duced as well rs the operatives. Connecticut
we believe, is the only State in which Clock
| Movements are made. But there are many
shops all over the North wherethe Cases are
manufactured. There are about twenty Of
these in this City. The business thus con
sIsts of two distinct branches. The Case
makersells his Cases TO the Movement max
er, or buys of him the Movements and puts
them in himself
Formally the wheels for Brass Clocks were
cast, then turned and smoothed with great
labor. Now the Brass comes rolled in plates
Of the proper thickness for the diiferanl wheels
and is pressed out--one motion ofthe press
being su6cien, TO cut and cenIer the wheel
This saves much time and money.
There are quite q number OF firms in Con
necticut that put up ready for market Two
Hundred Clocks per day, and they are sold
at 3 81 80 a piece, according 10 quality.
The Cases (Which are extensively manu-
iactured here) are sold for 60 TO 10 cents
each. Good Mahogany and Zebra Cases.
well made and polished, can be bought now
for 65 cents-the same quality Of article as
would have cos; 81, three years ago. The
wages of workmen in the Clock business are
poor. An experienced and skiltu! hand can
not get more than 81 or 81 % per day. A.
great many young men andboys who receive
only from IS 10 50 per month.
The Movement or running part oil Clocks
can now be bought for less than 81 piece
three years ago they were worth 81 90. We
knew a gentleman who made grand spec
ulaiion in the Clock business as follows; He
sold his Farm for three thousand dollars and
added to this sum three thousand dollars IN
cash, the whole amount Of which he invested
in Clock Movements at 81 30 n piece, TO be
delivered as he wished. This was three
years ago; and Clocks being just then rather
dull Of sale, he kept holding on for better
prices, until Movements could be bought Tor
IS cents piece. Now his Movements cost
him in cash 40 cents more than theyare worth
TO say nothing of the Farm. This is the way
the Clockmakers get rich.
The Clocks were formerly sold atthe South.
bringing from S25 10 hundred dollars a
piece. But of late years the Souherners
either more knowing or less flush, purchase
very few, and the Universal Yankee Nation
has been for some lime extensively engaged
in supplying Great Britain with Improved
Patent Brass Clocks Great numbers are
also sent out Of The country. There were
three months ago probably Three Thousand
Clocks sent from The Stale Of Connecticut;
but since that time many Of the manufacturers
have run dopn, owing their selling too much
on hckr, and the business has somewhat fallen
off, Tribune.