Wichita eagle., 1889-04-30
"RRS:A!!,;;p!|E;s,'
A HUNDRED YEARS AGO.
How Clocks Were Made and Sold
in the Colonial Days.
Interesting Historical Facts About Time-
Pieces-The Pioneer Matchmaker of
America-Antique Clocks That
Represent Honest Work.
N. Y. Mail and Express


Mr.. Charles S. Crossman is dark. haired,
pleasant-mannered man about thirty-three
years old. 4 reporter gained from him
historical facts about watches and clocks.
Luther Goddard was the pioneer watch
maker in America" Mr.. Crossman said.
He began in 1899 at Shrewsbury, Mass.
The factory building was one story high,
with a hip-roof and built on the declivity Of
Shrewsbury Hill. There are no traces left
of the little factory. The watches he made
were similar TO English verge watches.
The hands, dials, round and dovetail brass
and steel wire, main and hair springs, bal
ance verges, chains and plnlons were all
imported. But the plates, wheels and oth-
er brass parts Goddard cast himself He had
with him several British soldiers who, after
the revolution, decided to remain and ply
their trades as watchnakers. He also
made the cases for the movements, which
were of the usual style, open face, double
case and somewhat in advance Of the thick
bulls eve watches Of the day. The first
watch he made was sold to the father Of
Ex-Governor Lincoln, of Worcester. The
first attempt to manufacture watches by
machinery in America was made by Henry
Pitkin in the fall of 1883. he had four APP
prentices. each of whom he paid $50 and
board year. The machinery was all IN
vented BY Mr.. Pitkin, and though very
crude, displayed great originality.
Gideon Roberts was the first to make
wood clocks in Bristol, in 1890, and one of
the first 10 make them in Connecticut His
clocks were the old-fashioned, hang-up
STYLE. The plates were half an inch thick
and foot square. He sawed the teeth out
by hand and the weights were tin CAMS
tiers filed with shot These clocks were
valued at So each. TIE one-day weight
brass clock was invented by Chauncy
Jerome, in 1898, and was the most popular
style of cheap clock for many years. 1t was
this style of clock which was first exported
to England in 1912 Main springs
were first introduced in 1S45 and
since then the tendency has been to reduce
clocks IN size. The small nickle clocks,
first made in 1876, are an outcome of this
popular demand. The Colonial hlgh-case,
or Grandfather CT ocks, that are sought
after now by lovers of the antique, were
pretty much the only style of clock known
century ago. The Connecticut clocks did
net come into use until the beginning OF
this century, so when the Colonial clocks
were in vogue there were only few Dutch
and English STYLES besides. Many of the
finer Colonial clocks of the most celebrated
markers are TO be found now in the homes
Of the wealthy lovers Of the antique and
rare in art. These clocks are Of English
origin, and date back TO the practical intro
duction of the pendulum into clocks early
in the seventeenth century. Obadiah
Holmes, a minister, brought the first clock
of this style from Europe to Massachusetts
in 1899. and finally in 1850 settled III Rhode
Island. These clocks were very expensive,
and Rev Mr.. Holmes in those days was
49, Obi 70
sess one. The first knowledge history has
OF clocks being sold in New England was
when Joseph Essex and Thoman Bradley
offered them for sale in Boston in l7l2 1t
is more than probable, though, that Benja-
min Bsgnan was making clocks as early
as this IN Boston. No correct data
can be found to prove otherwise. The
first definite knowledge of MIN was
All entry made IN the treasurer 5
book of Charleston, August y, 1724. which
mentioned that ne was paid 50 much for
cleaning the town clock. BagualI 5
clocks were rather small in size with cast
brass dials and plain mahogany cases.
William Claggel, the most celebrated Co
lonial clock-maher Of the seventeenth cent
ury. was born in 1926 and made clocks at
Newport His clocks are very scarce and
highly priced The movements are al fine
and the cases OF good workmanship. One
now III the Rhode Island Historical Soc.e
tvs rooms is Of the hanging style, and vai
ned al a high price.
"Clagget was a versatile man, ana pc
sides making the best clocks OF his time he
gained some prestige by writing religious
BOOK. The next maker of Importance wa:
John Bailey, of Hanover, who hourisheo
during revolutionary times He was man
O. great mechanical ability and progress
I've Ideas. He made several hundred clocks
ana the Workmanship was so fine many o.
them are running still, almost as good a:
when new. They are all cased IN large
sized cherry cases with brass balls on top
Simon Willard began 10 make clocks Il
RoXbury, Mass, in 17s5, and soon became
famous. de was the most extensive
maker Of clocks of the Colonial styl,
In this country. he invented the IA