Ansonia Clock

Famous for its highly ornamental Victorian clocks, Ansonia clocks are the epitome of fine craftsmanship. From intricate carvings to brightly painted finishes, Ansonia clocks are easily recognizable. The Ansonia Brass company was formed by metal dealer Anson Greene Phelps in Connecticut in 1844 in order to supply brass to the growing clock industry - nine companies were making clocks in the state at the time. The availability of rolled brass led to the majority of clock movements being replaced by brass in 1838 as compared to wooden and cast-iron movements.  Phelps provided the metal to the Connecticut clockmakers until 1851 when he joined forces with Theodore Terry and Franklin C. Andrews, the largest clock manufacturers in Bristol, to form his own company Ansonia Clock Company as a subsidiary of the Ansonia Brass Company. In order to increase sales of his brass, Phelps entered the clockmaking business, while Terry and Andrews parted with half their business and gained access to more affordable and better-quality brass. There are a wide variety of antique Ansonia clocks available at Bidsquare, dating back as far as the 19th century to the 20th century.

Ansonia clocks are often eight-day movements, therefore, they do not require rewinding more than once every eight days. An illuminated alarm clock with a walnut veneer case based on a 30-hour timer and a spring-driven illumination system was later developed by the company in 1875. As a result of the alarm, a match ignited a wick, creating light for the clock. As one of the leading clock manufacturers in the 19th century, the Ansonia Clock Company produced a wide variety of clocks. Mantel clocks with beautifully painted china cases, Shelf alarm clocks with ogee faces, glass-domed shelf clocks, beehive shelf clocks, and "General" model regulatory clocks, 8-day, weight-driven brass clocks that measured seconds, were among the many clocks manufactured by Ansonia. At the 1853 New York World's Fair, Ansonia displayed its cast-iron clocks with mother-of-pearl decorations. Ansonia also produced novelty items, including clocks adorned with sculpted figures.

In the 1870s, Brooklyn-born clockmaker and designer Henry J. Davies became one of the founding members of the newly reconstituted organization. An ornamental ceramic shell was designed by Davies to protect the brass mechanical clock mechanisms. It was a very popular clock style in the 1880s, with most mantles sporting such a clock. In his capacity as President, he is considered to have played a leading role in developing figurine clocks, swing clocks, and other novelties that made the Ansonia firm famous. A visit from Thomas Edison to the factory in 1878 was intended to test the compatibility of clocks with his new phonograph. However, the experiments proved to be unfeasible. The second factory in Brooklyn, New York opened in 1879, and by June 1880, 360 workers were employed there, as well as 100 men and 25 women in the Connecticut factory. Thus, clocks with the “Connecticut” mark originated before 1879, while clocks with the “New York” appeared after 1880. In its years of existence between 1850, the year of incorporation, and 1929, when it filed for receivership and sold its remaining assets to Soviet Russia, the company produced millions of clocks.

Quick Facts about Ansonia Clocks

-Ansonia Clocks were manufactured in Ansonia, Connecticut.

-In 1880, Ansonia's New York factory burned down, destroying men and property.

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