08-c-0991

DANIEL PRATT, JR. SHELF CLOCK
INDEX # : 008-C-0991

circa: 1846-1849

CLOCK STYLE Column and Cornice Connecticut Shelf

CLOCK NAME N/A

MANUFACTURE

Daniel Pratt, Jr., Reading, Mass

Daniel Pratt, Jr. (1797-1871)

CASE MODEL # N/A

MOVEMENT TYPE

9.223, Wood movement, 30 hour, weight driven, T&S, hour strike on cathedral gong. Movement probably made by Chauncey Boardman, or Boardman and Wells, who supplied movements to Pratt.

CASE SIZE & CONSTRUCTION Base = 15", Height = 27", Depth = 4 ½"

Case appears to be walnut veneered. Half columns are also veneered, only clock I have ever seen like this.

LABEL INFORMATION

Original in excellent condition, picture of clock shop depicted.
"Clocks / manufactured and warranted by / Daniel Pratt, Jr., / Reading, Mass., / U.S. Depot No. 2 Union Block, Corner of Union and Marshal Streets, Boston".
Label printer was Jonathan Howe, Printer, 30 Merchants Row, Boston.

DIAL INFORMATION

Wood dial (8 1/2" x 8 3/4"), with white painted background, gold leaf spandrels and chapter rings, black Roman numerals. Dial is in very good condition. Chapter ring is 8". Dial glass appears to be original and is 8" x 8" and secured in place with 3 wood strips.

MISC. FEATURES

Replacement looking glass is 10" x 8" (may have originally been a reverse glass painting).

ACQUIRED FROM Mr. Day (Private collector), Kittery, Maine.

CONDITION WHEN ACQUIRED Clock in running order, dust covers for pulleys missing, veneer on bottom of case missing, looking glass is new.

RESTORATION N/A

HISTORICAL DATA Daniel Pratt, Jr. in clock making/dealing business by self from 1832-1858. He did not manufacture his own movements, but bought completed movements from other clock makers, and fitted them in cases which he made. Exported many clocks to India and other overseas countries. Started selling some brass movement clocks after 1838, but made wooden movement clocks well into the late 1840's. He died in 1871, and the business was carried on as Daniel Pratt's Son from 1871-1880. The business was finally dissolved in 1916 with the death of Daniel's son Frank W. B. Pratt.

REFERENCES 1. "The Book of American Clocks" by Brooks Palmer, 1967, short biography of company on page 261.

NOTES The acquisition of this clock was another of the significant events in our clock collecting lives. We were looking for antique shops in the Portsmouth, NH. area, and were told of a small shop that sold clocks not far from town. After several trips past the house with the "Clocks for Sale" sign, we finally found the proprietor home. Mr. Day was truly an influence on my wife and I. He was an experienced clock collector, who at his wife's request was liquidating some of the hundreds of clocks he had in their small house. He had clocks everywhere, stacked in closets, hanging on walls, sitting on shelves. He was kind enough to give us a tour of his clocks and workshop. He spent several hours just talking clocks with my wife and I, hospitality that we have come to realize is prevalent with clock collectors. He also introduced us to the "wooden movement" clock, and we were so intrigued, that we left that day with one in the back of our van.

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CLOCK STYLE	Column and Cornice Connecticut Shelf
CLOCK NAME	N/A
MANUFACTURE	Daniel Pratt, Jr., Reading, Mass Daniel Pratt, Jr. (1797-1871)
CASE MODEL #	N/A
MOVEMENT TYPE	9.223, Wood movement, 30 hour, weight driven, T&S, hour strike on cathedral gong. Movement probably made by Chauncey Boardman, or Boardman and Wells, who supplied movements to Pratt.
CASE SIZE & CONSTRUCTION	Base = 15", Height = 27", Depth = 4 ½" Case appears to be walnut veneered. Half columns are also veneered, only clock I have ever seen like this.
LABEL INFORMATION	Original in excellent condition, picture of clock shop depicted. "Clocks / manufactured and warranted by / Daniel Pratt, Jr., / Reading, Mass., / U.S. Depot No. 2 Union Block, Corner of Union and Marshal Streets, Boston". Label printer was Jonathan Howe, Printer, 30 Merchants Row, Boston.
DIAL INFORMATION	Wood dial (8 1/2" x 8 3/4"), with white painted background, gold leaf spandrels and chapter rings, black Roman numerals. Dial is in very good condition. Chapter ring is 8". Dial glass appears to be original and is 8" x 8" and secured in place with 3 wood strips.
MISC. FEATURES	Replacement looking glass is 10" x 8" (may have originally been a reverse glass painting).
ACQUIRED FROM	Mr. Day (Private collector), Kittery, Maine.
CONDITION WHEN ACQUIRED	Clock in running order, dust covers for pulleys missing, veneer on bottom of case missing, looking glass is new.
RESTORATION	N/A
HISTORICAL DATA	Daniel Pratt, Jr. in clock making/dealing business by self from 1832-1858. He did not manufacture his own movements, but bought completed movements from other clock makers, and fitted them in cases which he made. Exported many clocks to India and other overseas countries. Started selling some brass movement clocks after 1838, but made wooden movement clocks well into the late 1840's. He died in 1871, and the business was carried on as Daniel Pratt's Son from 1871-1880. The business was finally dissolved in 1916 with the death of Daniel's son Frank W. B. Pratt.
REFERENCES	1. "The Book of American Clocks" by Brooks Palmer, 1967, short biography of company on page 261.
NOTES	The acquisition of this clock was another of the significant events in our clock collecting lives. We were looking for antique shops in the Portsmouth, NH. area, and were told of a small shop that sold clocks not far from town. After several trips past the house with the "Clocks for Sale" sign, we finally found the proprietor home. Mr. Day was truly an influence on my wife and I. He was an experienced clock collector, who at his wife's request was liquidating some of the hundreds of clocks he had in their small house. He had clocks everywhere, stacked in closets, hanging on walls, sitting on shelves. He was kind enough to give us a tour of his clocks and workshop. He spent several hours just talking clocks with my wife and I, hospitality that we have come to realize is prevalent with clock collectors. He also introduced us to the "wooden movement" clock, and we were so intrigued, that we left that day with one in the back of our van.