BOSTWICK & BURGESS COLUMBUS TIMEPIECE
INDEX # : 135-T-0401
circa: 1892-1893

CLOCK STYLE Wall Clock CLOCK NAME Columbus / Anno 1492 MANUFACTURE Bostwick & Burgess, Norwalk, Ohio CASE MODEL # N/A MOVEMENT TYPE Wood gears, single weight, time only, folliot escapement. CASE SIZE & CONSTRUCTION
![]()
Base = 5 ½", Height = 14", Depth = 5 ½" LABEL INFORMATION
![]()
Timepiece has the original label located on packing box. DIAL INFORMATION Wood dial with raised pressed Arabic numerals, single hand for hour and minute. Dial serves as front plate of movement. 5 ½" chapter ring. MISC. FEATURES
![]()
Has raised likeness of Christopher Columbus and the date 1492. Has original weights and packing box with label. ACQUIRED FROM Online auction CONDITION WHEN ACQUIRED Complete Columbus Clock including acorn weights, pulley, time weight, time weight handle pull, original box and label. 1st time wheel pinion is damaged and will need to be restored, otherwise timepiece is in good condition. RESTORATION N/A HISTORICAL DATA
![]()
This clock was made by Bostwick and Burgess to mark the 400 year anniversary of Columbus's discovery of the America's, and was produced for the Chicago Columbus Exposition in 1893. It is reported that these clocks were also given away as souvenirs for a production of Rice's 1492 at the Palmer Theater in New York City in 1893 & 1894. The company made some 15,000 to 20,000 Columbus clocks as souvenirs. Initially, they charged $5.00 apiece, and later it was reported that the left over clocks were sold for $1.00 each.
The image to the left is of the Bostwick-Goodell Co., c. 1920, which took over from Bostwick and Burgess. They made window blinds and screens.
Additional historical information has been provided by a descendant of the company, click here to view this information.REFERENCES 1. NAWCC Bulletin No. 280, Volume 34, October 1992. Picture of timepiece on back cover, and description on page 513.
2. "The Book of American Clocks" by Brooks Palmer, 1967, picture of similar timepiece, illustration 281.
3. "The Columbus Clock" by Willis I. Milham, 1945.NOTES This is the fifth Columbus clock in our collection, but is the first one we have found in original condition including the weights, and packing box. Continue with selection:
Please note, that our interests are in preserving and restoring horological items, we do not sell pieces from our collection or provide online appraisals. Any emails requesting values will be discarded. Sorry, but I am not an appraiser nor do I have time to provide this service. If your questions are of a historical nature, I will be happy to respond.
Legal Stuff: I have made every effort not to infringe on any copyrighted material. The images contained within these pages were either taken by myself, scanned by myself from engravings, or historic literature, or were available on the web. If you feel that a copyright is being infringed upon, please notify me by email. No part of these pages may be reproduced without the express written consent of the author ©2005-2009 Clocks Are Us