139-C-0704

CLOCK STYLE	Column & Splat Shelf Clock
CLOCK NAME	N/A
MANUFACTURE	Jonathan Frost, Reading, Massachusetts Jonathan Frost (1798-1881)
CASE MODEL #	N/A
MOVEMENT TYPE	Wooden, 30 hour T&S. type 9.221 (movement maker unknown)
CASE SIZE & CONSTRUCTION	Base=15" , Height= 28", Depth=5" Walnut veneer on case and splat is made from solid walnut.
LABEL INFORMATION	Good Label. "Extra / Clocks / Manufactured and Sold by / Jonathan Frost / Reading, MASS. / Warranted Good" Printer was J. Howe, Printer, No. 39 Merchants Row
DIAL INFORMATION	Original hand painted wood dial, 9" x 9" with a 8" chapter ring. White background with some crazing, black roman numerals, painted floral spandrels. Has "Jonathan Frost" imprinted in arc inside the inner chapter ring (not visible from photo). The dial glass has it's original reverse painted black and gilt border which frames out the dial. It appears a previous owner has sprayed the dial with a clear lacquer or varnish. Will probably create a new dial for this clock due to it's condition. Haven't decided yet as to whether I will strip this one and re-do it or fashion a new one. March 2005 - Decided to keep the original dial as it is and create a new dial for display purposes. The top image is the original dial, and the bottom image is the new dial (see restoration for additional information).
MISC FEATURES	Case has reverse OOG molding in place of the standard half columns. I have seen other examples of Frost clocks with this feature. Spat is un-stenciled, and appears to be original to clock.
ACQUIRED FROM	Purchased from seller at the 2004 NAWCC National Convention in Oklahoma City, OK.
CONDITION WHEN ACQUIRED	Case is in very good condition with no veneer loss or repairs. The door latch needs to be repaired. The wooden movement is complete with no broken teeth, but is very dirty and will need to be cleaned and necessary repairs / adjustments made.
RESTORATION	2005February - KL created a new reverse painted transfer of the Merchants Exchange in Philadelphia, inserted new glass into clock with original wood strips. Cleaned clock case with wood moisturizer. March 2005 - Created a new dial using 1/4" Birch. Added stiffeners on the back using rabbit joints. Dial is very similar to original with the exception that to date I have been unable to duplicate the makers signature which was done in block print. I believe they originally did this with a stamp, and a brown ink. The chapter rings and letters were applied with a .30 technical pen, and KL painted the corner spandrels with oil paints. The original dial will be kept with the clock in the event that we ever part with it.
HISTORICAL DATA	Jonathan Frost was partnered with Daniel Pratt Jr for a short period of time, this case style resembles those that came out of Pratt's business, the case is much shorter than the standard 30 hour column and splat clocks. "In the Fall of 1832, Daniel Pratt joined Jonathan Frost in a partnership in a clock making venture which was to last for three years, to 1835. Andrew Jackson was president of the United States. Westward expansion of the nation was growing. Canals had come into being, soon to be replaced by railroads. Pratt & Frost clocks were believed to be all of the looking glass type. For reasons unknown, the Pratt & Frost partnership was dissolved in 1835. Jonathan Frost turned to other enterprises until after the 1837 depression. 1838 found him back in the clock business alone as a dealer-distributor, who also made some clock cases for purchased movements of wood and brass."
REFERENCES	1. NAWCC Bulletin #208, October 1980 "Wood Movement Identifications" 2. "Early American Clocks", Edwin G. Warman, 1971
NOTES	N/A