153-C-0305

GEORGE MITCHELL STENCILED HALF-COLUMN & SPLAT SHELF CLOCK
INDEX # : 153-C-0305

circa: 1831-1838

CLOCK STYLE Shelf

CLOCK NAME N/A

MANUFACTURE

George Mitchell, Bristol, Connecticut

Image to the left is George Mitchell (1774-1852)

CASE MODEL # N/A

MOVEMENT TYPE

30 hour wooden movement, type 8.132. Movement made by Ephraim Downs who sold movements to George Mitchell.

CASE SIZE & CONSTRUCTION Base=16 1/2", Height=35", Depth=5 1/2"
Mahogany veneered case, stenciled columns & splat.

LABEL INFORMATION

Excellent rare label stating:
"Patent Clocks / Invented by Eli Terry, / and / Manufactured for George Mitchell, / Bristol, Conn. / And Sold by him, Wholesale and Retail. . Warranted, if Well Used / P. Canfield, Printer, Hartford"

Philemon Canfield (1786-1864) moved to Hartford, Ct. in 1814. He was already an established printer at this point in his career, and his services were used by many of the early wooden movement clock making firms in Connecticut. He sold his printing/publishing business in 1839 to Case, Tiffany & Burnham. (image to left)

DIAL INFORMATION

Original dial was poorly restored by an earlier owner. The dial is 12 1/2" X 11 7/8". Chapter ring is 10". It retains the original gesso & gilt spandrels and center decoration, but the chapter rings and letters were re-done.
Original dial glass is 11" X 11" and is held in place with original putty.

MISC. FEATURES

Entire front of clock is integral part of door. Door opens from right to left. Appears to have original looking glass which is backed with old wood which matches the inside of the door frame. The clock retains it's original weights, pendulum bob, hour and minute hands, and winding key.

Images to the left are (from top to bottom:

Splat stenciling, Top Pediment stenciling, Bottom Pediment stenciling, Top Column stenciling, Center Column stenciling, Top of Case showing bells used for dust covers.

ACQUIRED FROM Mart table at the 2005 Lonestar Regional in Mesquite, TX.

CONDITION WHEN ACQUIRED Case in very good condition with a small piece of veneer missing near door latch. Chapter rings and Roman letters on the original dial were poorly restored by a previous owner. The wooden movement is in good running order with no damaged teeth or missing parts. Escutcheon on right side of case is partially missing, all door latch hardware is present.

RESTORATION N/A

HISTORICAL DATA George Mitchell was not a clockmaker as such, he was a businessman, retailer, postmaster, and tavern owner in Bristol and surrounding communities. He partnered with other clockmakers and purchased completed movements and cases from firms such as Atkins & Downs and many others. The label on this clock is a little unusual as it does not identify the manufacture, but bears only George Mitchell's name. It is unknown who actually produced this clock. Many of the prominent clockmakers of the early 19th century have ties to George Mitchell. In 1830 he purchased the old Baptist Meeting House and moved it to a new location. He then turned it into the clock factory of Mitchell & Atkins. He brought many clockmakers to the Bristol area (Chauncey Jerome in 1822, Ephraim Downs in 1825, and Elias Ingraham in 1828) to set up factories, and then he would re-sell their finished products in his retail stores.

REFERENCES 1. "Eli Terry and the Connecticut Shelf Clock" - Kenneth D. Roberts & Snowden Taylor, 1994
2. "The Romance of Time" - Brooks Palmer, 1954

NOTES N/A

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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.

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CLOCK STYLE	Shelf
CLOCK NAME	N/A
MANUFACTURE	George Mitchell, Bristol, Connecticut Image to the left is George Mitchell (1774-1852)
CASE MODEL #	N/A
MOVEMENT TYPE	30 hour wooden movement, type 8.132. Movement made by Ephraim Downs who sold movements to George Mitchell.
CASE SIZE & CONSTRUCTION	Base=16 1/2", Height=35", Depth=5 1/2" Mahogany veneered case, stenciled columns & splat.
LABEL INFORMATION	Excellent rare label stating: "Patent Clocks / Invented by Eli Terry, / and / Manufactured for George Mitchell, / Bristol, Conn. / And Sold by him, Wholesale and Retail. . Warranted, if Well Used / P. Canfield, Printer, Hartford" Philemon Canfield (1786-1864) moved to Hartford, Ct. in 1814. He was already an established printer at this point in his career, and his services were used by many of the early wooden movement clock making firms in Connecticut. He sold his printing/publishing business in 1839 to Case, Tiffany & Burnham. (image to left)
DIAL INFORMATION	Original dial was poorly restored by an earlier owner. The dial is 12 1/2" X 11 7/8". Chapter ring is 10". It retains the original gesso & gilt spandrels and center decoration, but the chapter rings and letters were re-done. Original dial glass is 11" X 11" and is held in place with original putty.
MISC. FEATURES	Entire front of clock is integral part of door. Door opens from right to left. Appears to have original looking glass which is backed with old wood which matches the inside of the door frame. The clock retains it's original weights, pendulum bob, hour and minute hands, and winding key. Images to the left are (from top to bottom: Splat stenciling, Top Pediment stenciling, Bottom Pediment stenciling, Top Column stenciling, Center Column stenciling, Top of Case showing bells used for dust covers.
ACQUIRED FROM	Mart table at the 2005 Lonestar Regional in Mesquite, TX.
CONDITION WHEN ACQUIRED	Case in very good condition with a small piece of veneer missing near door latch. Chapter rings and Roman letters on the original dial were poorly restored by a previous owner. The wooden movement is in good running order with no damaged teeth or missing parts. Escutcheon on right side of case is partially missing, all door latch hardware is present.
RESTORATION	N/A
HISTORICAL DATA	George Mitchell was not a clockmaker as such, he was a businessman, retailer, postmaster, and tavern owner in Bristol and surrounding communities. He partnered with other clockmakers and purchased completed movements and cases from firms such as Atkins & Downs and many others. The label on this clock is a little unusual as it does not identify the manufacture, but bears only George Mitchell's name. It is unknown who actually produced this clock. Many of the prominent clockmakers of the early 19th century have ties to George Mitchell. In 1830 he purchased the old Baptist Meeting House and moved it to a new location. He then turned it into the clock factory of Mitchell & Atkins. He brought many clockmakers to the Bristol area (Chauncey Jerome in 1822, Ephraim Downs in 1825, and Elias Ingraham in 1828) to set up factories, and then he would re-sell their finished products in his retail stores.
REFERENCES	1. "Eli Terry and the Connecticut Shelf Clock" - Kenneth D. Roberts & Snowden Taylor, 1994 2. "The Romance of Time" - Brooks Palmer, 1954
NOTES	N/A