015-C-1091

ATKINS & DOWNS STENCILED HALF-COLUMN & SPLAT SHELF CLOCK
INDEX # : 015-C-1091

circa: 1831-1832

CLOCK STYLE Conn. Shelf Clock

CLOCK NAME N/A

MANUFACTURE

Atkins and Downs, Bristol, Conn. for George Mitchell

Rollin Atkins (1790 - 1844)
Irenus Atkins (1792 - 1882
Anson Downs (1797 - 1876)
George Mitchell (1794 - 1852
Image on top left is of Irenus Atkins

Image on bottom left is of George Mitchell

CASE MODEL # N/A

MOVEMENT TYPE

Type 8.226 30 hour wooden movement made by Elbridge G. Atkins. This movement was salvaged from a parts clock and is an appropriate replacement for this clock.

CASE SIZE & CONSTRUCTION

Base = 17", Height = 33", Depth = 4 ¾"
Mahogany veneered standard column & splat, image to the left is the case after restoration.

LABEL INFORMATION

Original in fair condition:
"Patent Clocks, / Manufactured by / Atkins & Downs / for George Mitchell, / Bristol, Conn., / and sold by him wholesale and retail. / Warranted if well Used".

DIAL INFORMATION

Replacement 9 ½" wood dial with gold leaf spandrels and trim. Purchased from Merritt's Antiques in October 1991. The Dial glass is missing with the original putty still in place. The glass should be 13 3/4" X 10 3/4".

MISC. FEATURES Replacement mirror in lower door, 10 3/4" W X 15 1/4" H. This will be replaced with a new reverse painted glass that is historically correct for a clock of this period.

ACQUIRED FROM Public Auction at Klienfelter's Auction House, Lebanon, PA.

CONDITION WHEN ACQUIRED

Clock not running, case only, no movement or dial. Splat is a poor replacement, and I will need to create new splat and chimney blocks. Columns were poorly re-stenciled, will need to be stripped, and the original stencil pattern re-created on both the columns and the splat. Original dial glass missing and many areas of the case will need the veneer repaired.

RESTORATION

March 2003 - Salvaged an Elbride G. Atkins 30 hour wood movement from a parts clock purchased at a Lone Star Regional. This is an appropriate movement for this clock. The movement was complete, but had several broken teeth on the time-side great wheel, the count wheel, and the 3rd strike-wheel. Repaired these with a technique learned at Chapter 124's wood movement repair class. A mold of the gear teeth was made using clay, then the new teeth where formed using epoxy. These repairs (although not made of wood) are functional and completely reversible. Images to the left are the repaired teeth.
July 2004 - KL created a new reverse painting with a stenciled border for this clock. The pattern was from an original glass in a Henry Terry Column and Splat, but would have been a historically correct glass in this clock as well. The new glass will be installed with wood strips after the restoration of the case if finished.

September 2004 - Started the restoration of the case, re-glued the loose pieces of veneer on the door and case, and beveled the edges of the veneer that will need to be patched. Removed the old putty from the top opening in the door so new glass can be installed. Patched the eight missing pieces of veneer on the case using multiple layers of mahogany veneer (to match the thickness of the original veneer). Created a new splat, chimneys, chimney caps and returns out of period wood. Chimneys and returns were covered with mahogany veneer to match the case.
October 2004 - Completed restoration of the case. Used a mixture of raw umber, burnt sienna, and ivory black oil paint, thinned down with a little varnish to match the original color of the case. Applied this mixture to all new pieces of veneer, as well as the new chimney's, caps, and returns.   KL stenciled the new splat with gold bronzing powders. I applied 3 coats of shellac to the new chimney's, caps, returns, and veneer patches, then rubbed out with 4/0 steel wool to match the sheen of the original finish. Applied the new splat and chimneys to the case, and put a new pieces of dial glass in with wood strips.
January 2005 - Added an original set of wooden works hands to the clock to finish off the restoration.

HISTORICAL DATA

The firm Atkins & Downs consisted of Irenus and Rollin Atkins and Anson Downs. They were listed as being in business from 1831-1832 in Bristol, Conn. Irenus was an ordained Baptist Minister besides being a clock maker. Primarily built clocks for George Mitchell who was a retailer, and married to the Atkins brother's sister Polly. Anson left the firm in 1832 and went to Waterville, Conn. where he went into the cutlery business. Anson was the younger brother of Ephraim Downs who was also an important figure in the Connecticut clock industry. In 1859, Irenus Atkins started The Atkins Clock Company which ran successfully for 20 years making shelf, calendar, and marine clocks. Irenus retired from the clock making industry in 1879 due to failing eyesight.
The image to the left is the Atkins Clock shop in Bristol, Conn. c. 1855

REFERENCES 1. "NAWCC Bulletin # 208 - Wood Movement Identification", page 490, figure 53.
2. "Eli Terry and the Connecticut Shelf Clock" by Kenneth D. Roberts and Snowden Taylor, 1994
3. "Illustrated Catlaogue of Clocks Manufactured by the Atkins Clock Company, Bristol, Conn. - 1873" by Chris Bailey
4. "The Clocks of Irenus Atkins" by Phil Gregory & Robert King

NOTES Restoring this clock was a long time coming. When first purchased I figured it was a basket case due to the amount of parts missing and the condition of the case. It turned out pretty well considering the amount of work we did on it.

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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	Conn. Shelf Clock
CLOCK NAME	N/A
MANUFACTURE	Atkins and Downs, Bristol, Conn. for George Mitchell Rollin Atkins (1790 - 1844) Irenus Atkins (1792 - 1882 Anson Downs (1797 - 1876) George Mitchell (1794 - 1852 Image on top left is of Irenus Atkins Image on bottom left is of George Mitchell
CASE MODEL #	N/A
MOVEMENT TYPE	Type 8.226 30 hour wooden movement made by Elbridge G. Atkins. This movement was salvaged from a parts clock and is an appropriate replacement for this clock.
CASE SIZE & CONSTRUCTION	Base = 17", Height = 33", Depth = 4 ¾" Mahogany veneered standard column & splat, image to the left is the case after restoration.
LABEL INFORMATION	Original in fair condition: "Patent Clocks, / Manufactured by / Atkins & Downs / for George Mitchell, / Bristol, Conn., / and sold by him wholesale and retail. / Warranted if well Used".
DIAL INFORMATION	Replacement 9 ½" wood dial with gold leaf spandrels and trim. Purchased from Merritt's Antiques in October 1991. The Dial glass is missing with the original putty still in place. The glass should be 13 3/4" X 10 3/4".
MISC. FEATURES	Replacement mirror in lower door, 10 3/4" W X 15 1/4" H. This will be replaced with a new reverse painted glass that is historically correct for a clock of this period.
ACQUIRED FROM	Public Auction at Klienfelter's Auction House, Lebanon, PA.
CONDITION WHEN ACQUIRED	Clock not running, case only, no movement or dial. Splat is a poor replacement, and I will need to create new splat and chimney blocks. Columns were poorly re-stenciled, will need to be stripped, and the original stencil pattern re-created on both the columns and the splat. Original dial glass missing and many areas of the case will need the veneer repaired.
RESTORATION	March 2003 - Salvaged an Elbride G. Atkins 30 hour wood movement from a parts clock purchased at a Lone Star Regional. This is an appropriate movement for this clock. The movement was complete, but had several broken teeth on the time-side great wheel, the count wheel, and the 3rd strike-wheel. Repaired these with a technique learned at Chapter 124's wood movement repair class. A mold of the gear teeth was made using clay, then the new teeth where formed using epoxy. These repairs (although not made of wood) are functional and completely reversible. Images to the left are the repaired teeth. July 2004 - KL created a new reverse painting with a stenciled border for this clock. The pattern was from an original glass in a Henry Terry Column and Splat, but would have been a historically correct glass in this clock as well. The new glass will be installed with wood strips after the restoration of the case if finished. September 2004 - Started the restoration of the case, re-glued the loose pieces of veneer on the door and case, and beveled the edges of the veneer that will need to be patched. Removed the old putty from the top opening in the door so new glass can be installed. Patched the eight missing pieces of veneer on the case using multiple layers of mahogany veneer (to match the thickness of the original veneer). Created a new splat, chimneys, chimney caps and returns out of period wood. Chimneys and returns were covered with mahogany veneer to match the case. October 2004 - Completed restoration of the case. Used a mixture of raw umber, burnt sienna, and ivory black oil paint, thinned down with a little varnish to match the original color of the case. Applied this mixture to all new pieces of veneer, as well as the new chimney's, caps, and returns. KL stenciled the new splat with gold bronzing powders. I applied 3 coats of shellac to the new chimney's, caps, returns, and veneer patches, then rubbed out with 4/0 steel wool to match the sheen of the original finish. Applied the new splat and chimneys to the case, and put a new pieces of dial glass in with wood strips. January 2005 - Added an original set of wooden works hands to the clock to finish off the restoration.
HISTORICAL DATA	The firm Atkins & Downs consisted of Irenus and Rollin Atkins and Anson Downs. They were listed as being in business from 1831-1832 in Bristol, Conn. Irenus was an ordained Baptist Minister besides being a clock maker. Primarily built clocks for George Mitchell who was a retailer, and married to the Atkins brother's sister Polly. Anson left the firm in 1832 and went to Waterville, Conn. where he went into the cutlery business. Anson was the younger brother of Ephraim Downs who was also an important figure in the Connecticut clock industry. In 1859, Irenus Atkins started The Atkins Clock Company which ran successfully for 20 years making shelf, calendar, and marine clocks. Irenus retired from the clock making industry in 1879 due to failing eyesight. The image to the left is the Atkins Clock shop in Bristol, Conn. c. 1855
REFERENCES	1. "NAWCC Bulletin # 208 - Wood Movement Identification", page 490, figure 53. 2. "Eli Terry and the Connecticut Shelf Clock" by Kenneth D. Roberts and Snowden Taylor, 1994 3. "Illustrated Catlaogue of Clocks Manufactured by the Atkins Clock Company, Bristol, Conn. - 1873" by Chris Bailey 4. "The Clocks of Irenus Atkins" by Phil Gregory & Robert King
NOTES	Restoring this clock was a long time coming. When first purchased I figured it was a basket case due to the amount of parts missing and the condition of the case. It turned out pretty well considering the amount of work we did on it.