167-T-1205

CLOCK STYLE	Novelty
CLOCK NAME	Celeste
MANUFACTURE	New Haven Clock Co., New Haven, Conn. Hiram Camp (1811-1893)
CASE MODEL #	N/A
MOVEMENT TYPE	30 hour, brass, pin lever escapement, spring driven.
CASE SIZE & CONSTRUCTION	Base = 4", Height = 8 1/2", Depth = 2 1/2 " Case made of Spelter (white metal)
LABEL INFORMATION	N/A
DIAL INFORMATION	2" white porcelain dial with black Arabic letters, dial signed "New Haven Clock Co. / USA" There is a small chip in the porcelain under the 6 o'clock position, and a small hairline crack from 10 o'clock over to the 12 o'clock position.
MISC. FEATURES	Nice bust of a fair maiden with flowers in her hair, although she's not the most attractive women. I didn't even realize she was even under all that cream colored paint.
ACQUIRED FROM	Online auction
CONDITION WHEN ACQUIRED	Case has been painted over with a cream colored paint and will need to be stripped and refinished with the original gilt color. The movement is dirty, but in running condition. Beveled dial glass is chipped and will need to be replaced. Image to the left is the timepiece as it looked when purchased in it's un-restored condition.
RESTORATION	January 2006 - I stripped the cream paint from the case using paint remover and a wire brush & rotary tool. I then restored the case using 18kt. gold spray paint and Burnt Sienna artist oil. Cleaned and oiled movement, cleaned porcelain dial and all brass case hardware that wasn't painted, replaced dial glass. Set clock to running.
HISTORICAL DATA New Haven Clock Company c. 1903	This timepiece listed for $4.25 in 1910. Hiram Camp started his clock making career working for Jeromes & Darrow (Camp was Chauncey Jeromes nephew) in 1829, when he was 18 years old. While working with his uncle, he learned the clock making trade from top to bottom. He learned the trade so well that he was put in charge of all factory production when Jerome was preparing to promote the new 1 day OGEE clock. While working for Jerome, he devised many improvements to the processes involved in machining parts for clocks, including a machine to produce rivets automatically instead of by hand. Following the fire at the Jerome plant in Bristol, Hiram moved to New Haven and was put in charge of production in the new factory. After spending 22 years working with Chauncey Jerome, Hiram ventured out on his own. The New Haven Clock Co. was founded in 1853 with Hiram Camp as president. The New Haven Clock Co. purchased the bankrupt Jerome Manufacturing Co. in 1855, and became one of America's largest clock manufactures. In 1915, The New Haven Clock Co. started making watches, and produced electric clocks starting in 1929. By 1941 their production was 70% watches. They were taken over by the New Haven Clock and Watch Company in 1946. The company was facing financial difficulties, and was sold at auction in 1960.
REFERENCES	1. "Clock Identification and Price Guide - Book 2", Roy Ehrhardt, 1983, page 116 2. “Public Documents of the State of Connecticut 1903”
NOTES	N/A