017-C-1191

HOPKINS & ALFRED STENCILED HALF-COLUMN & SPLAT SHELF CLOCK
INDEX # : 017-C-1191

circa: 1820-1827

CLOCK STYLE Conn. Shelf Clock

CLOCK NAME N/A

MANUFACTURE

Hopkins and Alfred, Harwinton, Conn.

Edward Hopkins (1797-1876)
Augustus Alfred (1806-1864)

CASE MODEL # N/A

MOVEMENT TYPE

Type 2D1.1, Wood movement, weight driven, 30-hour, T&S, hour strike on bell. Movement made by Hopkins and Alfred

CASE SIZE & CONSTRUCTION Base = 17 ¼", Height = 29 ¾", Depth = 4 ¾"

LABEL INFORMATION

Original paper label in fair condition.

"Improved / Clocks / Made and Sold By / Hopkins and Alfred / Harwinton, Conn. / Warranted as Follows / If this clock does not keep good time, with proper management / it will be received of the factory, and another given in exchange, if returned in one year."

DIAL INFORMATION

9 ¾" in wood dial with painted floral design. Dial is not original to clock, new winding arbor holes cut, old ones were filled in. Dial painting is copy (or original) from a Gilbert & Marsh column clock (pictured in "American Shelf and Wall Clocks" by Robert Ball, 1992, page 32).

MISC. FEATURES

Long drop pendulum, original dial glass and reverse painting of Victorian woman holding a cat.

ACQUIRED FROM Antique auction at "Klienfelter's Auction House", Lebanon, PA.

CONDITION WHEN ACQUIRED

Not running, case in fair condition, missing the splat and chimney blocks. Stenciling on columns was poorly redone by a previous owner.

RESTORATION

November 1994 - Movement cleaned, columns were stripped and re-stenciled by my wife KL in November 1994.
October 2005 - Created new splat, returns, chimneys, and chimney caps from period wood. KL stenciled the splat with a period design using gold and silver bronzing powders. I then applied Honduras Mahogany veneer to the new chimneys and returns and matched the color of the existing veneer by applying raw umber and burnt sienna oil paints mixed with a small amount of varnish. New pieces were completed by applying 3 coats of shellac and rubbing with 4/0 steel wool to dull the finish, and then attached to case.

HISTORICAL DATA

Hopkins (Edward) and Alfred (Augusta) were in partnership from 1820 to 1827 in Harwinton, Conn.. There are also listed as producing clocks in Hartfield, Conn. from 1831-1844. They sold their business to Seth Thomas. Dials hand painted by Alfred's two sisters; Louisa Sperry and Cynthia Gunn. Various sources of historical data show a conflict in the dates in which Hopkins and Alfred were producing clocks in Harwinton. Dates listed are 1820-1827 and 1831-1844.
Image to the left is the old Hopkins & Alfred Clock Shop in Harwinton, Conn.

REFERENCES 1. "NAWCC Bulletin #208 - Wood Movement Identification"
2. "The Book of American Clocks" by Brooks Palmer, 1967, short biography of company on page 215.
3. "Price Guide to Antique Clocks" by Robert & Harriett Swedburg, 1988, pg. 36, picture of similar clock.
4. "American Shelf and Wall Clocks" by Robert W.D. Ball, 1992, pg. 13 picture of similar.
5. "Eli Terry and the Connecticut Shelf Clock" by Kenneth Roberts and Snowden Taylor, 1994.

NOTES N/A

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CLOCK STYLE	Conn. Shelf Clock
CLOCK NAME	N/A
MANUFACTURE	Hopkins and Alfred, Harwinton, Conn. Edward Hopkins (1797-1876) Augustus Alfred (1806-1864)
CASE MODEL #	N/A
MOVEMENT TYPE	Type 2D1.1, Wood movement, weight driven, 30-hour, T&S, hour strike on bell. Movement made by Hopkins and Alfred
CASE SIZE & CONSTRUCTION	Base = 17 ¼", Height = 29 ¾", Depth = 4 ¾"
LABEL INFORMATION	Original paper label in fair condition. "Improved / Clocks / Made and Sold By / Hopkins and Alfred / Harwinton, Conn. / Warranted as Follows / If this clock does not keep good time, with proper management / it will be received of the factory, and another given in exchange, if returned in one year."
DIAL INFORMATION	9 ¾" in wood dial with painted floral design. Dial is not original to clock, new winding arbor holes cut, old ones were filled in. Dial painting is copy (or original) from a Gilbert & Marsh column clock (pictured in "American Shelf and Wall Clocks" by Robert Ball, 1992, page 32).
MISC. FEATURES	Long drop pendulum, original dial glass and reverse painting of Victorian woman holding a cat.
ACQUIRED FROM	Antique auction at "Klienfelter's Auction House", Lebanon, PA.
CONDITION WHEN ACQUIRED	Not running, case in fair condition, missing the splat and chimney blocks. Stenciling on columns was poorly redone by a previous owner.
RESTORATION	November 1994 - Movement cleaned, columns were stripped and re-stenciled by my wife KL in November 1994. October 2005 - Created new splat, returns, chimneys, and chimney caps from period wood. KL stenciled the splat with a period design using gold and silver bronzing powders. I then applied Honduras Mahogany veneer to the new chimneys and returns and matched the color of the existing veneer by applying raw umber and burnt sienna oil paints mixed with a small amount of varnish. New pieces were completed by applying 3 coats of shellac and rubbing with 4/0 steel wool to dull the finish, and then attached to case.
HISTORICAL DATA	Hopkins (Edward) and Alfred (Augusta) were in partnership from 1820 to 1827 in Harwinton, Conn.. There are also listed as producing clocks in Hartfield, Conn. from 1831-1844. They sold their business to Seth Thomas. Dials hand painted by Alfred's two sisters; Louisa Sperry and Cynthia Gunn. Various sources of historical data show a conflict in the dates in which Hopkins and Alfred were producing clocks in Harwinton. Dates listed are 1820-1827 and 1831-1844. Image to the left is the old Hopkins & Alfred Clock Shop in Harwinton, Conn.
REFERENCES	1. "NAWCC Bulletin #208 - Wood Movement Identification" 2. "The Book of American Clocks" by Brooks Palmer, 1967, short biography of company on page 215. 3. "Price Guide to Antique Clocks" by Robert & Harriett Swedburg, 1988, pg. 36, picture of similar clock. 4. "American Shelf and Wall Clocks" by Robert W.D. Ball, 1992, pg. 13 picture of similar. 5. "Eli Terry and the Connecticut Shelf Clock" by Kenneth Roberts and Snowden Taylor, 1994.
NOTES	N/A