189-C-0609

CLOCK STYLE	Connecticut Empire Shelf Clock
CLOCK NAME	N/A
MANUFACTURE	John Birge, Bristol, Conn. John Birge (1785-1862)
CASE MODEL #	N/A
MOVEMENT TYPE	Early strap brass, 8-Day with hour strike on a cast bell. This movement is believed to be the 3rd variant of Joseph Ives 8 Day movement as it has the outboard fan bearing, fine teeth, and no lines on the straps. Lead winding drums.
CASE DIMENSIONS & CONSTRUCTION	Base=19 3/4" , Height=36 5/8", Depth=7" Top Half-Columns are 13" Bottom Full Columns are 13" Mahogany Veneer used throughout case.
LABEL INFORMATION	Good label stating: "Patent Brass / Eight-Day / Clocks, / Manufactured by / John Birge, / Bristol, Conn. / and sold / Wholesale and Retail. / Warranted If Well Used." Printer was" Joseph Hurlbut, printer, Hartford, Conn.
DIAL INFORMATION	The wood dial is original and has black roman letters with gold leaf chapter rings and gold leaf over gesso spandrels and decorations. The chapter ring is 10". The dial is in excellent condition with very little wear. The view port for viewing the escapement originally had a mirror that could be raised or lowered by means of a wire that extended through the top of the case. The mirror is missing from this clock and will be restored at a later date. The dial glass appears to be original (old glass), but is held in place with wood strips so it may have been replaced at some point. The glass is 11" x 11".
MISC FEATURES	The reverse painted tablet showing a horse drawn carriage was created by Lee Davis. The house features a gold leaf front and a multitude of colors. The tablet measures 11" x 11 1/3" and is held in place by putty. This clock has great carved claw feat and carved capitols between the columns. The hands, pendulum bob appear to be original to the clock. The 8-Day trapezoidal weights are 6 1/2" H x 2 1/2" W x 2 3/8" D (measured at the base).
ACQUIRED FROM	Acquired this clock from a good friend, and private collector of early American clocks, who has had this clock in his personal collection for quite some time.
CONDITION WHEN ACQUIRED	Case in excellent condition, the upper and middle mirror tablets are replacements. The top mirror insert is 11 1/2" x 1 3/4", and the middle insert is 10 3/4" x 2 1/8".
RESTORATION	06/09 - Will update after clock is cleaned.
HISTORICAL DATA	John Birge was born in 1785, and died in Bristol, Conn. in 1862. He was an important figure in the American clock industry, and had many successful partnerships through out his career. It is recorded that he fought in the war of 1812, was active in the church, and was a good Christian. Birge settled in Bristol, Conn. around 1815, he had previously lived in Torrington, Conn. He was trained as a carpenter, and set up business in Bristol making carriages. He was not a clockmaker, but he did have a good head for business, and around 1822 he invested capitol in a clock making venture with Dr. Titus Merriman. The company produced clocks under the name Merriman Birge & Co. In 1830, Birge became a silent partner in the firm of C. & L.C. Ives. During this period, he also produced some clocks under his own name and also under the name Birge & Ives (Joseph). This clock is an great example of what Birge was producing during 1830-1831 under his own name. Although the Empire period in America started around 1820, this is one of the earliest Empire style Connecticut clocks I have seen.
REFERENCES	1. "Early American Clocks", Don Maust, 1971 2. "The Contributions of Joseph Ives to Connecticut Clock Technology 1810-1862", Kenneth D. Roberts, 1988
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