192-C-0609

CLOCK STYLE	Triple Decker Shelf Clock
CLOCK NAME	N/A
MANUFACTURE	Birge, Peck & Co., Bristol, Conn. John Birge (1785-1862), image to left Ambrose Peck (????-????) Samuel Tayler (????-????) William R. Richards (1810-1885), image to left
CASE MODEL #	N/A
MOVEMENT TYPE	Strap brass movement, 8-Day with hour strike. This is reportedly a first production movement, the horizontal straps have beading on them.
CASE DIMENSIONS & CONSTRUCTION	Base=15 5/8" , Height=35 1/2", Depth=5" Top half-columns are 11 3/4" and are black with gold ornamentation. Middle full columns are 7 1/8 and are black with gold ornamentation. Bottom half-columns are 7 3/4" and are black with gold ornamentation. Mahogany veneer used throughout case. The fluted round feet are unusual, I have never seen this style utilized in any other clocks.
LABEL INFORMATION	Good "Puffin' Betsy" label stating: "Extra Eight Day / Rolling Pinion Steel Pivot / Brass Clocks, / Made and Sold by / Birch, Peck & Co. / Bristol, Conn. / Warranted if Well Used" Printer: "Press of Elihu Geer, 10 State Street. Hartford". Elihu Geer used this address between 1850-1855 confirming the manufacture date of this clock. The "Puffin Betsy" train image is hidden by the center tablet, but it is there and in good condition. Elihu Geer (image to left)
DIAL INFORMATION	Original zinc dial with black Roman letters and painted floral spandrels. The dial has been poorly restored by a previous owner, and will be re-done. It is hard to see from the small image, but the chapter rings and letters were not done very well. The 8 1/2" chapter ring is about 1/2 inch to small.
MISC FEATURES	The original trapezoidal weights are 5 1/2"H. The middle tablet, which is a reverse painted transfer, was done by Lee Davis and depicts the Manufactory of Birge, Peck & Co.. The tablet is 11 1/4"W x 7 1/4"H, and is held in place with wood strips. The bottom tablet, which is a silver-backed transfer with reverse painted floral center, was also done by Lee Davis. The tablet is 10"W x 6 1/16"H and is held in place with wood strips.
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	The clock has Mahogany veneer which is in excellent condition. The splat is a replacement, and it is unlikely that the spire finials on top of the chimney blocks are original. Examples that I have seen utilize an eagle or fruit basket splat that are finished in black and gold. The black and gold decorated columns indicate that the clock was done in the "Upper New England" style.
RESTORATION	N/A
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 (1830-1831) and also under the name Birge & Ives (Joseph) from 1831-1833. Birge was involved with several firms between 1834 and 1849 when Birge, Peck & Co. was formed. John Birge, Ambrose Peck along with Samuel Tayler & William Richards made up the principles in this firm. The company operated from 1849 through 1859, although John Birge retired from clock making in 1855 at the age of 70 years. He died in Bristol, Conn. in 1862.
REFERENCES	1. "Early American Clocks", Don Maust, 1971 2. "The Contributions of Joseph Ives to Connecticut Clock Technology 1810-1862", Kenneth D. Roberts, 1988
NOTES	I find it a bit unusual that this case style and strap brass movement were used by Birge, Peck & Co. in the 1850's. This style had mostly been produced by other firms in the 1830's and I don't know of another maker that was making Triple Decker's with strap movements this late.