BOSTWICK & BURGESS COLUMBUS TIMEPIECE
INDEX # : 047-T-0992

circa: 1892-1893

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CLOCK STYLE Wall Clock
CLOCK NAME Columbus / Anno 1492
MANUFACTURE Bostwick & Burgess, Norwalk, Ohio
CASE MODEL # N/A
MOVEMENT TYPE Wood gears, single weight, time only, folliot
escapement.
CASE SIZE & CONSTRUCTION Base = 5 ½", Height = 14", Depth = 5 ½"
LABEL INFORMATION No label, original paper label was on wood box that clock was packaged in.
DIAL INFORMATION Wood dial with raised pressed Arabic numerals, single hand for hour and minute. Dial serves as front plate of movement. 5 ½" chapter ring.
MISC. FEATURES Has raised likeness of Christopher Columbus and the date 1492.
ACQUIRED FROM Antique dealer in Powell, Ohio.
CONDITION WHEN ACQUIRED Running condition, acorn weights missing
RESTORATION September 1992 -  Cleaned movement and case and set clock to running.  I used lead fishing weights for the torsion bar until reproduction replacements were aquirred.

October 2000 - Replaced missing acorn weights with reproduction ones made by a fellow Columbus Clock enthusiast from Ohio.

HISTORICAL DATA

This clock was made by Bostwick and Burgess to mark the 400 year anniversary of Columbus's discovery of the America's, and was produced for the Chicago Columbus Exposition in 1893. It is reported that these clocks were also given away as souvenirs for a production of Rice's 1492 at the Palmer Theater in New York City in 1893 & 1894. The company made some 15,000 to 20,000 Columbus clocks as souvenirs. Initially, they charged $5.00 apiece, and later it was reported that the left over clocks were sold for $1.00 each.

The image to the left is of the Bostwick-Goodell Co., c. 1920, which took over from Bostwick and Burgess. They made window blinds and screens.

Additional historical information has been provided by a descendant of the company, click here to view this information.

The image to the left is of the Bostwick-Goodell Co., c. 1920, which took over from Bostwick and Burgess. They made window blinds and screens.

REFERENCES 1. NAWCC Bulletin No. 280, Volume 34, October 1992. Picture of timepiece on back cover, and description on page 513.
2. "The Book of American Clocks" by Brooks Palmer, 1967, picture of similar timepiece, illustration 281.
3. "The Columbus Clock" by Willis I. Milham, 1945.
NOTES What luck! Finding two Columbus Clocks, couldn't believe it when I saw this one at this small antique store.

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