053-C-1092

E.N. WELCH COLUMN & CORNICE EMPIRE SHELF CLOCK
INDEX # : 053-C-1092

circa: 1855-1858

CLOCK STYLE Conn. Shelf

CLOCK NAME Extra Column

MANUFACTURE

E.N. Welch, Forestville, Conn., USA

Left: founder Elisha Welch (1809-1887)
Right: his son James Welch (1840-1902)

CASE MODEL # N/A

MOVEMENT TYPE

Brass, 8-day, weight driven, hour strike on cathedral gong (Type 3.412). Movement stamped: "E.N. Welch, USA". It is unusual to find a stamped movement in the column and cornice clock, per noted collector, Lee Davis. After close inspection by Mr. Davis and myself, it appears this movement is original to the clock.

CASE SIZE & CONSTRUCTION Base = 16 ¾", Height = 32 ½", Depth = 6 ½"
Columns = 19", base to bottom of columns = 10 ¾"

Columns are veneered.

LABEL INFORMATION

Over pasted label:
"Warranted. / Sold by / J.Giscard, / Watch and Clock Maker / Jeweler, & c. / High Street, Downham"
Has part of original E.N. Welch label visible, showing picture of E.N. Welch factory

[June 2001] Additional information acquired regarding this over-pasted label from the June 2001 NAWCC Bulletin. This label was reported in another clock with the following information: "J.Giscard, High Street, Downham, England, 1846-1858. This information suggests that this particular clock was exported to England, purchased there, and at some point in it's history, brought back to the United States. It also dates this clock a little earlier than I had previously thought (1858-1864).

DIAL INFORMATION

Hand painted zinc dial (9" x 9") with floral painted spandrels, black Roman numerals, and a 7 ¼" chapter ring. Per sticker on back of dial, it was restored on 2/23/78 by "The Dial House" in Dallas, GA. for "Northville Watch & Clock". Dial glass is 8" x 8 3/4", secured in place with three wood strips, and appears to be original.

MISC. FEATURES

Visible escapement, veneer on case in good condition. Stencil on bottom tablet identified as "Eagle Motif", and is 7" x 8 3/4". William Bennet Fenn created this stencil, and its use on this glass was probably pirated. E.N. Welch is not listed as a maker to which Fenn supplied glasses. Upper tablet is a stencil with a reverse glass painting in the center of tulips. The tablet measures 8" x 8 3/4" and is secured in place with three wood strips.
[June 2001] - Further research leads me to believe that the Fenn stencil tablet is original to this clock, and may have been a left over from the J.C. Brown /Forestville Mfg. Co. which E.N. Welch bought out. J.C. Brown and the Forestville Mfg. Co. were listed as makers who used Fenn's stenciled tablets c. 1840-1855.

ACQUIRED FROM Antique clock auctions at "Whalen Auction Building" in Neapolis, Ohio.

CONDITION WHEN ACQUIRED Not running.

RESTORATION December 1992 - Cleaned and adjusted movement, cleaned case and set clock to running.

HISTORICAL DATA

E.N. Welch Manufacturing Company as it appeared in 1875. Note the building at the upper left hand corner is the old J.C. Brown Clock factory.
Clock was formerly part of the collection of Mr. & Mrs. M. Anderson.

Elisha N. Welch was born in Chatham, Conn. in 1807, and started in clock business by operating a foundry which cast clock weights. He was a prolific businessman, and was involved in many interests in Bristol, Conn. and the surrounding communities. Welch began actually making clocks in 1850 as president of the newly formed Bristol Brass and Clock Company.   In 1854, as the largest creditor, he took over the Manross Clock Company in Forestville. Elisha Welch then bought out the failed J.C. Brown clock business in 1855. Welch consolidated his various clock companies in 1864, creating the E.N. Welch Mfg. Co.. Elisha Welch died in 1887 at this home in Forestville, Conn. His son James succeeded him as president of the E.N. Welch Manufacturing Company. The company was reorganized in 1903 as the Sessions Clock Co., after William E. Sessions acquired most of the stock in the Welch company. They continued operation as the Sessions Clock Co. until 1968 when they ceased clock production.

REFERENCES 1. "Clock Identification and Price Guide - Book 2" by Roy Erhardt., 1985, page 20.
2. "NAWCC Bulletin # 240", February 1986, page 21, stencil identification.
3. "The Book of American Clocks" by Brooks Palmer, 1967, short history of company on page 304.
4. Reprint of the "E.N. Welch Mfg. Co. Clock Catalogue - 1180-90"
5. NAWCC Supplement 18, Spring 1991 "The Greek Revival Influence on American Clock Case Design and Empire Clock Case Development" by Lee H. Davis.
6. "NAWCC Bulletin # 332", Research Activity and News, pg. 373, info on J.Giscard label.
7. "NAWCC Bulletin # 240", William Bennet Fenn's Clock Glasses, by Lucinda Burleigh Servino, pages 8-21.

NOTES N/A

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CLOCK STYLE	Conn. Shelf
CLOCK NAME	Extra Column
MANUFACTURE	E.N. Welch, Forestville, Conn., USA Left: founder Elisha Welch (1809-1887) Right: his son James Welch (1840-1902)
CASE MODEL #	N/A
MOVEMENT TYPE	Brass, 8-day, weight driven, hour strike on cathedral gong (Type 3.412). Movement stamped: "E.N. Welch, USA". It is unusual to find a stamped movement in the column and cornice clock, per noted collector, Lee Davis. After close inspection by Mr. Davis and myself, it appears this movement is original to the clock.
CASE SIZE & CONSTRUCTION	Base = 16 ¾", Height = 32 ½", Depth = 6 ½" Columns = 19", base to bottom of columns = 10 ¾" Columns are veneered.
LABEL INFORMATION	Over pasted label: "Warranted. / Sold by / J.Giscard, / Watch and Clock Maker / Jeweler, & c. / High Street, Downham" Has part of original E.N. Welch label visible, showing picture of E.N. Welch factory [June 2001] Additional information acquired regarding this over-pasted label from the June 2001 NAWCC Bulletin. This label was reported in another clock with the following information: "J.Giscard, High Street, Downham, England, 1846-1858. This information suggests that this particular clock was exported to England, purchased there, and at some point in it's history, brought back to the United States. It also dates this clock a little earlier than I had previously thought (1858-1864).
DIAL INFORMATION	Hand painted zinc dial (9" x 9") with floral painted spandrels, black Roman numerals, and a 7 ¼" chapter ring. Per sticker on back of dial, it was restored on 2/23/78 by "The Dial House" in Dallas, GA. for "Northville Watch & Clock". Dial glass is 8" x 8 3/4", secured in place with three wood strips, and appears to be original.
MISC. FEATURES	Visible escapement, veneer on case in good condition. Stencil on bottom tablet identified as "Eagle Motif", and is 7" x 8 3/4". William Bennet Fenn created this stencil, and its use on this glass was probably pirated. E.N. Welch is not listed as a maker to which Fenn supplied glasses. Upper tablet is a stencil with a reverse glass painting in the center of tulips. The tablet measures 8" x 8 3/4" and is secured in place with three wood strips. [June 2001] - Further research leads me to believe that the Fenn stencil tablet is original to this clock, and may have been a left over from the J.C. Brown /Forestville Mfg. Co. which E.N. Welch bought out. J.C. Brown and the Forestville Mfg. Co. were listed as makers who used Fenn's stenciled tablets c. 1840-1855.
ACQUIRED FROM	Antique clock auctions at "Whalen Auction Building" in Neapolis, Ohio.
CONDITION WHEN ACQUIRED	Not running.
RESTORATION	December 1992 - Cleaned and adjusted movement, cleaned case and set clock to running.
HISTORICAL DATA E.N. Welch Manufacturing Company as it appeared in 1875. Note the building at the upper left hand corner is the old J.C. Brown Clock factory.	Clock was formerly part of the collection of Mr. & Mrs. M. Anderson. Elisha N. Welch was born in Chatham, Conn. in 1807, and started in clock business by operating a foundry which cast clock weights. He was a prolific businessman, and was involved in many interests in Bristol, Conn. and the surrounding communities. Welch began actually making clocks in 1850 as president of the newly formed Bristol Brass and Clock Company. In 1854, as the largest creditor, he took over the Manross Clock Company in Forestville. Elisha Welch then bought out the failed J.C. Brown clock business in 1855. Welch consolidated his various clock companies in 1864, creating the E.N. Welch Mfg. Co.. Elisha Welch died in 1887 at this home in Forestville, Conn. His son James succeeded him as president of the E.N. Welch Manufacturing Company. The company was reorganized in 1903 as the Sessions Clock Co., after William E. Sessions acquired most of the stock in the Welch company. They continued operation as the Sessions Clock Co. until 1968 when they ceased clock production.
REFERENCES	1. "Clock Identification and Price Guide - Book 2" by Roy Erhardt., 1985, page 20. 2. "NAWCC Bulletin # 240", February 1986, page 21, stencil identification. 3. "The Book of American Clocks" by Brooks Palmer, 1967, short history of company on page 304. 4. Reprint of the "E.N. Welch Mfg. Co. Clock Catalogue - 1180-90" 5. NAWCC Supplement 18, Spring 1991 "The Greek Revival Influence on American Clock Case Design and Empire Clock Case Development" by Lee H. Davis. 6. "NAWCC Bulletin # 332", Research Activity and News, pg. 373, info on J.Giscard label. 7. "NAWCC Bulletin # 240", William Bennet Fenn's Clock Glasses, by Lucinda Burleigh Servino, pages 8-21.
NOTES	N/A