074-T-0394

M.S. BENEDICT MFG. CO. NOVELTY TIMEPIECE
INDEX # : 074-T-0394

circa: 1890-1915

CLOCK STYLE Novelty

CLOCK NAME N/A

MANUFACTURE

M.S. Benedict Mfg. Co. / Waterbury Clock Co.

Mainor Stuart Benedict (????-1902)

Waterbury Clock Company:
Left: George Webster Burnham (1803-1885)
Right: Charles Benedict (1817-1881)

CASE MODEL # N/A

MOVEMENT TYPE

Wasp, Brass, 30-hour, spring driven, Time only, pin lever escapement.

CASE SIZE & CONSTRUCTION Base = 5", Height = 11", Depth = 3"

LABEL INFORMATION No label: - original.

DIAL INFORMATION

White enameled dial with seconds bit at 6:00 position, fancy black Arabic numerals. Dial plate stamped "Benedict".

MISC. FEATURES

Gold Ormolu finish, stature of young maiden on top of case. Engraved "#852 Benedict MFG. Co. " on back plate. Bottom of case has a bee (Wasp) in a clover leaf trademark. Movement stamped "Waterbury Clock Co.".
The image to the left is an advertisement for "The Benedict Mfg. Co. of East Syracuse, NY. It states "Full line on display at our New York Office, 469 Broadway". Just another piece of the puzzle trying to nail down this company and the various items they produced.

ACQUIRED FROM Mart table at the 1994 NAWCC Lone Star Regional at the Arlington Convention Center, Arlington, TX.

CONDITION WHEN ACQUIRED Clock in running order, case is in fair condition, missing one screw on back plate of case.

RESTORATION April 1994 - Cleaned movement and case, set clock to running.

HISTORICAL DATA

Waterbury Case shop c. 1888

Waterbury Dial & Movement shop. c. 1875

The Waterbury Clock Company was formed as a joint stock corporation by Benedict & Burnham in 1857. One of the only clock companies which was not formed from smaller independent maker's shops. Company was in business from 1857-1944. There were many noted clockmakers who were employed by Waterbury, including Nobel Jerome (brother of Chauncey Jerome), and Silas B. Terry (fourth son of Eli Terry Sr.). The company began making watches for Robert H. Ingersol in 1892, and subsequently purchased his business in 1922. When company failed in 1944, it became part of the U.S. Time Corp.

Have been unable to find any information on the Benedict Mfg. Co.. Benedict and Burnham was the forbearer of the Waterbury Clock Co.. The company made rolled brass c. 1830 for the button industry, but suspect that the Benedict Mfg. Co., was an off-shoot company that supplied Spelter and brass clock cases for the Waterbury Clock Co. I have never seen one of these cases with any other manufactures movement in it.
Updated historical data June 2006: Established in 1894, Benedict manufactured cast, stamped and embossed metal novelties, hollow- ware, cast metal clock cases, desk sets and more. Stylistically these products leaned towards the late-Victorian and Art Nouveau aesthetic. Benedict's products were primarily manufactured in silver- and gold-plate for the jeweler's trade. The production of these forms continued well into the mid-2Oth century. Despite the broad interest in Arts and Crafts, by 1905 Benedict had not yet produced decorative metal in that style. In 1902 the founder of the M.S. Benedict Manufacturing Company, Mainor Stuart Benedict, died. A December 17, 1902, Syracuse Post Standard report of Mr. Benedict's funeral indicated it was attended by many friends and business associates from across the country, including places as faraway as Chicago, St. Louis and Toronto. After the death of M. S. Benedict, his son, Harry L. Benedict, became principal owner of the company. The company went out of business in 1953.

The Wasp movement was originally designed for use in the "Jumbo Watch:".

REFERENCES 1. NAWCC Bulletin Supplement #6 "Some Observations Concerning Connecticut Clock making 1790-1850, pg. 29.

NOTES N/A

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CLOCK STYLE	Novelty
CLOCK NAME	N/A
MANUFACTURE	M.S. Benedict Mfg. Co. / Waterbury Clock Co. Mainor Stuart Benedict (????-1902) Waterbury Clock Company: Left: George Webster Burnham (1803-1885) Right: Charles Benedict (1817-1881)
CASE MODEL #	N/A
MOVEMENT TYPE	Wasp, Brass, 30-hour, spring driven, Time only, pin lever escapement.
CASE SIZE & CONSTRUCTION	Base = 5", Height = 11", Depth = 3"
LABEL INFORMATION	No label: - original.
DIAL INFORMATION	White enameled dial with seconds bit at 6:00 position, fancy black Arabic numerals. Dial plate stamped "Benedict".
MISC. FEATURES	Gold Ormolu finish, stature of young maiden on top of case. Engraved "#852 Benedict MFG. Co. " on back plate. Bottom of case has a bee (Wasp) in a clover leaf trademark. Movement stamped "Waterbury Clock Co.". The image to the left is an advertisement for "The Benedict Mfg. Co. of East Syracuse, NY. It states "Full line on display at our New York Office, 469 Broadway". Just another piece of the puzzle trying to nail down this company and the various items they produced.
ACQUIRED FROM	Mart table at the 1994 NAWCC Lone Star Regional at the Arlington Convention Center, Arlington, TX.
CONDITION WHEN ACQUIRED	Clock in running order, case is in fair condition, missing one screw on back plate of case.
RESTORATION	April 1994 - Cleaned movement and case, set clock to running.
HISTORICAL DATA Waterbury Case shop c. 1888 Waterbury Dial & Movement shop. c. 1875	The Waterbury Clock Company was formed as a joint stock corporation by Benedict & Burnham in 1857. One of the only clock companies which was not formed from smaller independent maker's shops. Company was in business from 1857-1944. There were many noted clockmakers who were employed by Waterbury, including Nobel Jerome (brother of Chauncey Jerome), and Silas B. Terry (fourth son of Eli Terry Sr.). The company began making watches for Robert H. Ingersol in 1892, and subsequently purchased his business in 1922. When company failed in 1944, it became part of the U.S. Time Corp. Have been unable to find any information on the Benedict Mfg. Co.. Benedict and Burnham was the forbearer of the Waterbury Clock Co.. The company made rolled brass c. 1830 for the button industry, but suspect that the Benedict Mfg. Co., was an off-shoot company that supplied Spelter and brass clock cases for the Waterbury Clock Co. I have never seen one of these cases with any other manufactures movement in it. Updated historical data June 2006: Established in 1894, Benedict manufactured cast, stamped and embossed metal novelties, hollow- ware, cast metal clock cases, desk sets and more. Stylistically these products leaned towards the late-Victorian and Art Nouveau aesthetic. Benedict's products were primarily manufactured in silver- and gold-plate for the jeweler's trade. The production of these forms continued well into the mid-2Oth century. Despite the broad interest in Arts and Crafts, by 1905 Benedict had not yet produced decorative metal in that style. In 1902 the founder of the M.S. Benedict Manufacturing Company, Mainor Stuart Benedict, died. A December 17, 1902, Syracuse Post Standard report of Mr. Benedict's funeral indicated it was attended by many friends and business associates from across the country, including places as faraway as Chicago, St. Louis and Toronto. After the death of M. S. Benedict, his son, Harry L. Benedict, became principal owner of the company. The company went out of business in 1953. The Wasp movement was originally designed for use in the "Jumbo Watch:".
REFERENCES	1. NAWCC Bulletin Supplement #6 "Some Observations Concerning Connecticut Clock making 1790-1850, pg. 29.
NOTES	N/A