Wall Clocks Originated From Where?
Many of the wall clocks for use in schools, offices, and churches originated in Connecticut. The octagon clocks, which were common in those days, were called “school house clocks”. They were also popular in large work places or factories to keep employees informed of the time. The large round dial timepieces known as gallery clocks, usually manufactured in 8-day models, have been available since 1845. One of the extremely useful clocks was the regulator. It was so accurate it was used as standard for other timekeepers. It was used in jewelry store windows where people would stop and check their watches to see if they were running correctly. Railroad stations also used regulators to make sure trains ran on schedule.
But as time passed, a great number of the regulator clocks were not accurate enough to be named “regulators”. Therefore, regulator had just become a generic term for a hanging wall clock.
Then there were wooden advertising clocks, which were manufactured from about 1895 to 1900 by two companies: Edward P. Baird of Plattsburgh, New York, and the Sidney
Advertiser Company of Sidney, New York. These clocks had embossed or printed ads encircling the dials. The Sidney Company used sound devices in its clocks. For instance, one clock had a bell that rang and had advertising drums that turned every five minutes.
Wag-on-the-wall clocks produced by Waterbury were a series of oak hanging clocks, either weight or spring driven. Waterbury called these “study clocks”, and used numbers to identify them. These wag-on-the-walls were sold without a case and were the earliest clocks made. Gideon Roberts (1749-1813) made an all wooden “wag-on-the-wall” in the late 27009’s. Metal plates enclosed the movement, but the exposed pendulum swung below the clock’s body.
In early 1900, the Ansonia Clock Company featured wall regulators named after Queen Anne, Queen Charlotte, Queen Elizabeth, Queen Isabella, Queen Jane, Queen Mab, Queen Mary, and Queen Victoria. The clocks were 8-day strikes with 8-inch dials. They averaged between 37 and 42 inches high and cost less than $20.00. The cases were available in black walnut, mahogany, or oak. All the clocks except the Queen Mary clock were available in oak. Wall clocks were occasionally made in Mission style, with plain simple design of straight lines in sturdy oak. They remained in fashion from 1900 until 1920.
Appendages on wall clocks were influenced by the furnishing style of the Victorian era named after England’s Queen Victoria, who reigned from 1837 to 1901. In the later half of the 1800’s, both drop and upright carved finals, curved moldings and carvings, including heads, were used on clocks s well as furniture. Although oak and mahogany were occasionally used for clock cases, the clockmakers’ choice was walnut.
The pendulum is one element that wall clocks have in common. The pendulum is a weight, often ornamental, that swings from a fixed point in a regular beat so it can regulate a clock’s movement. Galilo (1564-1642) first conceived of using a pendulum to regulate a clock after observing a swinging lamp. In 1657, Christaan Huygens actually built a working clock, using a pendulum. The weight at the end of the pendulum rod is often ornamental, as well as necessary. It may be round or geometrical in shape and can be fitted with decorative appendages, like a man’s head or a woman’s head.
The pendulum has three parts: The pendulum coil, the pendulum ball, and the bob, which is the wire loop threaded for the regulating nut. Lowering the bob on a pendulum rod lengthens its swing, so that the clock goes slower, and raising the bob shortens the swing so that the clock goes faster. The rule can be difficult to remember. The four word rhyme “lower, slower, higher, sprier” makes it much easier to recall.
Wall clocks can be used in many places today, as well as being a decorative item on the wall.
