"Macbeth"

Maker: Ansonia Clock Co., New York, NY
Built: 1895 - 1910's
Case: cast bronze

This clock is very representative of Ansonia's figural clocks at the turn of the century. It's in just perfect condition, right down to Shakespeare's quill pen. Beautiful, cream-colored porcelain dial with visible escapement.

"Florentine"

Maker: Ansonia Clock Co., New York, NY
Built: 1880's
Case: fabric-covered wood with gilt ornaments

You're seeing this "plush" clock in its restored state. When I got it, the exposed fabric was threadbare to the point of being completely gone in some patches. But underneath the beautiful visible escapement porcelain dial, there were remnants of a spectacular, burgundy red, deep plush velvet that once covered this clock. In helping to overcome my natural tendency to leave clocks in "as-found" condition, a friend suggested that if I had acquired some antique furniture with the fabric in similar condition, I would most certainly have it reupholstered. I found as close a match as I could to the fabric, recovered the clock and had the metal parts replated. Here's a photo of the clock in its pre-restored state. Another interesting thing about this clock is the solid movement plates are nickel-plated. Movement patent date: June 14, 1881. This clock appears in the 1886 catalog, but not in the 1894 catalog.

"Beatrice"

Maker: Gilbert Clock Co.
Built: c. 1910
Case: Cast metal

Here's an exotic statue clock. The free-swinging faux-mercury pendulum is unusual enough. But this clock has the patented Gilbert beat adjustment on the dial. Pendulum clocks should be "in beat" -- that is, the "tick" and the "tock" should be evenly spaced. The apparatus on the front of the dial allowed the owner to adjust the beat in case the clock was not on a completely level surface. The case is in nice, original shape, but Beatrice's right hand was broken off.

"Juno"

Maker: Waterbury Clock Co., Waterbury, CT
Built: 1860-1880
Case: cast metal front, wood back

The casting on the front of this clock is by Nicholas Müller. Müller also marketed this clock under the same model name. Apparently, there were two versions: this one, 19.5" high, which was an eight-day model, and a 16.5" high version which was a 30-hour clock.