Posted 7 years ago
rlwindle
(151 items)
This is by far the largest cyclometer in my collection (everything is big in Texas). It came from the 1936 Texas Centennial here in Dallas TX. In 1936 the world came to Dallas to celebrate the Texas Centennial world’s fair. Dallas went deco in a big way, the Texas State Fair still contains all the art deco buildings and sculpture from that event and is known as the largest Complete Installation of Art Deco in the US.
The horse and cowboy on this clock, among others became synonymous with the 1936 celebration.
The clock is a beautiful masterpiece of South Western Art Deco, like Fair Park. The clock stands and impressive 16" tall, 15" long, and 5.25" deep.
The horse is brass and the cowboy is spelter, it has graduating waterfall brass accents on each end. The cord has been replaced and it is missing its back panel. The clock weighs about 20 pounds. The original Lawson movement was replaced in the 50's.
The clock was made by the Trophy Craft Company based in Los Angeles, CA. during the 1930's there was competition between trophy makers Dodge, Trophy Craft, and Champion. Each company produced works that were virtually identical in idea or style. it is unknown who copied who, but Dodge and trophy craft did produced some of the finest metal ware in the form of trophies, bookends, ashtrays, etc. during that time period.
I bought it from the grandson of the original owner, he said there were two of them up for sale when the exhibition closed, one facing right (this one), and one facing left on each side of a door way in the Hall of State auditorium. His grandfather tried to buy both, but one had sold before he could get to it.
Picture 1. The clock
Picture 2. Centennial label from clock back
Picture 3. Trophy Craft Co, Logo label from the bottom of the clock.
Picture 4. Texas Hall of State Postcard
Incredible piece! Thank you for sharing.
Karen in Plano
(Texas Centennial collector)
Incredible piece! Thank you for sharing.
Karen in Plano
(Texas Centennial collector)