Posted 4 years ago
Jaco_van_N…
(2 items)
When my dad was 5yrs old, his dad let him wind the Ansonia Mantle Clock up as a treat, which was 75yrs ago. My dad seems to think the clock could possibly be as long as 120 years in the family. The clock doesn't display the date of manufacture which is a real pity. Ansonia Clock Company made 1000's of clocks, how would I be able to find out how old this clock is or the period of manufacture as well as what style it is and some history on it from a manufacturer's perspective. Any information would be greatly appreciated.
Well we know that the company was in Connecticut before they came to New York.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ansonia_Clock_Company
This clock looks a lot like yours..
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/ansonia-day-burton-strike-mantle-133125742
We do have a couple clock experts around here so hopefully one of them chimes
Great, thank you dav2no1 for your reply. The time period in which this type clock was manufactured in would be particulary interresting. Pity Ansonia Clok Company closed down though.
In that era there was a lot of clocks manufactured. Every clockmaker probably had hundreds of different designs. The design of your clock... if you do a search you'll see lots of clocks that look almost exactly like it from other manufacturers.
Hello Jaco_van_Niekerk!
Welcome to Collectors Weekly, Clocks. Thank you for sharing your heirloom Ansonia with us, and thank you for making it so easy for us to look it up in our reference materials. The Ansonia "Burton" is an Oak Wood Case Mantel Clock from circa 1894. Your example could have been manufactured several years before or after that date. All I can tell you with certainty is that the model is illustrated in Ansonia's 1894 Catalog. The catalog illustration lacks the little side decorations that your example has just to the sides of the dial, so perhaps Ansonia tweaked their design over the model's production run? You can find several other examples online of the "Burton" and they all look like your family's clock so perhaps Ansonia made the model's design a little more ornate before it went into production.
At any rate, the clock has an 8-day Time and Strike Movement and listed for $5.50 in 1894. When adjusted for inflation that would be about $167 in 2020. A very nicely appointed clock and a good value in its time.
Your clock looks to have been well cared for with the most of the original glass tablet stenciling still intact.
Does it run or do you keep it mostly for display? If you run the clock, keep in mind that it is a machine and that it should be periodically lubricated and inspected for wear. It will need continued care to be kept in good running order.
Thanks again for sharing with us.
Bruce
Do you have any more questions Jaco_van_Niekerk?
If so, let us know. If not, please indicate that your Mystery was "Solved" in your listing.
Regards,
Bruce
Hi Bruce. Thank you for the insight and history that goes this this Ansonia Burton Mantle Clock. The Clock was placed in my Aunt's care for many decades after my Grandfather passed away in 1960. My Aunt passed away in Feb this year, so the kids thought it would be appropriate in sending it to my Dad, (Who is 78 & the youngest of 8 children) to look after and keep in the family. It's still a functional clock kept for both running and display but stops at times and thus needs a service. My Dad knows a crafty "old school" clock maker that will service the clock to see if we can get the clock running smoothly again. But otherwise it looks pretty much original and well taken care of by my late Aunt given the fact that it could well be around 120 years old. I'll be adding another picture which shows the clock's display area of which my Dad is extremely proud of. Thank You, my mystery has been solved.