Mantel Clocks History
How to identify which time period a mantel clock was made some clock history.
Mantel clocks history. From the 1850s to the 1920s black mantel clocks were a staple of american. Hence the name mantel clock was used. Shop for and learn about vintage and antique mantel clocks. Automatic eight day long alarm.
1872 the first seth thomas tower clock was made in thomaston. Seth thomas vigil 8 day alarm bronze. These clocks are often highly ornate decorative works. Round top mantel clock with mahogany finish.
A new separate company called seth thomas sons company was created to manufacture lever movements using spring balances for mantel clocks. Find antique mantel clocks made out of marble particularly mauve onyx green and slate marble. A mantel on the other hand is the ornamentation around a fireplace that includes the shelf. The form first developed in france in the 1750s can be distinguished from earlier chamber clocks of similar size due to a lack of carrying handles.
Automatic eight day long alarm and strike. The seth thomas family business introduced regulator clocks in 1860 and spring driven clocks between 1855 and1860. Digital clocks display the time in periodically. In 1830 the company began to use brass movements.
These cases were expensive so the american clock manufacturers produced similar looking cases made. Wood movements were no longer in use after 1845. Mantel clocks also known as mantle or shelf clocks were inexpensive to make and affordable to. Between 1863 and 1970 the company produced perpetual clocks.
Fancy metal cased mantel clock with bronze finish. In the days when the average home didn t have much in the way of furniture but every home had a fireplace for heating and cooking the mantel became the place where a clock was placed. Analog clocks display time with an analog clock face which consists of a dial with the numbers 1 through 12 or 24 the. Mantel clocks or shelf clocks are relatively small house clocks traditionally placed on the shelf or mantel above the fireplace.
You can begin to determine the age of your american made mantel clock by reviewing history. 1869 the first perpetual calendar clock was produced by the seth thomas clock company. Look for the words made in france and markings for lr retard and fa advance both terms used by french clockmakers. Indicator the earliest mechanical clocks in the 13th century didn t have a visual indicator and signalled the time audibly by.