Timothy Chandler of Concord, New Hampshire circa 1805. This tall clock is signed on the seat board with a die-stamp. LL-153.
The case is constructed woods found locally in the Concord, New Hampshire region. The primary wood is cherry, and the secondary wood is New England white pine. The line inlays are most likely holly. This case has been appropriately refinished in a pleasing color. It accentuates the grain of the wood, which is quite lively for cherry.
This fine example stands up on four feet. They are cut out of the base section and retain excellent height. The cutout design between the feet forms a subtle apron that drops or hangs from the base panels. This section is visually divided from the base by a line inlay pattern that begins at the back of one of the sides and continues across the front panel, and ends at the back of the opposite side. This line inlay pattern is used again and forms a frame around the perimeter of the base panel. The waist section is fitted with a line inlaid rectangular-shaped waist door. This is trimmed with a molded edge. Through this door, one can gain access to the interior of the case and the components that include the original tin can weights and the brass-faced pendulum bob. Additional inlay patterns are displayed in the blocks that support the two fluted quarter columns. Both ends terminate in brass quarter columns. The bonnet is surmounted with a pierced and open fretwork. This is a traditional country New England design. Three fluted plinths support it. Each plinth is fitted with a brass ball and spike finial. Smoothly turned and fluted bonnet columns support the molded arch. They are free-standing and mounted in brass capitals. These flank the arched bonnet line inlaid door, which is fitted with glass.
The iron dial is colorfully painted. It was most likely painted by a local artist who is not yet identified. It features paint-decorated geometric fans in each of the four spandrels areas. A bird is depicted in the arch. This dial displays large Arabic numeral hour markers, Arabic numeral five-minute markers, a subsidiary seconds bit, and a day-of-the-month calendar. This dial is fastened directly to the movement without the use of a false plate.
The movement is constructed in brass and is of good quality. It is weight driven or powered and designed to run for an eight-day duration and to strike each hour on a cast iron bell. The bell is mounted above the movement on a stand attached to the back plate.
This fine example was made circa 1800 and stands 7 feet 7 inches tall to the top of the center finial.
Major Timothy Chandler was born in 1760 and died in 1846. It is not known who specifically taught him the art of clockmaking. It is known that he traveled to Pomfret, Connecticut, to serve an apprenticeship to Major Jonathan Hale, who was a cardmaker. Chandler moved back to Concord in the late 1790s. Here he became a prolific clockmaker until his retirement in 1829. In 1797 he enlisted with the Minute Men and received the commission of Major in 1799. We have owned numerous examples of his work.
The case measures approximately 7 feet 8.5 inches tall.
It is inventory number LL-153.
Major Timothy Chandler was born on April 25th, 1762, in Rumford, Maine, and died on July 22nd, 1848, in Concord, NH. He is the son of Timothy and Elizabeth (Copp) Chandler and was one of five children. His father died when he was eight years old, and it has been suggested that Timothy traveled to Pomfret, Connecticut, in 1770-1783 to serve an apprenticeship to Jonathan Hale, who was a wool card maker. It is not known who specifically taught him the art of clockmaking. It is speculated that Chandler may have also trained as a clockmaker with Peregrine White, who was at work in nearby Woodstock. (Timothy named one of his sons Peregrine White Chandler.) Timothy moved back to Concord in 1791 and advertised tall clocks for sale. He was also appointed Sealer of Weights and Measures in Concord, NH. It is reported that in November of 1787, Timothy married Sarah Abbott of Concord. This suggests that he must have traveled back and forth to Concord from Pomfret before he settled there. Together they had twelve children.
In Concord, Timothy became a prolific clockmaker until his retirement in 1829. His main competition was Levi and his brother Abel Hutchins. Timothy was responsible for training several clockmakers, including his sons, Timothy Jay, John Bradley, and Abel. It has been suggested that he trained Joseph Chadwick in about 1801, who was from Boscawen. He also apprenticed Deacon Cyrus Eastman of Amherst, NH. Eastman served a seven-year apprenticeship which ended about 1814.
In 1797, Timothy enlisted with the Minute Men and received the commission of Major in 1799. He also served as vice president and then the president of the Merrimack Agricultural Society in the early 1800s. In 1808, he was appointed the Surveyor of Highways in Concord. On the evening of August 17th, 1809, he suffered a fire that originated from his air furnace or forge in his clock manufactory. The manufactory, with all its contents, the house, the barn full of hay, and two other hay barns were lost at a value of $5,000. Interestingly, the citizens of Concord raised $1,200 in order to help offset his losses and to rebuild. Chandler would rebuild and continue his career as a clockmaker.
In 1814, when Governor Gilman ordered the creation of local companies to defend the town in the event of an attack, Chandler, now in his 50s, again volunteered to serve in the militia. In 1819, he served as Chairman of the first "Lancastrian School." In 1820, he and his son Timothy Jay formed a partnership as T. Chandler & Son. This partnership lasted four years until T. Chandler & Co was formed in 1824 and lasted until 1828. This second company also included Timothy Jay.
In 1825, Timothy Chandler was one of the nine officers of the newly formed New Hampshire Mutual Fire Insurance Company, one of New Hampshire's earliest fire insurance providers. In 1827, he served as Chairman of the group that organized the Unitarian Society. From 1829 through 1830, he joined his son Abel under the firm name of A. Chandler & Co. After 1830, he worked alone, served as President of Concord's first Temperance Society, was Vice President of Concord Mechanics Association, and was one of 17 original trustees of the N.H. Savings Bank. In 1834, he named three of Concord's streets.
We have owned numerous examples of his work. These include tall clocks, timepieces, mirror clocks, and shelf clocks. A fair number of silver items are also known.
