A & C Edwards of Ashby, Mass. Tall clock. 213070.
This example features a hardwood case that is constructed in birch and retains a finish that may be 50-plus years old. This surface is consistent throughout the case construction and shows some areas of light crazing. The case is supported by an applied molding that transitions into a bracket foot. The waist is long and narrow. The length of the waist adds to the excellent overall proportions of this case. A large rectangular-shaped waist door is centered here. This door features a simple molded edge and is hinged from the right. The molded arched bonnet features a pierced and open fretwork design. This is a form that is traditionally found on clocks from this region. Three chimneys or finial plinths support three brass ball and spiked finials. The bonnet door is in an arched form and is fitted with glass. Fully turned bonnet columns that are free-standing support the upper bonnet molding. These are mounted into brass capitals.
The colorfully painted dial is wood. The floral designs and coloring used here are typical for this Maker. The Clockmaker’s name is signed within the time track. This clock is signed in block lettering, “A & C, Edwards / Ashby.” The time ring is formatted with Roman hour numerals, and Arabic numerals indicate the minutes. The wooden geared movement is the construction one expects from the Ashby / Ashburnham clockmaking school. These types of wooden geared movements are designed to run for 30 hours on a full wind and strike the hour on a cast bell. It features a count wheel striking system. The count wheel is located outside of the movement on the back plate.
This fine clock was made circa 1798. It stands approximately 7 feet 7 inches or 91 inches tall to the top of the center finial.
Inventory number 213070.
Abraham Edwards is believed to have been born in Concord, Massachusetts, in 1761. His younger brother Calvin was born two years later, in 1763. Both were the sons of Samuel Edwards and Huldah Easterbrook of Concord. The family moved from Concord to Ashby, Massachusetts, sometime in 1777. Ashby was then and still is today a small village located in Massachusetts on the New Hampshire border due North of Worcester.
Abraham and Calvin were hard workers and owned everything in common, including several pieces of land in the town of Ashby. They entered a partnership in 1792 and made wooden gear clocks. These clocks are signed on their dials "A & C Edwards." This partnership lasted approximately four short years until Calvin's death at the age of 33. While alive, the collaboration appears to have produced more than 530 clocks. A number of horological references state that their production exceeded 600 clocks, but the highest number that I have personally seen recorded is in the upper 530s. It is assumed that all the clocks made after the partnership ended are signed by Abraham only. Many such examples have been recorded. Early examples of the A&C partnership feature composite metal dials. The later examples, sometime after the number 190, feature the use of a colorfully painted wooden dial.
Abraham and Calvin were responsible for training other clockmakers. Some of these include Abraham's son John and Calvin's sons Calvin Jr. and Samuel. They also trained Alexander, Jacob, and Philander Jacob Willard of Ashburnham. Several members of this Willard family moved to Ashby. A. Eaton, Jonathan Barker, and Samuel Taylor of Worcester. Possibly Bartholomew Ballard from Townsend but worked in Antrim and Temple, NH, and later moved to Ohio. This list of names is still growing.
