Daniel Balch of Newbury, Massachusetts. A pre-revolutionary American tall case clock. FFF-1.
The small village of Bradford, Massachusetts, is considered one of America's earliest clockmaking centers. Interestingly, Bradford is not a coastal town, and it does not have a sizable population. Instead, this small village is located some 18 miles up the Merrimack River from the Atlantic Ocean, across from the city of Haverhill, Massachusetts. As early as 1720, this region had a healthy shipbuilding trade on both sides of the river. Indeed, numerous blacksmiths would be needed for this type of industry to survive. The three families, the Mullikens, the Balches, and the Carletons, all had native-born sons responsible for producing clocks.
Clock collectors and Historians of American antiques get excited when we discover something new. Upon close inspection of this dial, we discovered that it is numbered in at least two separate locations. The "No. 38" is lightly engraved at the bottom of the dial and also at the bottom of the name boss. Another example of Daniel Balch is known to retain the number "25." This suggests that Balch may have kept a daybook or a job ledger. These numbers should correspond to this yet unknown record book.
This style of dial predates the painted dial form. It is composed of a brass sheet and features a number of decorative elements. Four cast rococo-formed corner spandrels frame the applied time ring. There are two additional spandrels in the arch. These center a circular-shaped boss engraved with the Maker's name and working location. It reads, "Dan Balch / NEWBURY." Lightly engraved on the bottom of this boss is "No 38." The silvered time or chapter ring features Arabic-style five-minute markers, a closed minute ring, and large Roman-style hour numerals. The "No. 38 is also engraved on the base sheet of the dial below the VI o'clock hour. Inside this ring, the dial surface has been textured. Here, one will also find a display for the calendar day and a subsidiary seconds dial. The hands are wonderfully hand-filed. The skill exhibited here is very high.
This case is constructed of local cherrywood. Its current finish enhances the warm, natural tones of this desirable wood. The cabinet is elevated on an applied bracket base designed with four distinct feet and a center drop. The base section is somewhat compressed, a common design detail frequently observed in clock case construction manufactured in the Colonies during this early pre-revolutionary period. The waist section is long and centers a large waist door, which is decoratively shaped at the top. This door is trimmed along its perimeter with a molded edge. It is hinged and locks closed with a lock set and key. Opening this door accesses the case's interior, where one will find the two drive weights and the brass-faced pendulum bob. The hood design is complex. The composite pediment features a molded flat top. Swan's neck moldings, ending in spiral-carved terminals, are positioned against a full tympanum. The blocked ends under the two wooden ball-and-spiked gilt finials are three-dimensional, forming plinths. The arched bonnet door fits under an additional thin molded arch. Architectural and boldly fluted pilasters are positioned on the front corners of the hood. Large, rectangular, glazed windows are included on the side panels.
The two-train movement is brass, eight-day duration, and of good quality. Four turned brass pillars or posts support the two large brass plates. Hardened steel shafts support the polished steel pinions and brass gearing. The winding drums are grooved. The escapement is designed as a recoil format. The movement is weight-driven and will run for eight days on a full wind once fully wound. It is a two-train or a time-and-strike design having a rack and snail striking system. As a result, it will strike each hour on the hour on a cast iron bell mounted above the movement. The movement is secured to a wooden saddle board, which is dovetailed into the rails of the case.
This rare clock was made circa 1770. The case is 92 inches tall (7 feet 8 inches) to the top of the finials. The bonnet is 18.5 inches wide and 01.25 inches deep.
Inventory number FFF-1.
Daniel Balch Sr. was born in Bradford, Massachusetts, on March 1, 1734. He was the son of Reverend William Balch of the East Parish in Bradford and Rebecca (Stone) Blach. It is thought that Daniel had apprenticed and learned clockmaking skills under Samuel Mulliken's guidance. In Bradford, he made clocks until he moved to Newbury in 1756. He was also married this same year to Hannah Clements (1735-1783). His first shop was located on Fish Street, now State Street. In 1765, Newburyport became its own entity, and the two villages were divided. It is recorded that he kept the town clock of Newburyport from 1781 - 1783. Daniel married a second time in 1784 to Judith Thurston (1739-1825) of Newbury. Daniel had two sons from his first marriage whom he trained as clockmakers. They are Daniel Jr. (1761-1835) and Thomas Hutchinson Balch (1771-1817). Together, they continued the business after Daniel Sr. died on November 30, 1790. He is interned at the Old Hill Burying Ground in Newburyport. An interesting note. Jonathan Kettell, a cabinetmaker originally from Charlestown, Massachusetts, who moved to Newburyport after the British burned the town in 1775, recorded in his account books that Daniel Balch purchased as many as twenty-two tall and shelf clock cases in the years that included 1781-1792. Daniel may have also trained David Wood as a clockmaker.
Examples of tall clocks, some musical and shelf clocks have been found. A very nice example of a brass dial shelf clock is currently in the collection of the Historical Society of Old Newbury. Another example is on display in the Cushing Housemuseum and Garden in Newburyport.
