E. Howard & Co., of Boston, Massachusetts. This is the Model No. 22. It is an 8-day Astronomical Floor Standing Regulator Clock. 222020.

The E. Howard & Company of Boston, Massachusetts, made this floor-standing regulator circa 1865. It is cataloged as the "Model Number 22" and was made in limited numbers. The 1874 E. Howard catalog describes their precision timekeepers as "Astronomical Clocks for Observatories, Regulators for Watchmaker's use and for Railroad Depots;" further, it states that "it has four holes and the pallets jeweled, and a mercurial pendulum thoroughly adjusted to heat and cold, which enables us to detect the variation of one-hundredth of a second per day."

The Number 22 is an early Astro case form. Because it is an early form, most of the examples made were constructed before April 1871. That is the beginning date of the recovered Howard Company's ledgers. In the recent past, a small number of Model 22s have been sold publically. Interestingly, the last two were both used by railroad companies. The first one had a history of ownership in the Southern Pacific Railroad. The Norfolk Southern Railway Companies owned the second clock. Only two examples are listed on the Company ledgers. A regulator was ordered on April 22, 1871, by J. E. Gridley. Gridley was a watchmaker who worked in St. Paul, Minn. A second example was ordered by Fred S. Goodrich in Alpena, Michigan, on August 12, 1872. This clock cost Goodrich $600. Fred S. Goodrich was a civil war soldier. He served with the 115th New York Volunteers and later transferred to the 33rd United States Colored Troops until the end of the war. After the war, he lived in Alpena, Michigan, from 1871 to 1882, where he sold watches, clocks, and jewelry. In 1882, he moved to De Land, Florida, and was elected mayor for five terms. Goodrich also ran for US Congress as a Republican in 1888 but was defeated.

The example offered here is constructed in black walnut. The finish has been carefully restored, highlighting the grain patterns exhibited in the wood. The base is substantial. An applied molding is fitted to the lower section and rests on the floor. The three sides of the base feature inset square-shaped panels. The front panel is decorated with applied moldings that form Gothic themes. A complex three-stepped molding transition the base to the waist. All three sides of the middle section are fitted with gothic-shaped windows. These are framed with deeply shaped moldings and are fitted with glass. The front panel opens from the top. Once the spring-loaded lock is open, the panel tilts forward. The bottom is pinned in place with a wooden dowel. Access through this door allows one to adjust the pendulum. The pendulum swings in front of a graduated beat scale that is supported by a decoratively pierced wooden mount. A mirror is fitted to the backboard and reflects the back of the weight and pendulum. Above the front door are additional inset decorative panels. A multi-shaped molding transitions the waist to the neck of the clock. The neck is nicely tapered and supports the round head. The construction of this is evident from the sides. It is laminated with six layers of wood and then shaped. The circular bezel is also nicely shaped and fitted with glass. It is hinged on the right and locks closed with a key. A carved headdress is mounted at the top of the circular head. This decorative design adds 16 inches in height to this model. 

As an astronomical regulator, this dial displays the time in an unusual format. The dial format shown here is more commonly found on clocks that fall into the precision regulator category. The dial is glass and measures 16 inches in diameter. The graphics are applied from the back. All of this decoration has been restored. The Clockmaker's name is located across the middle of the dial. It reads, "E. Howard & Co. - Makers. Boston." This dial has a non-traditional time display in that the hours, minutes, and seconds are displayed independently. The minutes are displayed along the perimeter. This closed minute ring is divided into sixty divisions. Each five-minute marker is located outside the minute ring and indicated with Arabic-style numerals. The hour dial, displayed in a 12-hour format, is positioned above the center arbor inside the time ring. Each hour is represented with a Roman-style hour numeral. Below this is the seconds dial that is also divided into sixty increments. Each of the ten-second divisions is demarked with the corresponding Arabic numeral. The second hand is mounted directly to the escape-wheel arbor. Due to its length, the minute hand is counterweighted. The weight for this is located behind the dial. The result is that the hand is balance-neutral in the center. This dial and its hands are protected by glass that is mounted in the wooden dial bezel. This access door is hinged on the right.

This movement is of very fine quality. The two rectangular-shaped brass plates are robust and retain their original scraping details. Four large-turned pillars support them. The pillars separate the plates and are fastened with screws. The exterior of the works, specifically the open sides and top, are fitted with brass dust covers. These also retain their original factory design and are held in place with decorative thumb screws. Hardened steel shafts support the gearing. The main gearing is positioned between the two plates. The works are powered by a single brass-covered lead weight, weighing only 1.5 lbs. It is a direct drive and will run for a duration of eight days. The weight descends directly below the grooved winding drum, which is positioned outside the backplate. A Geneva stop work prevents one from overwinding this clock. The great wheel is positioned between the plates and is fitted with maintaining power. The graham deadbeat escapement is located outside the front plate and visible through the glass dial. The pallets and the first two holes are jeweled. 

The pendulum frame, which traverses the gearing on the front plate, is constructed in steel and brass. Four glass jars are filled with mercury. The mercury compensates for temperature changes and keeps the center of gravity stable throughout the entire unit. At the bottom, decorative brass acorns are used as nuts. The rating nut is also an acorn shape and is engraved with adjustment graduations. At the top of the pendulum frame are cups one would use if one wanted to add weight while adjusting the rate. This pendulum swings in front of the clockwork. It is also positioned in front of an engraved swing indicator. The brass scale is engraved and finished in a silver wash. It is mounted on a fancy pierced wooden pedestal.

This clock is approximately 103 inches or 8 feet 7 inches tall. At the lower base molding, it measures 25 inches wide and 15.5 inches deep. This Howard regulator is an early example and was made circa 1865.

Inventory number 220020.