E. Howard & Co. Model No. 95. Boston, Massachusetts. A wall timepiece or Banjo clock. 218177.
This is a fine Massachusetts Improved Timepiece or "Banjo clock" was made by the E. Howard Clock Company of Boston, Massachusetts.
The brass movement is weight-driven and is designed to run for eight days on a full wind. The quality is outstanding. The movement is mounted to the clock with screws that attach to a brass mounting plate. This plate is mounted directly to the case. The plates that frame the gearing have been nickeled. The front plate is die-stamped, "E. Howard & Co. / Boston." This can be easily seen in the upper left corner. In addition, this movement features maintaining or retaining power and a Geneva Stop winding mechanism.
The case is mahogany and retains its original finish. It features flat mahogany frames, a decorative presentation bracket, cast brass decorative side arms and bezel, and a decorative brass eagle finial. The case lot 17 is die-stamped into several locations, including the frames.
The tablets are hand painted in good color from the back. Both tablets are original to the clock, adding to its unique character. The throat tablet is decorated with a number of traditional themes. The most notable of which is the American shield and the eagle that sits above it. The lower tablet depicts the Battle of Lake Erie, a naval battle during the War of 1812. This was a pivotal naval engagement between British and American forces during the War of 1812. The British immediately seized control of the lake and its trade routes when the war broke out. In September 1813, Oliver Hazard Perry set sail for Put-In-Bay with nine vessels to engage the six ships of the British fleet. The British were under the command of Robert Heriot Barclay. This battle took place on September 10, 1813. By nightfall that day, the British lowered their flag and surrendered to Perry. Perry is remembered for the dispatch he sent to General William Henry Harrison, recounting the details of the battle. In the dispatch, he wrote, "We have met the enemy, and they are ours." The American victory at the Battle of Lake Erie cut off the British supply lines and forced them to abandon the city of Detroit.
The bezel is fitted with convex glass and opens to access the flat-painted iron dial. It features a time ring that is formatted with Roman-style hour numerals and a closed minute ring. This dial is signed in two locations. It is signed by the Retailer, "Bigelow, Kennard & Co., Inc.," of Boston, below the center arbor. The manufacturer also signs it outside the time ring below the hour numeral "VI." Here, it reads in block lettering, "E. Howard & Co., Boston."
This clock measures approximately 43 inches long.
This timepiece was made circa 1900.
Inventory number 218117.
The E. Howard & Company succeeded the Howard & Davis firm in 1857. The Howard & Davis firm was comprised of Edward Howard and David Porter Davis and was established in 1842 in Roxbury, Massachusetts. Both men had just completed their clock apprenticeship under the guidance of Aaron Willard Jr in Boston. The Howard & Davis firm made high-grade clocks, precision balances, sewing machines, fire engines, and watches. After the dissolution of Howard & Davis, Edward Howard became Boston's leading manufacturer of weight-driven residential and commercial clocks. The firm also made a large number of tower clocks and watchman and salve clock systems. These sold well in the last quarter of the 1800s.
It has been said that the E. Howard Clock company never made an inexpensive clock, and everything they made was of very good quality. As a result, Howard clocks have become very collectible and are prized by their owners. Today, the E. Howard name enjoys outstanding name recognition.
For a more in-depth reading of Edward Howard and his various businesses, please read "Willard's Patent Time Pieces," written by Paul Foley.
