Elijah Whiton. A Groton, MA clockmaker. A banjo clock or wall timepiece. 27222.
A fine federal Massachusetts timepiece or “Banjo clock” made circa 1830 in the rural community of Groton, Massachusetts.
This fine example features very traditional proportions. The case is constructed in mahogany and retains an older finish. The frames are very unusual. They are flat and decorated with a beaded edge along the interior and outside edges of the frames. This is a detail we do not see in frequency. These are fitted with reverse-painted tablets that are original to this example. The throat tablet features a typical theme exhibited on a non-traditional black field. The contrast of the predominately gilt decoration on a black field is striking. The lower tablet is formatted similarly but is not noticeable due to the size of the decoration. The scene depicted in the red-framed oval is a pastoral setting. A small country cottage sits at the base of a hill. Several well-fed cattle graze in the foreground. A large tree dominates the right side of this scene and helps provide depth to the view. An oval window into this charming landscape is framed with a simple gilt design. One looks through this to see the pendulum’s motion when the clock operates. The tablet’s four corners are decorated with a cluster of gilt balls on top of a green area. Both tablets are original to this clock and have had some minor restoration over their history. The dial bezel and the decorative side arms are cast in brass. The bezel is fitted with glass and opens to access the painted iron dial. This dial features Roman-style hour numerals. The Maker also signs this dial. It reads “Elijah Whiton / Groton.”
The brass-constructed movement is weight-driven and is designed to run for eight days on wind. The movement is mounted to the back of the case with a single screw. This screw secures the back plate to the backboard. The plates are long and rectangular. The teeth in the gear train are deeply cut. The bridge that supports the pendulum is a butterfly design.
This clock measures approximately 34.5 inches long to the top of the brass eagle finial
Inventory number 27222.
Elijah Whiton was born in Hingham, Massachusetts, on March 6, 1799, and died there on February 10, 1871, at 72. He is listed in Paul Foley’s book, “Willard’s Patent Time Pieces,” as a clockmaker, watchmaker, silversmith, mathematical instrument maker, and a wooden ware manufacturer. He worked in Groton for many years in various trades. Advertisements and real estate records locate him in Groton as early as 1822. It appears that he stayed and worked in several Groton locations until 1839. After which, it seems he returned to Hingham. We have owned and seen very few clocks made by this Maker. As a result, it is easy to speculate that his clock output was minimal. In all our years in business, we have seen only two examples signed by this clockmaker.
