The Eureka Clock Company of London, England. This custom case example is No. 2516. 221051.

The Eureka Clock was the brainchild of Timothy Bernard Powers. Powers was an electrical engineer living in New York on Broadway. His first patent was applied for on May 12, 1906. Enter the Kutnow Brothers of New York, formally from London, England, where they had a manufacturing business. Several other patents were to follow. The Patents that Powers applied for were for the design of a movement that featured an electromagnetic balance wheel. A constant voltage of 1.5 volts powers the movement. This is required to ensure consistency in the amplitude of oscillation. The Kutnow Brothers were interested in Powers’ patent and provided him with some financial assistance. They soon encouraged him to move to London sometime before 1908 to produce this mechanism/clock. Powers is listed first listed as living at the Charter House Hotel, Charterhouse Square in London, and then later at 361 City Road in London. The Eureka Clock Clock Ltd was formed in London in 1908 by the Kutnows and Frank Jowett. Jowett became the Company’s secretary. The city address was 361/363 City Road. The Eureka Clock Company made clocks between 1908 and 1914. Over those six years, Fifteen case styles were offered in their catalogs. The Eureka Clock Company also numbered each clock. The highest number of this production run was around 10,000. A series of clocks are recorded with serial numbers between 12,000 and 14,000. These examples are presented in non-cataloged cases. Most of these have been found with larger painted metal dials, often 12 inches in diameter, and the cases appear to be custom-made with a simple design. It is currently thought that they made approximately 15,000 clocks before their demise in 1914.

This is an earlier example. The woodwork is constructed in mahogany. The base is designed to conceal the power source or battery. The movement and dial are mounted to the top of this section and protected by a removable top. This top is fitted with four beveled glass panels. These provide a line of sight to the dial and this unusual mechanism. One has to lift the entire case top off to gain access to the dial. The porcelain dial measures 4.25 inches in diameter and is fitted in a brass outer bezel. An open minute ring and large Arabic-style hour numerals make up the time ring. The hands are steel and indicate the time. The “EUREKA CLOCK CO. / LTD / LONDON is printed on the dial. Access to the mechanism is gained from the back of the dial. The movement is signed on the turned decorated back plate, “PATENT / No 14614 / 1906 / No. 2516.” Here, one will find the large iconic balance wheel and mechanism. This is the two-ball version. We estimate this clock will run for approximately one year on two D-cell batteries.

This fine shelf or mantel clock measures approximately 10.5 inches tall, 8.25 inches wide, and 6.75 inches deep. It is inventory number 221051.

Inventory number 223327.