Silas Burnham Terry cottage clock with torsion suspension. S. B. Terry & Co. UU-37.
This unusual clock is relatively small. The case measures 8.25 tall, 6.25 inches wide, and 3 inches deep. The case is veneered in richly-grained rosewood and retains an original finish. The original gilt stencil remains in excellent condition. This is located in what I consider the base of the clock. It reads, “S. B. TERRY & Co. / MANUFACTURER.” This is framed in a lovely floral design. Additional gilt-painted highlights include several of the case moldings.
The dial is painted tin. Note the hole in the dial between 4:30 and 6:30. This allows one to view the interesting motion of the torsion pendulum.
A torsion pendulum system allows this clock to run while being moved, transported, or even turned upside down. This has a significant advantage over a traditional pendulum clock movement if the clock is used in an area that is moving or vibrating. Examples of such locations are on board ships or trains. The torsion pendulum rotates on a horizontal plane. The weight or bob is suspended by a thin spring, and the turning motion translates to the escapement. This brass-constructed movement is key wound, spring powered, and designed to run for thirty hours on a full wind. The front plate is die-stamped with the Maker’s patent date for this movement style. It reads, ‘PATENTED / OCT 5TH 1852.” The slow/fast adjustment is located at the back of the case.
This very collectible clock was made circa 1852.
Inventory number UU-37.
Silas B. Terry was born on February 1, 1807 (during Eli's involvement with the porter contract) and died of a heart attack on May 20, 1876. He was the youngest of eight children born to Eli & Eunice (Warner) Terry. Silas worked in various clockmaking enterprises. Unlike his father, he focused on the more expensive brass-geared clocks and was in the process of producing them as early as December of 1833. He was an inventive person and was constantly testing new designs. One of the most notable was the application of the balance wheel to clock movements. Silas was granted a patent for this on August 9, 1845. Silas was involved with several clockmaking firms, which included the S. B. Terry & Company (1852-1853) and Terryville MFG., Co. (1853-1854). In 1854, Terry went bankrupt and took a job as a general manager of the William L. Gilbert & Company of Winsted, Connecticut. In 1861, he took a job as superintendent of the Waterbury Clock Company. In 1867, he formed the Terry Clock Company in Waterbury with his sons. Silas' early clocks were well made and often had interesting movements. The evidence of his work supports the suggestion that he loved to tinker.
