Silas Burnham Terry. "Horologist." Terryville, Connecticut. An OG or Ogee shelf or wall clock. JJ-128.
This is a clean example of a mahogany case box clock with the pasted label “SILAS B. TERRY TERRYVILLE, CONN.”
This is an excellent example of this form. The case is veneered in mahogany. The veneer has very little if any, losses. The wood retains an older finish that is stable and consistent. The front of the case features a large door. The upper section is fitted with clear glass. Through this, one can view the painted wooden dial. The dial features gilt spandrel decorations, a time track with Roman-style hour figures, brass grommets fitted around the winding arbors, and the center section is left open to easily view the escape wheel turning and other brass gearing incorporated in the movement. This weight-driven movement is designed to run for 30 hours on a full wind and strikes the hour on a wire gong mounted to the clock’s backboard. The lower section of the door is fitted with a decorative acid-etched tablet that is original to the clock. This tablet is in outstanding original condition and features a vase full of flowers. Open this door to access the pendulum and cast iron weights. The Maker’s label is pasted onto the backboard inside the case. It is in good original condition, having some areas of loss.
This clock measures approximately 26 inches tall, 15.5 inches wide, and 4.5 inches deep. This clock was made circa 1845.
Inventory number JJ-128.
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.
