Silas Hoadley of Plymouth, Connecticut. A wooden geared tall clock. 27084.
This is a good example of a wooden works tall clock made by Silas Hoadley of Plymouth, Connecticut.
The construction of the wooden geared tall clock movement is typical of the standard form that one would expect from this prolific Clockmaker. The plates used in the construction of this movement are made from oak. The movement is a standard two-train design. Both of which are powered by weights. Because the movement is designed to run for approximately 30 hours, the weights should be raised once a day by pulling on the cords inside the case. The strike train features a countwheel striking system. This clock will strike each hour on a cast iron bell mounted above the movement.
The arched wooden dial is nicely paint-decorated. It is a standard size. The spandrels are decorated with colorful floral themes. A gilt design centering a star wheel is located in the arch. The hours are marked with Arabic numerals, just like the quarter hours. This dial also displays the seconds via a subsidiary seconds hands and dial.
The case is pine and retains a dark mahoganized stain. This finish is in good condition. It was applied to allow one to view the grain pattern of the pine underneath. The waist door has long vertical lines. This case stands on an applied bracket base with shaped cutout feet. The waist is long and narrow, featuring a rectangular-shaped waist door. The bonnet features a New England-style fretwork. This pattern is often called a "Whale's tails" design. Finial plinths or chimneys support three wooden turned finials. The bonnet door is fitted with glass and flanked by smoothly turned bonnet columns mounted in brass capitals.
This example stands approximately 86.5 or 7 feet 2.5 inches tall. The upper bonnet molding, exhibiting the largest dimensions of the case, is 19 inches wide and 10 inches deep. This clock measures 17.25 wide and is 9.5 inches deep at the base molding.
This clock was made circa 1815.
Inventory number 27084.
Silas Hoadley was born in Bethany, Connecticut, on January 31, 1786. He was the son of Ammi Hoadley and Amy (Thompson) Hoadley. He first apprenticed as a joiner to his uncle Calvin Hoadley. Along with Seth Thomas, he was hired in about 1808 by Eli Terry at the age of 21 to set up and work at Terry's Ireland factory. Shortly after Terry's Porter Contract was satisfied, he and Seth Thomas bought the factory from Terry. Thomas & Hoadley continued to make tall clock movements until 1813, when he purchased Thomas's business shares. He transitioned to shelf clocks, manufacturing movements of his own design. The "Upside down" style is one of the more unique examples. In the late 1830s, he transitioned to manufacturing brass movements. He retired in 1849 as a wealthy man. Silas Hoadly died on December 28, 1870, in Plymouth, Conn.
