Turner's Patent 8-day alarm. A beehive mantel clock. Rare. FF-166.

New Haven Clock Company of New Haven, Connecticut, made this Beehive mantel clock. This rare example features a Turner's Patent Alarm.

At first glance, this rare clock looks like most any other time, strike, and alarm beehive clock. The difference is that this clock is constructed with "J. S. Turner's Patent Eight Day Alarm. "When one opens the door, it becomes evident that something is different.

This clock is unusual because it has a movement configuration that Jonathan S. Turner patented on July 13, 1852. Directions for its use are explained in the verbiage of the original label. This label is pasted onto the back of the door inside the case. This unusual movement is designed to run for eight days and features an eight-day alarm. It does not strike on the hour. The alarm mechanism is placed where you normally expect to find the strike train. This design allows the alarm to be wound once a week and features an automatic shut off which enables it not to run out each time it is engaged. Once set, this mechanism engages the alarm at the same time during each day of the week over the duration of an eight-day spring. In other words, the alarm sounds for a specific duration and then shuts off before the spring is exhausted. This is unlike most thirty-hour alarms, which must be wound with each use.

This case example is a beehive form. This patented movement has been found in steeple clocks and in a small OOG case. An example of the latter is in the Bristol, CT, museum collection. The case is veneered in rosewood and has been recently refinished. The movement is constructed in brass and powered by coil springs. J. S. Turner's label is applied to the back of the door. The New Haven label is pasted to the backboard and is in good original condition. The cast iron bell is mounted to the backboard with a single screw. This clock retains its original painted dial. The tablet depicts a scene titled “Washington Rock N. J.” This rock became famous as a scenic overlook with a 30-mile panoramic vista covering the eastern plains of New Jersey up to New York City. General George Washington took advantage of this high point to monitor the British troop movements when the Continental Army was stationed at the Middlebrook encampment in 1777. This tablet has some areas of loss. It is original to this clock.

Four of these Turner's patent clocks have now come to our attention. This is a very fine example. The case measures approximately 18.75 inches tall, 10.25 inches wide, and 4 inches deep. It was made circa 1855.

Inventory number FF-166.