A wall timepiece or banjo clock made by the Waltham Watch Company of Waltham, Massachusetts. VICTORY ON LAKE CHAMPLAIN tablets. 223204.
This fine Federal Massachusetts Improved Timepiece is more commonly called a "Banjo clock." The Waltham Watch Company of Waltham, Massachusetts, made this clock in about 1920. This clock is listed in their catalog as the model No. 1543. It originally sold for $85.00 in the first quarter of the twentieth century, and by 1930, the price had increased to $97.30.
This is an exceptional example. The case is constructed in mahogany and retains an original finish. The frames feature blocked corners and concave linear moldings fitted with brass-shaped rope. A wooden presentation bracket is mounted to the bottom of the case. This bracket is a traditional form. It is decorated with eight brass balls and features an acorn-shaped drop finial. The large eagle finial, shapely-formed sidearms, and bezel are brass. The bezel opens to a painted iron dial with Roman-style hour numerals, a closed minute ring, and Maker's signature, "Waltham."
The reverse-painted tablets are hand-painted in excellent colors and illustrate the Artist's high skill level. A stencil design is used as the outer border on both glasses. The throat tablet features a traditional timepiece theme. An urn supports a column of flowers. The lower tablet is incredible. It is titled "VICTORY ON LAKE CHAMPLAIN," also known as the Battle of Plattsburgh. This pivotal military engagement was fought shortly before the Treaty of Ghent in September 1814. The United States' victory in Plattsburgh ended the British's final invasion of the Northern states during the War. The British, numbering 15,000 strong, hoped to move south and into New York City. General Macomb's 1,500 regulars outgunned them and forced them back into Canada. After the War, the British had little leverage going forward in negotiating territorial claims in the United States. This wonderful tablet is signed by D. J. Steele, the Artist in the lower left.
The brass movement is mounted with diagonally positioned wood screws through the backplate and into the backboard. The movement is weight-driven and designed to run for eight days on a wind. The quality is outstanding. It features heavy plates, maintaining power, and a Geneva stop winding mechanism. The front plate is die-stamped with the Maker's name in the upper right corner. It is also numbered "9452" on the left.
This clock measures approximately 40.5 inches long overall.
Inventory number 223204.
The Waltham Clock and Waltham Watch Companies, in their various forms, have been synonymous with quality timepieces. The Company was first established in Waltham, Massachusetts, in January of 1897 as the Waltham Clock Company. Their products, known for their excellent quality, included hall, shelf, and then wall clocks. In 1913, they merged with the watchmaking giant Waltham Watch, but continued to produce clocks under the Waltham Clock name until 1923, when the name was changed to the Waltham Watch and Clock Company. In 1925, the name was changed again to the Waltham Watch Co. The production of pendulum clocks is reported to have ceased around 1930.
