Waltham Watch Company of Waltham, Massachusetts. Banjo clock featuring a view of the Wayside Inn. 222100.
This fine Federal Massachusetts improved timepiece or "Banjo clock" was made by the Waltham Watch Company of Waltham, Massachusetts, circa 1930. This clock is listed in their catalog as the model No. 1500 and originally sold for $75.00 in the first quarter of the twentieth century.
This is a colorful example. The case wood is mahogany and retains an original shellac finish that is clean and consistent. Waltham identified this frame shape as the "Torus" frame. This model also features a mahogany presentation bracket. The eagle finial, sidearms, and bezel are brass. The bezel opens to a painted iron dial that is slightly convex and features large Arabic hour numerals and the Makers signature, "Waltham."
The reverse hand-painted tablets are very colorful and demonstrate excellent skill. The throat features a traditional theme for this form. It is intricate in its design. The lower tablet depicts a famous New England landmark, the "WAYSIDE INN." The Wayside Inn is located in Sudbury, Massachusetts. It is the oldest operating inn in the United States, dating back to 1716. The Wayside Inn Historic District was designated a Local Historic District in 1967, a Massachusetts Historic Landmark in 1970, and a National Register District in 1973. Over its history, it has been visited by many famous literaries, including Lydia Maria Child, Henry David Thoreau, and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Henry Ford bought the inn in 1923, intending to create a living museum. Under Ford's ownership, He restored the existing buildings, added additional structures, and expanded the property's footprint. In 1944, the property was transitioned to a charitable nonprofit institution. Today one can visit, dine, and stay in the historic inn overnight.
The brass movement is mounted to the back of the case with screws. The movement is weight driven and is designed to run for eight days on a full wind. The quality is outstanding. It features heavy brass plates, a recoil escapement, maintaining power, and a Geneva stop winding mechanism. The weight is cast in lead and features an internal pulley. This weight is original to this clock.
This clock measures approximately 40.5 inches long overall.
Inventory number 222100.
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.
