Waterbury Clock Company. The “Regulator No. 12.” 223085.

The Waterbury Clock Company in Waterbury, Connecticut, made this very large wall regulator. This impressive model measures 94 inches long, almost 27 inches wide, and 10 inches deep. Clearly, the scale of this case was constructed to make a statement. This fine example is in excellent to outstanding original condition. The cabinet is constructed in walnut. Burl walnut veneers are located on the numerous raised panels. Additional decorative elements comprising of applied moldings, shaped features, and Eastlake-style carvings are included in the case design. 

The finely finished brass 8-day movement is good quality and housed in an iron box. It is weight-powered and features a sweep second hand, dead-beat escapement, and retaining power. The original gridiron-style pendulum features large oval steel and brass rods positioned in an alternating pattern and fixed at different locations. The London Clockmaker John Harrison invented the gridiron pendulum sometime around 1726. Harrison’s pendulum design used brass and iron rods arranged so that the thermal expansion of the two metals counteracted against one another. They were positioned so the length of the pendulum rod as a unit remained at a constant length. This gridiron version pays homage to Harrison’s design. The fault in this Waterbury example is that all nine rods are fixed in the same location, preventing them from moving independently of the others. As a result, it is not a proper temperature-compensating pendulum. A lyre or harp decoration cut out of a brass sheet makes the transition between the bob and rods. This brass-covered bob is 13 inches in diameter. A fine thread beat adjustment device is fitted to the pendulum and is visible just below the dial. 

This 12-inch porcelain dial is trimmed with a shaped brass bezel. Roman-style hour numerals are positioned on the closed minute ring. The hour and minute hands feature open moons out on their ends before the pointers. The sweep-second hand is counterbalanced and thinly constructed. All three hands are steel.

This outstanding example was offered in the Waterbury catalogs in 1885.

Large regulator clocks like this were designed to be hung in train stations, banks, public offices, and jewelry stores. They were so reliable that the public often set their watches to the time displayed. This displayed time would then be checked against the clocks in their home. In the cities, clocks like this were numerous, and as a result, one would have the opportunity to check their watches often. For this reason, numerous regulator clocks were also used as advertising tools. The name of the advertised company was usually displayed on the glass in the clock’s door.

This regulator is intriguing to look at and keeps an excellent time. Exceptional regulators like this are making their way into homes now more than ever!

Dimensions in inches: Height 94, Width 26 3/4, Depth 10.

Inventory number 223085.