Ephraim Downs of Waterbury, Plymouth and Bristol, Connecticut. Also Cincinnati, Ohio.

Ephraim Downs was born in Wilbraham, Massachusetts, on December 20, 1787, and died in Bristol, Connecticut, on December 8, 1860. He was the son of David and Mary Chatterton Downs and had a brother Anson who was a Carpenter.

Ephraim was known to have made wooden geared tall clock movements as early as 1811 in Waterbury, Connecticut. He made movements for Lemuel Harrison & Co and later Clark, Cook & Co. In April 1815, Ephraim traveled to Cincinnati, Ohio, and worked for Read & Watson and then others. He returned to Plymouth, Connecticut, in about 1816, when he went to work with Silas Hoadley, Eli Terry, and Seth Thomas. In 1822 he married Chloe Painter, thus becoming the brother-in-law of Silas Hoadley. He was in business with himself in 1823 and then With George Mitchell in Bristol, CT, in 1825. Ephraim became very successful.

Clocks From This Maker

Ephraim Downs of Bristol, CT. Stenciled Column Stenciled Splat. UU-42.

Ephraim Downs of Bristol, Conn. Stenciled Column Stenciled Splat. Large version. UU-42.

This is a very good example. The form is called a stenciled column and splat shelf clock. It represents the transition in case styles away from the very popular pillar & scroll and transitional shelf clock forms. This mahogany case retains its… read more

Ephraim Downs for George Mitchell of Bristol, CT. A transitional shelf clock. NN40.

Ephraim Downs for George Mitchell of Bristol, Connecticut. Circa 1830. A transitional shelf clock with an eagle stenciled decorated splat and floral decorated half columns. NN-40.

This is a wonderful transitional shelf clock with a pasted label that reads, "IMPROVED CLOCKS, / MANUFACTURED / BY / Ephraim Downs, / FOR / GEORGE MITCHELL / BRISTOL, CONN." The transitional shelf clock form was produced in significant numbers in… read more