Joseph Lindauer working for Tiffany & Company Makers, NYC.

For a brief period, Tiffany brought the manufacture of high grade clocks in house. The manuscript Order Book kept by this Clock Department begins 1879 and ends 1918. It is now in the collection of the New York Historical Society. Many of the clock movements that came form this department are die-stamped on the backplate with a number that corresponds to an order number in the Book. Number 19 was ordered on October 30th of 1879. The last numbered entry is for number 829 which was completed on April 13, 1910. The order book was not updated until June of 1918. The Order Book records a variety of clocks, including many specially designed and built to prominent clients' specifications.

These records indicate that this Shop was under the direction of Joseph Lindauer. He was born January 17, 1835 in Pilsen, Bohemia, Austria. He trained as a clockmaker in Pilsen and at Prague. He came to America in 1865 and worked for Tiffany & Co then at 550 - 552 Broadway as a clock repairer. He proved to be so proficient that he soon was put in charge. As the Superintendent, he hired many skilled and expert clockmakers. Under his direction, Tiffany occupied a prominent position in American clock making both aesthetically and technically. This division manufactured many important clocks including astronomical clocks which were exhibited by Tiffany & Co at the Paris and Chicago exhibitions. Tiffany constructed clocks are highly sought after. Examples of their work that are well known to the clock community include two astronomical clocks. The first, No. 289, is in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The second example is in the Cleveland Museum of Art. An isochronal clock, No. 516, was designed to have four pendulums and was constructed in 1884. The current store clock measuring 9 feet tall has a full figure of Atlas supporting a clock on his shoulders. Another public clock is located on the exterior of the Grand Central Terminal.

Joseph Lindauer worked for thirty-two years an employee of Tiffany & Co. He was born January 17, 1835, at Pilsen , Bohemia , Austria . He learned his trade of clockmaker at Pilsen and at Prague , the capital of Bohemia . In 1865 he came to this country, and the same year was engaged by Tiffany & Co., then at Nos. 550-552 Broadway, as clock repairer. He proved so proficient that the firm soon gave him charge of the clock repairing and clock making department. He gathered about him a force of expert clockmakers that has become noted for great ability, especially in the adjustment of the most intricate and complicated mechanisms. He was also well known to many experts and amateurs in fine mechanism, who recognized his remarkable intelligence and skill in all horological work. He died on Sunday, March 7. 1897 In 1896, he had a stroke of paralysis, from which he never recovered. Another stroke followed in October, after which he was confined to his bed until relieved by death.