Silas B. Terry of Terryville, Connecticut.

Silas B. Terry was born on February 1, 1807 (during Eli's involvement with the porter contract) and died of a heart attack on May 20, 1876. He was the youngest of eight children born to Eli & Eunice (Warner) Terry. Silas worked in various clockmaking enterprises. Unlike his father, he focused on the more expensive brass-geared clocks and was in the process of producing them as early as December of 1833. He was an inventive person and was constantly testing new designs. One of the most notable was the application of the balance wheel to clock movements. Silas was granted a patent for this on August 9, 1845. Silas was involved with several clockmaking firms, which included the S. B. Terry & Company (1852-1853) and Terryville MFG., Co. (1853-1854). In 1854, Terry went bankrupt and took a job as a general manager of the William L. Gilbert & Company of Winsted, Connecticut. In 1861, he took a job as superintendent of the Waterbury Clock Company. In 1867, he formed the Terry Clock Company in Waterbury with his sons. Silas' early clocks were well made and often had interesting movements. The evidence of his work supports the suggestion that he loved to tinker.

Clocks From This Maker

Silas B. Terry, Terryville, Connecticut. An oversized balance wheel Sharp Gothic clock with 30 hour, time and strike, fusee movement utilizing Eli Terry's unique 1845 patent balance wheel escapement. DDD-28.

This shelf clock form was initially called a "Sharp Gothic" and is popularly called a "Steeple" clock today. It was made by Silas Burnham Terry of Terryville, Connecticut, sometime around 1845. The case is veneered in richly-grained mahogany, and… read more

Snakeskin cottage clock. Silas Burnham Terry. “Horologist.” Terryville, Connecticut. 223271.

This diminutive shelf clock form is called a “Cottage Clock,” of which the Connecticut clock-making companies manufactured many. What is unusual about this example is the case presentation. This case is decorated with a paper product that resembles… read more

Silas B. TerryFusee with a balance wheel escapement. Sharp Gothic or Steeple Clock. TT-160.

Silas B. Terry & Co. Terryville, Connecticut. Cottage Clock. UU-36.

This shelf clock form is called a "Cottage Clock." It is an unusual and desirable example because the case is veneered with a product decorated to emulate snake skin. The condition of this veneer is excellent original condition. We have also seen… read more

Silas Burnham Terry. "Horologist." Terry's Ville, Connecticut. Mantel clock. UU-35.

This rare 30-hour brass geared shelf clock was made by Silas B. Terry in Terryville, Connecticut. The case form is similar to a standard OG clock except that it is built on a smaller scale, measuring 24.25 inches tall, and that the OG moldings are… read more