Belding (BD) Bingham of Nashua, New Hampshire.

Belding Dart (B.D.) For most of his life, Bingham worked primarily as a Watchmaker in Nashua, New Hampshire. He is also reported to have worked briefly in the cities of Lowell, Waltham, and Roxbury, Massachusetts. It appears he had a working association with Leonard W. Noise and, for a short time, with Fisher Thayer and J.S. Warner. The quality of his clockwork is outstanding.

Bingham was born in Shoreham, Addison, Vermont, on July 5, 1812. His parents were Ira Bingham and Jane (Dart) Bingham. Sometime in the early 1830s, B.D. appears in Nashua, NH, and is working with Leonard W. Noyes as a clockmaker. A timepiece is known that has a dial signed, “Warranted by L. W. Noyes,” and the movement is inscribed “B. D. Bingham, maker 1834.” B.D. married Mary Brown on November 15, 1836. In 1838, B.D. advertises in the Nashua Gazette that he has taken the store of L. W. Noyes in the Long Block, Main Street. Here he sells clocks, watches, jewelry, etc. He is also servicing or repairing all sorts of items. In 1850, it appears he took a residence on Pearl Street. In 1852, he moved with his family to San Francisco, California. He stays there for approximately a year before he returns to Nashua. In 1859-1862, the Nashua Watch Company was formed. B.D. is one of the founding members. In 1865-1866, B.D. serves as the superintendent of the Tremont Watch Company. This is during the absence of A. L. Dennison. During this time, B.D. is reported to have been living on Eustis Street in Roxbury. In 1868, he moved back to Nashua and remained there until he died on October 4, 1878. 

A small number of Bingham clocks are documented. These include floor model astronomical regulators, large wall (Banjo Style) regulators, and gallery clocks. The large regulators appear more commonly. It seems an example is offered for sale publically once every five or more years. From 1834 to approximately 1842, the Nashua directories, documented examples, and numerous advertisements indicate or state that B.D. Bingham is a clockmaker. After 1842, the directories and advertisements did not include the word clockmaker but continued to use the word watchmaker. It would appear that he had ceased making clocks after 1842.