Simon Willard of Roxbury, Massachusetts. An inlaid mahogany case tall clock. SS-146.
This line inlaid mahogany case is nicely proportioned, standing 7 feet 9 inches or 93 inches tall to the top of the center finial.
This case stands on four nicely formed ogee bracket feet. These are applied to a double-stepped molding. The base panel features a line inlaid box that is stepped in from the perimeter of the front panel. In the center of this panel is an inlaid patera. This features twenty individual petals. These alternate in light and dark shading. The waist section is long and narrow. It is fitted with a tombstone-shaped door that is trimmed with applied molding. This door is also lined inlaid. Open this door, and one can access the original tin can weights and brass-faced pendulum bob. The bob is supported by a wooded rod. The waist section is flanked by brass stop-fluted quarter columns, which terminate in brass quarter capitals. The bonnet features the traditional Roxbury fretwork design. The three fluted chimney plinths support the three brass ball-and-spike finials. Fully turned and brass stop fluted bonnet columns ending in turn brass capitals flank the line inlaid bonnet door. The line inlaid bonnet door is an arched form and fitted with glass. This opens to a painted iron dial.
This painted iron dial is decorated with floral themes. These are located in each of the four spandrel areas as well as in the arch of the dial. This dial is signed by the clockmaker "Simon Willard" in script lettering below the calendar aperture. The time ring is formatted with Roman numeral hour markers. Arabic numerals are used to mark each of the five-minute positions. A subsidiary seconds dial and calendar dial can be viewed inside the time ring in their traditional locations. This dial was imported from England and was painted by the Wilson firm of Birmingham.
This fine movement is constructed in brass and is of good quality. Four-turned pillars support the two brass plates. Hardened steel shafts support the polished steel pinions and brass gearing. The winding drums are grooved. The escapement is designed as a recoil format. The movement is weight driven and designed to run for eight days on a full wind. It is a two-train or a time-and-strike design having a rack and snail striking system. As a result, it will strike each hour on the hour. This is done on a cast iron bell which is mounted above the movement.
Inventory number SS-146.
Simon Willard was born in Grafton, Massachusetts, on April 3, 1753. He was the seventh of twelve children born to Benjamin Willard (1716-1775) and Sarah (Brooks) Willard (1717-1775) of Grafton. While living in Grafton, Simon answered the Lexington alarm on April 19, 1775, along with his brothers. It is thought that by 1782 he moved from Grafton and took up residence in Roxbury as a Clockmaker. Simon became a Master Clockmaker as well as an inventor. He is well known for receiving patents for his roasting jack in 1782, his "Improved Timepiece" or Banjo clock in 1802, and an alarm clock patent. In addition, he trained many men to make clocks who became well-known Clockmakers once their apprenticeships were served. Some of them include the brothers Levi and Able Hutchins, Elnathan Taber, William Cummens, Ezekiel Jones and Daniel Munroe. Some of the more notable public clocks Simon built include the clock in the United States Capitol building's Statuary Hall. He also built a clock for the House of Representatives and the U. S. Senate. Simon died on August 30, 1848, at the age of 95.
