Timothy Chandler's first clock. This tall clock is signed No. 1. and dated 1785. 22181.
This is a historically significant maple and tiger maple case tall clock made by Timothy Chandler of Concord, New Hampshire.
The dial is skillfully engraved and signed by the Maker. It features the unusual combination of being dated "1785" and numbered "No.1." THIS IS Timothy Chandler's FIRST CLOCK. A clock he made when he was 23.
This distinctive case form is traditionally found in the Concord, New Hampshire, region. It has solid country proportions and construction. The woods used are maple and tiger maple with white pine secondaries, which are common to this region of New Hampshire. This example stands on a wonderfully formed applied bracket base which features a carved pinwheel in the center. The waist door is tombstone shaped. The bonnet is constructed in the traditional and boldly formed swan neck pediment with applied carved rosettes. These pinwheels/rosettes mirror the drop in the base. The bonnet columns are turned, and the door is arched in form and glazed. This example retains an older surface that may be original to the clock. The movement is brass, eight-day duration, and is of good quality. The dial is brass and skillfully engraved. It retains its original silver wash, which has the expected patina. The engraved design is unusual, with winged griffins in the arch positioned on either side of the signed name boss. Below is the date of manufacture 1785 and the number, No. 1. The spandrels areas feature florals and shell designs.
Inventory number 22181.
Major Timothy Chandler was born on April 25th, 1762, in Rumford, Maine, and died on July 22nd, 1848, in Concord, NH. He is the son of Timothy and Elizabeth (Copp) Chandler and was one of five children. His father died when he was eight years old, and it has been suggested that Timothy traveled to Pomfret, Connecticut, in 1770-1783 to serve an apprenticeship to Jonathan Hale, who was a wool card maker. It is not known who specifically taught him the art of clockmaking. It is speculated that Chandler may have also trained as a clockmaker with Peregrine White, who was at work in nearby Woodstock. (Timothy named one of his sons Peregrine White Chandler.) Timothy moved back to Concord in 1791 and advertised tall clocks for sale. He was also appointed Sealer of Weights and Measures in Concord, NH. It is reported that in November of 1787, Timothy married Sarah Abbott of Concord. This suggests that he must have traveled back and forth to Concord from Pomfret before he settled there. Together they had twelve children.
In Concord, Timothy became a prolific clockmaker until his retirement in 1829. His main competition was Levi and his brother Abel Hutchins. Timothy was responsible for training several clockmakers, including his sons, Timothy Jay, John Bradley, and Abel. It has been suggested that he trained Joseph Chadwick in about 1801, who was from Boscawen. He also apprenticed Deacon Cyrus Eastman of Amherst, NH. Eastman served a seven-year apprenticeship which ended about 1814.
In 1797, Timothy enlisted with the Minute Men and received the commission of Major in 1799. He also served as vice president and then the president of the Merrimack Agricultural Society in the early 1800s. In 1808, he was appointed the Surveyor of Highways in Concord. On the evening of August 17th, 1809, he suffered a fire that originated from his air furnace or forge in his clock manufactory. The manufactory, with all its contents, the house, the barn full of hay, and two other hay barns were lost at a value of $5,000. Interestingly, the citizens of Concord raised $1,200 in order to help offset his losses and to rebuild. Chandler would rebuild and continue his career as a clockmaker.
In 1814, when Governor Gilman ordered the creation of local companies to defend the town in the event of an attack, Chandler, now in his 50s, again volunteered to serve in the militia. In 1819, he served as Chairman of the first "Lancastrian School." In 1820, he and his son Timothy Jay formed a partnership as T. Chandler & Son. This partnership lasted four years until T. Chandler & Co was formed in 1824 and lasted until 1828. This second company also included Timothy Jay.
In 1825, Timothy Chandler was one of the nine officers of the newly formed New Hampshire Mutual Fire Insurance Company, one of New Hampshire's earliest fire insurance providers. In 1827, he served as Chairman of the group that organized the Unitarian Society. From 1829 through 1830, he joined his son Abel under the firm name of A. Chandler & Co. After 1830, he worked alone, served as President of Concord's first Temperance Society, was Vice President of Concord Mechanics Association, and was one of 17 original trustees of the N.H. Savings Bank. In 1834, he named three of Concord's streets.
We have owned numerous examples of his work. These include tall clocks, timepieces, mirror clocks, and shelf clocks. A fair number of silver items are also known.
