Waltham Watch Company of Waltham, Massachusetts. A wall timepiece or banjo clock. CCC-24.
This fine Federal Massachusetts Improved Timepiece is more commonly called a "Banjo clock." The Waltham Watch Company of Waltham, Massachusetts, made this clock in about 1920. This clock is listed in their catalog as the model No. 1543. It originally sold for $85.00 in the first quarter of the twentieth century, and by 1930, the price had increased to $97.30.
This is a good example. The brass movement is mounted with diagonally positioned wood screws through the backplate and into the backboard. The movement is weight-driven and designed to run for eight days on a wind. The quality is outstanding. It features heavy plates, maintaining power, and a Geneva stop winding mechanism. The front plate is die-stamped with the Maker's name in the upper right corner. It is also numbered 7949 on the left.
The case is constructed in mahogany and retains an original finish. The frames feature concave moldings that are fitted with metal rope. The corners are blocked. A presentation bracket is mounted to the bottom of the case. This is fitted with eight brass balls and features an acorn shape drop. The tablets are hand painted in good color and depict Patriotic themes. The throat tablet prominently displays a portrait of George Washington. In keeping with the founding father's theme, the lower tablet depicts his home, Mount Vernon. The eagle finial, sidearms, and bezel are brass. The bezel opens to a painted iron dial that features Arabic hour numerals and Maker's signature, "Waltham." This dial has experienced some lifting of the painted surface, which has been reapplied and is now stable. The formed hands display the time.
This clock measures approximately 40.5 inches long overall.
Inventory number CCC-24.
The Waltham Clock and Waltham Watch Companies, in their various forms, have been synonymous with quality timepieces. The Company was first established in Waltham, Massachusetts, in January of 1897 as the Waltham Clock Company. Their products, known for their excellent quality, included hall, shelf, and then wall clocks. In 1913, they merged with the watchmaking giant Waltham Watch, but continued to produce clocks under the Waltham Clock name until 1923, when the name was changed to the Waltham Watch and Clock Company. In 1925, the name was changed again to the Waltham Watch Co. The production of pendulum clocks is reported to have ceased around 1930.
