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John Hungerford, and Israel Holmes, organized the (left)This is a rare Antique working 1878 ANSONIA Victorian novel-
Wolcottville Brass Company, and established a new ty mantel shelf clock, with a wood “Grandfather Clock” style case hold-
industry in Wolcottville (now Torrington) for the er stand. This has a brass mechanical wind-up movement that winds
making of brass kettles from rolled brass. The kettles from the rear. This has a nickel-plated brass peg leg footed round case
were hammered into shape from blanks. Before this, with ring top. The case is signed on the rear “Pat. April 23d 1878
kettles had been cast. Made in the United States Of America.” The clock measures approx.
The company brought in a strong workforce to make 3 ¼” tall with a 2 ¼” diameter. The dial is the original paper dial
the rolled brass, but the panic of 1837 broke wide open with Roman Numerals, signed “Trademark A Manufactured By The
just as the enterprise was getting started. From the first, Ansonia Clock Co. New York United States Of America.” In good
the new plant was successful and despite the economic original condition with a great patina. Sold as found. Priced at
downturn, they gained a strong footing in this new $249.99 on eBay.
industry.
But then in 1838, the mill burned down. The com-
pany was able to immediately rebuid. More workmen
and machinery were secured from England. The new mill
also made a specialty of copper sheets and wire, and the
manufacturing was then largely centered in Ansonia.

The Ansonia Clock Company
According to The Development of the Brass Industry in
Connecticut for the Committee on Historical Publications
and written by William Gilbert Lathrop in 1936, Phelps
was growing his businesses just as the transition of creating
clocks with wooden elements was being switched over to
brass. Therefore, it was no surprise that the transition to sup-
plying brass these new clockworks and their manufacture
was almost a no-brainer for Phelps.
With the right partnership, Phelps could easily create a
business that bought from his other company. So, in
1938 Phelps turned to two established clockmakers,
Theodore Terry and Franklin C. Andrews, to begin
manufacturing clocks in a new business arrangement This 1882 Ansonia cast iron clock is an example of one of
with Ansonia Brass Co. This clock- he most popular designs offered by the Ansonia Clock Company.
making team was already Sold at Charish.com for $550.
established in Bristol,
Connecticut, with over 50
employees, and used over 58 tons of brass to Also that year, Anson Phelps sold his interest in the Ansonia Clock
produce about 25,000 clocks a year. With Company to his son-in-law James B. Stokes for him to take the com-
Phelps’ manufacturing prowess, this pany over. Phelps later died a wealthy man at his New York City home
new partnership would grow to create on November 30, 1953.
hundreds of thousands of clocks at the Just one year later the Ansonia Clock Company was destroyed by
height of their popularity. fire. The New York Times put it this way: “New Haven, Saturday, July
Terry and Andrews sold Phelps a 8 – The large stone factory of the Ansonia Clock Company was wholly
50 percent interest in their business (in destroyed by fire early this morning. The loss exceeds one hundred
exchange for extremely low prices on thousand dollars. Insured for about fifty thousand. The business of the
brass) and moved to Ansonia. In 1851, company was conducted by T. Terry and Son.”
the Ansonia Clock Company was According to watchlords.com, “The land
established as a subsidiary of Phelps, and the ruined buildings were bought by
Dodge & Co., the original founding the directors of Phelps, Dodge & Co.
company in Ansonia. The shares purchased included the
In 1853, the Ansonia Clock Company remaining shares owned by the last of
was one of only four clock manufacturers (all the original clock company founders,
from Connecticut) to exhibit at the July 4 New Theodore Terry. It is interesting to
York World’s Fair. At that point, they were note that Terry thereafter became
making over 400 different clocks—something involved in a clock venture with the
for everyone—and showcased its masterfulness great promoter P.T. Barnum. It pro-
by displaying its cast iron clocks that were deco- duced clocks under the name of the
rated with mother of pearl and hand-painted Terry & Barnum Manufacturing
motifs along with a vast array of options avail- Company until its bankruptcy in March
able for every home and business (see the Cover of 1856.”
Image to view the display). Following the fire in 1864, it was not until
1869 that full-scale clock manufacturing
Very rare “Coca-Cola” advertising clock in an Ansonia resumed. By June of 1870, some impressive
“Office Regulator” model, with 8 Day Time & Hourly successful statistics were evident – the
Strike Movement. The seller believes this clock came
from a Coca-Cola office. The clock was made by The A late 19th century folk art painted regulator clock
Ansonia Clock Co. and is the “Office Regulator Model,” with Roman numeral face, decorated at a later date
with the 8-Day T. & S. movement, the Seconds Bit with the name of a local ice cream establishment
Dial within the 12-inch dial, and an overall height of “White’s Ice Cream,” along with an image of an ice
32 inches. These were produced circa 1901 to 1915. cream cone applied to the pendulum bob. The clock
Described as a black walnut case in the catalog, which face reads “Manufactured by the Ansonia Clock Co,
also has some mahogany veneers applied around the New York, United States of America.” Sold at
pendulum door. Selling for $1,200 at RubyLane.com Rubylane.com for $695.
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