Boston Early Clock Industry (Willard Brothers)
Encyclopedia
The Boston Early Clock Industry refers to the 19th-century industry of a neighborhood on Roxbury Street, which had not yet been incorporated into Boston
.
The whole region serviced the workshops of two celebrated American clockmaker
s: Simon Willard
and Aaron Willard
. The different industries consisted of various clockmakers, cabinetmakers, artistic painter
s, and gilder
s.
began producing popularly accessible compact clocks in large quantities. Among other revolutionary manufacturing improvements, their workshops used previously wrought wooden pieces, with which the final clocks were serially built.
The clock workshops relied on approximately 20 factories, which were spread throughout a 400-meter radius. These workshops supplied brass
works, artistic painting, and other necessities.
s.
Simon Willard manufactured compact models, including his own Banjo clock
. However, the ambitious Simon was more interested in building clocks for important buildings and attending to special requests. His own brand of tall clocks became legendary.
was particularly problematic, as it hindered the vital production of brass
, of which all clock movements
were made. Thus, Boston's clock workshops imported hundreds of complete clock movements from the United Kingdom
, including some from Robert Roskell of Liverpool
. Willard workshops produced some of their own movements as well. However, due to the scarcity of brass, they had to manufacture makeshift devices which were made of well-seasoned wood.
Cabinetmakers who produced clock cases included:
Wood painting:
s, escutcheons
, flexible joints, and finial
s were featured by the most elaborate models. Most of these accessories were imported from the United Kingdom.
Some of Doggett's asking prices were:
offered many services for local clocksmiths such as the Willard brothers. Simon Willard sold many clocks with the help of Revere. Simon also acquired tin and brass through Revere.
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
.
The whole region serviced the workshops of two celebrated American clockmaker
Clockmaker
A clockmaker is an artisan who makes and repairs clocks. Since almost all clocks are now factory-made, most modern clockmakers only repair clocks. Modern clockmakers may be employed by jewellers, antique shops, and places devoted strictly to repairing clocks and watches...
s: Simon Willard
Simon Willard
Simon Willard were produced in Massachusetts in the Grafton and Roxbury workshops of Simon Willard , a celebrated U.S. clockmaker...
and Aaron Willard
Aaron Willard
Aaron Willard was an entrepreneur, an industrialist, and a designer of clocks who worked extensively at his Boston factory during the early years of the United States of America.While at the family farm at Grafton, Aaron Willard developed his career conjointly with his three brothers,...
. The different industries consisted of various clockmakers, cabinetmakers, artistic painter
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
s, and gilder
Gilder
Gilder may refer to :* A craftsman who performs gilding* A character in the video game Skies of Arcadia; see Skies of Arcadia characters.* A program by MDY designed to assist players in World of Warcraft in collecting in game valuables.-People:...
s.
Overview
After establishing workshops on Roxbury Street, all four Willard BrothersWillard Brothers
All Willard Brothers were born at their modest family farm in Grafton, Massachusetts, successively between 1743 and 1755. Owning independent workshops at Boston, they were the most celebrated clockmakers in the early United States.-Parents:...
began producing popularly accessible compact clocks in large quantities. Among other revolutionary manufacturing improvements, their workshops used previously wrought wooden pieces, with which the final clocks were serially built.
The clock workshops relied on approximately 20 factories, which were spread throughout a 400-meter radius. These workshops supplied brass
Brass
Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc; the proportions of zinc and copper can be varied to create a range of brasses with varying properties.In comparison, bronze is principally an alloy of copper and tin...
works, artistic painting, and other necessities.
Simon and Aaron Willard
Commoners were increasingly demanding affordable timepieces during the 19th century. To meet the demand, Aaron Willard mostly manufactured relatively cheap compact clocks in large quantities. His workshop also manufactured longcase clockLongcase clock
A longcase clock, also tall-case clock, floor clock, or grandfather clock, is a tall, freestanding, weight-driven pendulum clock with the pendulum held inside the tower, or waist of the case. Clocks of this style are commonly 1.8–2.4 metres tall...
s.
Simon Willard manufactured compact models, including his own Banjo clock
Banjo clock
The banjo clock, or banjo timepiece, is an American wall clock with a banjo-shaped case. It was invented by Simon Willard, originally of Grafton, Massachusetts, later of Roxbury, Massachusetts, and patented in 1802...
. However, the ambitious Simon was more interested in building clocks for important buildings and attending to special requests. His own brand of tall clocks became legendary.
Operations
Internally, the Willard brothers' workshops operated under modern management schemes, including clock design and construction, standardized large scale production, use of external manufacturers, and modern internal management. In this way, the factories built their regular clock models in large quantities. All Willard workshops employed craftsmen seasonally and used the same suppliers. By 1807, Boston's clock industrial region was functioning at its highest level.Movements
Since their early days, the workshops suffered from scarce mineral resources. Insufficient copperCopper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...
was particularly problematic, as it hindered the vital production of brass
Brass
Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc; the proportions of zinc and copper can be varied to create a range of brasses with varying properties.In comparison, bronze is principally an alloy of copper and tin...
, of which all clock movements
Movement (clockwork)
In horology, a movement is the internal mechanism of a clock or watch, as opposed to the case, which encloses and protects the movement, and the face which displays the time. The term originated with mechanical timepieces, whose movements are made of many moving parts...
were made. Thus, Boston's clock workshops imported hundreds of complete clock movements from the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, including some from Robert Roskell of Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
. Willard workshops produced some of their own movements as well. However, due to the scarcity of brass, they had to manufacture makeshift devices which were made of well-seasoned wood.
Cases
All clocks produced on Roxbury Street were encased in locally made, mahogany cases. These cases were serially wrought with similar shapes so they could hold standardized mechanisms. Some manufactures numbered their wooden pieces individually. These repetitive wood-cutting jobs required special machinery.Cabinetmakers who produced clock cases included:
- Samuel Fisk
- William Fisk
- William Viles
- Henry Willard
- Charles Crehore
- John Doggett
- Thomas Seymour
- Stephen Badlam
Wood painting:
- Spencer Nolen
Dials
- Imported Dials:
- James WilsonJames WilsonJames Wilson was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States and a signer of the United States Declaration of Independence. Wilson was elected twice to the Continental Congress, and was a major force in drafting the United States Constitution...
- OsborneOsborne- Places :Australia* Osborne, South Australia, an industrial suburb of Adelaide in South Australia* Osborne, New South Wales, a rural community in the Riverina regionCanada* Osborne Village, a neighbourhood in Winnipeg...
- James Wilson
- Roxbury's Dials:
- Charles Bullard
- Roxbury's Dial Painters:
- Jr. Isaiah Thomas
Adornments
Adornments such as bases, capCap
A cap is a form of headgear. Caps have crowns that fit very close to the head and have no brim or only a visor. They are typically designed for warmth and, when including a visor, blocking sunlight from the eyes...
s, escutcheons
Escutcheon (furniture)
An escutcheon is a general term for a decorative plate used to conceal a functioning, non-architectural item. Escutcheons are most often used in conjunction with mechanical, electrical, and plumbing components and fixtures where a pipe, tube, or conduit passes through a wall [or other material]...
, flexible joints, and finial
Finial
The finial is an architectural device, typically carved in stone and employed decoratively to emphasize the apex of a gable or any of various distinctive ornaments at the top, end, or corner of a building or structure. Smaller finials can be used as a decorative ornament on the ends of curtain rods...
s were featured by the most elaborate models. Most of these accessories were imported from the United Kingdom.
- GildingGildingThe term gilding covers a number of decorative techniques for applying fine gold leaf or powder to solid surfaces such as wood, stone, or metal to give a thin coating of gold. A gilded object is described as "gilt"...
Materials:- John Doggett
- Gilding:
- Junior Aaron Willard
- GlassGlassGlass is an amorphous solid material. Glasses are typically brittle and optically transparent.The most familiar type of glass, used for centuries in windows and drinking vessels, is soda-lime glass, composed of about 75% silica plus Na2O, CaO, and several minor additives...
:- John Doggett
- Artistic Drawing:
- John Ritto PennimanJohn Ritto PennimanJohn Ritto Penniman was a painter in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. He created portraits, landscapes, and allegorical paintings, as well as designs for engravings, such as the official seal of the city of Boston in 1822. He also worked as an assistant to Gilbert Stuart. Penniman died in 1841 in...
- John Minott
- John Ritto Penniman
John Doggett
John Doggett supplied various services to the workshops; he dealt with many providers which supplied gilding, clock cases, glass works, and other adornments. For complete wooden cases, Doggett relied primarily on William Viles.Some of Doggett's asking prices were:
- Gilding
- Clocks' dial's glass edge: $4
- Clock's cases: $9.50
- Gallery clocks' cases: $28
- Finials: from $1.75 up to $9
- Pedestals: $4
- Rounded dial's glasses: $0.28
Paul Revere
Paul ReverePaul Revere
Paul Revere was an American silversmith and a patriot in the American Revolution. He is most famous for alerting Colonial militia of approaching British forces before the battles of Lexington and Concord, as dramatized in Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem, Paul Revere's Ride...
offered many services for local clocksmiths such as the Willard brothers. Simon Willard sold many clocks with the help of Revere. Simon also acquired tin and brass through Revere.