Description

E. & G.W. Bartholomew 30-hour shelf clock, 1829-1833. These cousins built wooden movement shelf clocks in Bristol CT for about four years, generally working with a smaller format case as found here, 24 inches by 15 inches. George continued in the clockmaking business until 1840, when he invested in a Bristol copper mine, and joined the California gold rush in 1849. He eventually returned to Bristol; Eli gave up the clockmaking business after about a year and returned to his home state of Ohio in the late 1800’s as a stockbroker in Cleveland. This federal-style case has an old, dark finish and bronze stenciling on the half-columns. Both glasses are old but both appear to be replacements; I can’t be sure the tablet is original, but if so, it has been touched up and rebacked. The wooden dial was cleaned and restored by The Dial House; the hands are period. The 30-hour time-and-strike wooden movement is running and striking on an iron bell, with period weights and an embossed brass and lead pendulum bob. A good label inside. AAC sold a slightly less pristine example in 2023 for $150. $150–$250.

Record courtesy of AntiqueAmericanClocks.com