Advanced Search
Requires Photography
Tall-case clock
Simon Willard (American, 1753–1848)
about 1796–1800
Object Place: Roxbury, Massachusetts, United States
Medium/Technique
Mahogany, pine, unidentified woods, brass works
Dimensions
245.11 x 53.34 x 26.67 cm (96 1/2 x 21 x 10 1/2 in.)
Credit Line
Bequest of Amelia Peabody
Accession Number1984.519
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsAmericas
Marks
Mounting plate marked "Osborne's / Manufactory / Birmingham"
InscriptionsInscribed on the dial "Warranted for Mr. Nathl Goddard. / Simon Willard."
Paper label (now removed from the object) reads:
Simon Willard, /
[at left, trade sign of pillar with mounted clock]
AT his Clock-dial, in Roxbury-Street, manfactures every / kind of CLOCK-WORK; such as large Clocks for Steeples. / made in the best manner, and warranted, price with one dial, / 300 dollars; with two dials, 380 dollars; with three dials, / 500 dollars. --- Common eight-day Clocks, with very elegant / faces and mehogany cases, price from 50 to 60 dollars. ---Ele- / gant eight-day Time-pieces, price 30 dollars.--- Time-pieces / which run 30 hours, and warranted, price 10 dollars. --- Spring Clocks / of all kinds, price from 50 to 60 dollars. ---Clocks that will run one / year, with once winding up, with very elegant cases, price 100 dol- / lars. ---Time-pieces for Astronomical purposes, price 70 dollars. ---Time- / pieces for meeting houses, to place before the gallery, with neat enam- / eled dials, price 55 dollars. ---Chime Clocks that will play 6 tunes, / price 120 dollars. --Perambulators are also made at said place, which / can be affixed to any kind of wheel-carriage, and will tell the miles / and rods exact, price 15 dollars.
[hand sign] Gentlemen who wish to purchase any kind of Clocks, are invited to call / at said WILLARD'S Clock-Manufacory, where they will receive satisfac- / tory evidence, that it is much cheaper to purchase new, than old and second- / hand Clocks : He warrants all his work ---and as he is ambituious to giev satis/ factiobn ---he doubts not of receiving the public approbation and patronage.
DIRECTIONS TO SET CLOCKS IN MOTION.
First place the Clock perpendicular, then fasten it with a screw, pull out the nails which fasten the pendulum and / pulleys, then hang on the weights, the heaviest on the striking part. / You need not wind up any until the clock is run down. / You may set the clock to the right hour, by moving the minute hand forwards or backwards. / The Month and Moon wheel is fixed by moving them with your finger. / Screw the pendulum ball up to make the clock go fasterm and down to go slower.
Printed by J. & Jos. N. RUSSELL, Quaker-Lane, BOSTON.
Paper label (now removed from the object) reads:
Simon Willard, /
[at left, trade sign of pillar with mounted clock]
AT his Clock-dial, in Roxbury-Street, manfactures every / kind of CLOCK-WORK; such as large Clocks for Steeples. / made in the best manner, and warranted, price with one dial, / 300 dollars; with two dials, 380 dollars; with three dials, / 500 dollars. --- Common eight-day Clocks, with very elegant / faces and mehogany cases, price from 50 to 60 dollars. ---Ele- / gant eight-day Time-pieces, price 30 dollars.--- Time-pieces / which run 30 hours, and warranted, price 10 dollars. --- Spring Clocks / of all kinds, price from 50 to 60 dollars. ---Clocks that will run one / year, with once winding up, with very elegant cases, price 100 dol- / lars. ---Time-pieces for Astronomical purposes, price 70 dollars. ---Time- / pieces for meeting houses, to place before the gallery, with neat enam- / eled dials, price 55 dollars. ---Chime Clocks that will play 6 tunes, / price 120 dollars. --Perambulators are also made at said place, which / can be affixed to any kind of wheel-carriage, and will tell the miles / and rods exact, price 15 dollars.
[hand sign] Gentlemen who wish to purchase any kind of Clocks, are invited to call / at said WILLARD'S Clock-Manufacory, where they will receive satisfac- / tory evidence, that it is much cheaper to purchase new, than old and second- / hand Clocks : He warrants all his work ---and as he is ambituious to giev satis/ factiobn ---he doubts not of receiving the public approbation and patronage.
DIRECTIONS TO SET CLOCKS IN MOTION.
First place the Clock perpendicular, then fasten it with a screw, pull out the nails which fasten the pendulum and / pulleys, then hang on the weights, the heaviest on the striking part. / You need not wind up any until the clock is run down. / You may set the clock to the right hour, by moving the minute hand forwards or backwards. / The Month and Moon wheel is fixed by moving them with your finger. / Screw the pendulum ball up to make the clock go fasterm and down to go slower.
Printed by J. & Jos. N. RUSSELL, Quaker-Lane, BOSTON.
ProvenanceThe clock was "Warrented for Mr. Nathl Goddard" by Simon Willard (1753-1848). Boston merchant Nathaniel Goddard (died 1853) married Lucretia Dana in 1797 and was renting a house on Orange Street in 1798. By the time of his death, he owned a "Mansion House" at 22 Pemberton Square and a 1/24th share of Long Wharf. He left to Lucretia, his wife of nearly sixty years, everything in the Pemberton Square House, including "household furniture, beds, bedding, wearing apparel, clocks (and) watches"; 1984, bequest of Amelia Peabody (Accession Date December 14, 1984)