What Are Novelty Wall Clocks-
>> Tuesday, August 31, 2010
There are many different kinds of wall clocks to choose from. Some of them are as follows: digital, led, lighted (that glow in the dark), 24-hour clocks, and whatever other kinds off clocks.
Oh, but how about the novelty wall clocks? Well, to be classified as "novelty wall clocks", they must have a unique sound or telling of time, and a special arrangement of parts. On October 9, 1882, New Haven Clock Co. patented the "Flying Pendulum" or Ignatz clock. This was a one-day, time-only, clock. It had a pendulum, a ball on a string, which swung from side to side, and wound and unwound on the outer posts.
The clocks that featured eye movements, produced in 1874 and 1912, were "Topy" and "Continental". When the pendulum swung, the eyes moved up and down. Other ones with moving eyes were a dog, lion, organ grinder, and Santa Claus. Some of these are valued at more than 1,000.00. The cases for animals like horses, dogs, birds, squirrels, and cats are predominantly metal.
Many expensive models were developed by the Ansonia Clock Co., such as a doll swinging on the pendulum. Another Ansonia clock named "Juniper #3" is a 30-hour,replica Rolex DateJust, time-only, with a four-inch dial, without a stand, and measures fifteen feet high. Be careful when purchasing any of these pendulum swingers for they have been reproduced.
Two wall clocks were developed in 1870 by F. Kroeber, in which he used the swinging function display. Both of them showed a child swinging to and fro on the pendulum rod. One of them is bronzed, while the other is of pot metal and walnut. Electric novelty clocks often showing children swinging on pendulums were produced by Mastercrafts.
In 1860, Seth Thomas, Plymouth Hollow, and G.K. Proctor & Co. got together and patented a burglar and fire-detection alarm clock. The lamp would light up when the alarm sounded. The rosewood case was eleven and a quarter inches high.
Seth Thomas, Waterbury, and the Chelsea Clock Co. made ship's bell clocks. It has a metal case with a bell beneath and struck ship's bells rather than the hours. The Yale Clock Co. manufactured two rectangular tilted clocks on a shared base to help chess players time their moves.
In the 1900's a slot machine clock with an attractive black wooden case was produced for those who like to play the slot machines.
A Hickory-Dickory-Dock clock shows a white mouse running up the clock. New Haven Clock Co. produced five models of the mouse clock. Two ferris wheel clocks were souvenirs of the 1900 Paris Exposition. As the clock runs, the ferris wheel turns.
Manufacturers kept cost to a minimum. They used synthetic marble and compressed molded wood. These novelty wall clocks ranged from $55.00 to $1,000.00.
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