Review by Henry B. Fried This catalogue features many Ansonia clocks not illustrated in the 1885-1887 or 1905 catalogues. Inside the book there are numerous clocks, including six ball swingers, one the Fortuna model-is the subject of its outside soft cover. This Fortuna is shown listed at a retail price of $55.00. The Ansonia Clock Co., at that time, had sales offices at 99 John Street in New York City. The first pages show four basic pocket watch models, the Mentor, Chauffeur, Guide and Auto-all stem wind and selling then for $2.00. Others cost fifteen cents more. Another page shows these models set into travelling and auto case mounts. There are three pages of alarm clocks, gaslight
clocks, and a few pages of attractive carriage clocks, as well as some small novelties.
The novelties include some whimsical bird and animal mounts, combination mirror
clocks, form clocks in stirrup and whip, snail, art noveau, musical instruments, military
souvenirs, miniature “grandfather” clocks, and a few watch hangers with Candelabra sets, inkstand clock units, and pages of porcelain clocks are included, and there are 60 models of black iron clocks, some with exposed escapements. There are 26 “white onyx” clocks also with the exposed escapements. In the same section of this reprint are “Green Onyx” models to a 42-page section of shelf clocks. Crystal regulators of all types are included in 60 different models. Larger clock sets with multiple candlestands are shown in 20 types, some quite elaborate, featuring clocks with visible Brocot escapements. Another section illustrates art noveau, statue-mounted clocks with such names as Etruria, Cymric, Ophelia, Lily, Undine, (Winged) Sybil and a Sybil but now becoming a young male fiddler, a Hebe, a Hector, Fleur DeLys, and others adorning clocks with female figures. Others show classic military warriors and statues of Olympia, Chloris, Bacchante, and other legendary gods.Brass and gold-cased clocks with French or Rococo sashes are followed by bronze-cased striking clocks and a few with very involved statuary. Other bronze clocks with figures representing composers, authors, and artists take up 23 pages. Round wall clocks with lever escapements and 8” octagonal as well as drop octagon clocks with calendar, store-type clocks are represented. Antique-type hanging clocks with very ornate, involved figures today are very desirable, originally selling for $70.00. Kitchen, pressed-wood, and miniature steeple striking clocks indicate a wide variety of designs and styles. Cabinet clocks of the showy type, mission clocks, and hall clocks with exposed decorated weights fill many pages. The remaining 74 of the 213 pages catalogue the wide range of statuary and decorative mounts and candelabra available. This catalogue is a veritable encyclopedia of the Ansonia products as well as reflecting the public tastes of the first decade of the 20th century. |
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