New Haven Clock Co. Labels

I have catalogued 40 labels used in 30-hr, weight-driven clocks by the New Haven Clock Co. in New Haven, CT starting in 1856. Most of these labels note the manufacturer as “Jerome & Co.”, although a few contain the New Haven Clock Co. name, and the first two list the American Clock Co. The American Clock Co. was a New York City retailer for many Connecticut clock firms, the Jerome Manufacturing Co. among them, but these are thought to be from the New Haven Clock Co. Many of the labels are displayed below, with my best guess for when they were used. Dating labels from this period is very difficult; often, the best that can be done is to provide a range of years.  Some clues to age are found in the depiction of the clock factory.  City directories and internet searches also provide approximate date ranges for some printers.

Some of the labels had more than one variant or print run. One had at least 11 print runs.  Variants are identified by very subtle differences in design elements that are often only apparent with high resolution images. Print runs are distinguished by identical design elements but subtle differences in spacing of characters (for example, the spacing and position of letters in “THIRTY HOUR”).

Unlike during the years of Chauncey Jerome’s operations, relatively few labels cover a much greater span of years.  The 40 labels identified represent at least 30 years of clock production and possibly much more, depending on when ogee production ceased.

-Type-JHB-63

Printer: John Benham
c. 1856-1860

-Type-JHB-67

Printer: John Benham
c. 1856-1860

-Type-JHB-58

Printer: John Benham
c. 1856

-Type-JHB-60

Printer: John Benham
c. 1856

-Type-JHB-63

Printer: John Benham
c. 1856-1860

-Type-JHB-64

Printer: John Benham
c. 1856-1860

-Type-JHB-65a

Printer: John Benham
c. 1856-1860

-Type-JHB-66

Printer: John Benham
c. 1860-1866

-Type-S&W-1a

Printer: Scott & Williams
c. 1867-1871

-Type-S&W-1b

Printer: Scott & Williams
c. 1867-1871

-Type-GOD-21a

Printer: Goddard
c. 1870-1872

-Type-GOD-22

Printer: Goddard
c. 1870-1872

-Type-GOD-43

Printer Unknown
Possibly Goddard
c. 1870-1872

-Type-GOD-3

Printer: Benham & Son
c. 1867-1870

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Printer Unknown
c. 1880 or later

-Type-GOD-41

Printer Unknown
c. 1880 or later

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