A fine rosewood grained presentation “No. 5" banjo clock with unusual eglomise panels dated 1867, signed “Presented by Chas. H. Polsey / John Polsey / maker / Boston”, and with E. Howard & Co. label in the case.
29 in. H
The brass movement has tapered plates, stamped with a script “f”, a cast iron weight with numeral “5" and a wooden rod pendulum with lacquered brass bob.
John Polsey (1816-1873) was an apprentice of Aaron Willard Jr., probably at the same time as Edward Howard and David P. Davis. These three were the first to begin, at mid century, large scale manufacturing of the banjo timepiece. Howard started his own clock business in 1840 and about 1842 brought Davis in with him. He was in partnership with Luther S. Stephenson and David P. Davis as Stephenson, Howard & Davis from 1844-47 and then with Davis only as Howard & Davis until 1857. After 1858, the firm was styled E. Howard & Co.
Howard and Polsey both continued the practice started by Howard & Davis of assigning model Nos. 1 - 5 banjo-style wall clocks with cherry cases grained to imitate rosewood.
Also a pioneer in the watch industry, from 1852 to 1856 Polsey was the superintendent of the Howard and Davis balance manufactory. He began clock making in partnership with Davis.
John Polsey & Co was located at 74 Water St., Boston from 1859 to 1864. He then joined the Tremont Watch Co. of Aaron Dennison and Belding Bingham.
His son Charles (1840-1897) was active in his father’s company and also made mathematical instruments and fire alarms.
There is a pencil inscription in the throat of the clock,
“July 21st 1867 Old Hull [?] House Rain’d all day / A. L. Curtis asleep on sofa”
Literature:
Foley, Paul J. Willard’s Patent Time Pieces. Norwell MA (2002) |
