Time for a history lesson

Germany Greer

Connecticut’s world-class Clock & Watch Museum tells the tale of automotive timepieces

THE AMERICAN CLOCK & Watch Museum is dedicated to horology – the history and science of timekeeping. Located in Bristol, Connecticut, its broad collection ranges from watches to automobile clocks, and everything in between. It was founded in 1952 and opened to the public in 1954, and is one of the few museums in the US dedicated solely to the study of horology. As such, it has one of the largest displays of American-made timepieces on the planet.

In the early 1800s, Eli Terry – an entrepreneurial engineer –introduced the art of mass production to clockmaking. This process revolutionised the way clocks were manufactured in the US. Not only did it change horology, but it also established Connecticut as the clockmaking centre of the entire world.

In 1952, Bristol’s designation as such a global leader led local businessman, clockmaker and inventor Edward Ingraham to put together a town committee to establish the museum. The facility is partially housed in an historic home that was built in 1801 on more than 10,000 square feet of grounds. It boasts eight galleries and over 1500 timepieces on display –including an exceptional collection of automobile clocks, many of which date back to the early 1900s. All these historic timepieces require the talents of the museum’s ‘Old Cranks’ – volunteers who wind 60 clocks every other Friday.

The collection is as distinct as it is large. Many on display have been an intrinsic part of the gorgeous automobiles of the past. These include the extraordinary steeringpost clocks; mass-production vehicle timepieces for Ford; a 1953 Chevrolet dash clock; and one from a Hudson Super Six, to name a few. The museum is also home to many pieces of literature about early automotive dash-clock manufacturing, adverts and more.

Most notably, there are several rear-view mirror clocks. I was especially thrilled to see the collection’s original Micronta digital electronic quartz automotive clock from 1982; it was one of the first digital electronic quartz clocks in the US, and a precursor to the units of today.

Learning about the creation of unique and mass-produced clocks is particularly enlightening. Many of the ideas we use today trace their origins in some way, shape, form or fashion to the pieces displayed in this dedicated museum. The next time you’re in Connecticut, make sure to stop by and see where the clock in your car began. www.clockandwatchmuseum.org. Thanks to Automobilia Resource, www.automobiliaresource.com.

COLLECTING

Words Nathan Chadwick