TABLE CLOCK, Ansonia Clock Company, New York. End of the 19th century.

Metal case. Key and pendulum included. Width 35.5 cm. Height 24.5 cm.

The Ansonia Clock Company was a prominent clock manufacturer founded in 1851 in Ansonia, Connecticut, and later moved its operations to Brooklyn, New York, in 1878. During its more than 150 years of business, the company created an impressive legacy of different watch models that included styles such as Gingerbread, Porcelain and Crystal Regulator. Their watches were known for their versatility and creativity.

The company's history can be traced back to the founding of the Ansonia Brass Company in 1844 in Connecticut, which supplied brass to the rapidly growing watch industry. In 1850, the Ansonia Clock Company was formed as a subsidiary of the Ansonia Brass Company, with the participation of clockmakers Theodore Terry and Franklin C. Andrews. This merger allowed the manufacture of both raw materials and watches under the same roof.

A funny detail is that Thomas Edison is said to have visited the factory in 1878 to experiment with combining clocks with his newly developed phonograph. But the experiments proved unsustainable.

The Ansonia Clock Company reached its peak during the late 1800s and early 1900s. Their watches became known for their artistic design and high quality. The company continued to expand internationally with sales offices in New York, Chicago and London. They also produced a large number of non-jeweled watches and exported to several countries around the world.