Fontaine's
Antique Auction Gallery,
Important Antique Clock Auctions
We have created a basic list of
Horology
Terms for our ongoing clock
auctions.
A
B C
D E
F G
H I J K
L M
N O P Q
R S
T U V
W X Y Z
A
Acorn clock : American
clock type, consisting of three
styles; the shelf, the dwarf, and
the wall. They were made between
1847 and 1850 by Jonathan Clarke
Brown.
Anchor Escapement : the
mechanism that maintains the
swinging of a pendulum for accurate
time keeping created in 1670; it
allowed for the invention of the
grandfather clock.
Adjusting : Modifications to
the balance spring or pendulum in a
clock to counter the effects of
temperature in order to ensure the
consistency of power output.
Annular: relating to, or
forming a sphere or ring; with
clocks it pertains to the dial
forming a ring around the rest of
the clock.
Antique : any old,
collectible item sought after for
its age, condition, rarity and, or
other unique qualities; an object
reflecting a prior era in society,
usually with a degree of
craftsmanship, artistry and, or
historic value.
Arbor : The portion of a
clock that the wheels and pinions
are affixed to.
Astronomical clock : Clocks
that are based on the geocentric
structure of the universe and are a
virtual model of it. They were
common in medieval times, but are
now fairly rare.
B
Barometer :
Bezel Dial : a glass style
with a metal rim; Usually hinged.
Bim-Bam Chime : An widely
known term, meaning the specific
two-note chime that strikes each
half hour, and again, hourly.
Balance Spring : A device
designed to improve the accuracy of
timepieces that were based on
balance control. Originally these
types of clocks were accurate within
15 minutes, but this design allowed
for accuracy with a few minutes.
Blinking-eye clocks : a
series of timepieces built into
figures. in cast-iron figures, whose
eyes were able to move, ‘wink’ and
‘blink’ through use of a swivel
mechanism. They were extremely
popular in northeast America between
1856 and 1875.
Bushing: A solution to
damaged pivot holes. The hole is
opened further in order to round it
up and to return it to its center.
The new bush is then drilled in the
center with a small hole, and is
fitted securely to the clock plate
and modified for length. Later it is
hammered into the hole and is suited
to the pivot.
C
Cable Driven Movement : one
type of movements, specific to
grandfather clocks. They rely on
gravity, using weights that hang on
cables, and are then wound over
drums.
Cam : a disc or cylinder that
is touched by a lever along the
contour of the disc.
Cam Shaft :
Center Lift Loop:
Center Click :
Center Lift :
Center Lift Pin :
Center Shaft :
Click : pivoted bar that lets
movement in only one direction of
the ratchet wheel.
Connection Washer :
Connection Check Nut :
Connection Rod :
Connection Loop Pin :
Crystal Regulators :
Case : the surrounding
structure of the inner workings of a
clock; generally made of wood,
marble, white metal, brass,
porcelain, china or ceramics.
Chain Driven Movement :
gravity powered standing clock in
which weights are suspended by
chains, and the chains are wound
over gears.
Chapter Ring : the portion of
a clock face that has the numbers
and minute markings on it.
Clock, Alarm :
Clock, Anniversary : also
known as the ‘perpetual clock’ or
the ‘400 day clock’; only requires
winding once a year.
Clock, Ansonia : any clock
produced by the Ansonia Clock
Company. Founded in 1850 in Bristol,
CT. by Theodore Terry (nephew of Eli
Terry), Franklin C. Andrews and
Anson G. Phelps, though its’
original incarnation was the Terry &
Andrews Company, which was formed in
1841. The company peaked in the
1860s, offering over 440 different
clock models for sale. However, in
1927 sales plummeted due to the
effects of WWI, and only 47 models
were offered. The company was sold
to Soviet Russia in 1929, just
before the infamous stock market
crash.
Clock, Banjo : an American
wall clock with a banjo-shaped case,
invented by Simon Willard of
Massachusetts, and patented in 1802.
It has no striking mechanism, as is
standard in any true clock, and
marks times only by the hands and
dial. Only 4,000 were made by Simon
Willard, but the style became
immensely popular and was copied by
other clock makers.
Clock, Bracket : a specific
style of table clock. It came about
when the lantern clocks cases were
changed to wood and were mounted on
a wooden bracket.
Clock, Calendar : any clock
that has indicators to show what day
of the month it is, though these are
the simplest examples of this type
of clock. More complex versions
include displays of the day of the
week, the month of the year, and on
occasion, the phase of the moon. The
first calendar clock patented was in
1853, by John H. Hawes.
Clock, Carriage : a metal
cased clock made for travel. It was
first created in the early 19th
century by Abraham Louis Breguet.
They often have an alarm feature,
and strike the hours as well.
Clock, Cuckoo : any
pendulum-driven clock that strikes
the hour by using small pipes and
bellows to imitate its namesake.
Traditionally, the hour is also
marked by the striking of a wire
gong. The first recorded reference
to a cuckoo clock was in the Black
Forest of Germany in 1629.
Eight-Day Clock : A clock
that runs for eight days on one
winding.
Empire Clock : The term
'American empire' was applied to
furnishings that were consistent to
the style dating from 1825 to 1840.
As it refers to clocks, it means
bronze looking glass, gilded and
veneered and triple-decker styles.
To collectors, it specifically means
two-door styled Connecticut shelf
clocks with full, rounded pillars.
The uppermost section houses the
dial, and the lower usually has a
mirror surrounded by mahogany.
Clock, Figure : any clock
which is set into, or accompanied by
a figurine or statuette.
Clock, Grandfather : also
known as a ‘tall case’ clock, a
‘long case’ clock or a ‘floor
clock’. A weight-driven, pendulum
clock that requires no support to
stand, which houses the pendulum is
housed inside the tower (or ‘waist’)
of the case. They are generally 6 to
8 feet tall, though there are
different sizes, that are sometimes
given other names to identify them;
one that is over 6 feet tall, for
instance, is called a grandfather
clock. One that is over 5 feet tall
is called a grandmother clock, and
one that is less than 5 feet tall is
called a granddaughter clock.
Clock, Inkwell : any clock
that is part of, built into, an
inkwell, or that has an inkwell
attached to it in some manner.
Clock, Lantern : one of the
earliest clocks produced for
domestic purchase. This square-like,
wall clock is hung from a hook and
is identified by a bell on the top
of the case and a metal case.
Clock, Mantel : a
spring-driven table clock that is
short and much wider at its base.
They were designed for placement
above fireplaces.
Clock, Novelty : any clock
that is designed to reflect a hobby,
interest, franchise, or other form
of nostalgia by being built into,
out of, or otherwise attached to
some form of memorobilia.
Clock, Pendulum : any clock
that uses a pendulum as a means of
keeping time. Created in 1656 by
Christiaan Huygens, they were
considered very accurate until the
1930s, to spite the fact that they
needed to be stationary in order to
work.
Clock, Skeleton : any clock,
watch, or other timepiece that has
been altered or designed in such a
way as make the inner workings
visible.
Clock, Street : also known as
‘post clocks’, were created for
public use, as the common citizen
could not afford clocks or watches.
They are large, free-standing, and
placed on public streets, squares
and more recently, hung on the sides
of buildings.
Clock, Table : a generic term
for any clock made to set on flat,
horizontal surfaces, (excluding
floors).
Clock, Tower : any tower
constructed with at least one,
(often four) clock faces built into
it. They are traditionally common
among churches, administration
buildings or historical sites. They
indicate hour with bells, chimes,
and/or music.
Clock, Turret : the movement
of an extremely large clock, usually
in a tower, that needs several
people to operate it.
Clock, Wall : a general term
used to describe clocks that need to
be mounted, or hung on a wall.
Clock, Watchman’s :
Clock, Water : also called a
‘clepsydra’; ancient form of
measuring time which used controlled
water flow, either into (also called
‘intake’) or out from (also called
outflow), a containment device,
where it was measured. It was only
accurate by approximately a ½ hour
to an hour. One of the oldest time –
measuring devices in history, the
earliest indications that have been
supported by physical evidence were,
Egypt (1417 – 1379 BC). However,
both India and China had versions of
the water clock dating to 200 BC
Clocks, Blinking Eye :
Clocks, Double Dialed :
Clocks, Hanging :
Clocks, Mirror :
Clocks, Mission :
Clocks, Plato :
Clocks, Plush :
Clocks, Ship’s :
Clocks, Ship’s Bell :
Collector : an individual who
acquires antiques (or other objects)
for personal enjoyment, only.
D
Disk :
Dial :
Day Roll :
Day Click :
Detent : A catch that is moved
in the way of a moving wheel.
Dual Chime Movement : a type
of movement with two different
melodies.
E
Escapement Button :
Electroliers :
E. Howard : The E. Howard &
Co. was founded in 1858 by Edward
Howard and Charles Rice. The Howard
movement, (which he perfected in
1842), quickly set the standard for
many clocks. No two clocks are ever
the same, due to the different
grains and hues of the wood used.
They are renown the world over for
being absolutely reliable, and have
relied upon, historically, by those
who demanded precision time-keeping.
E. Howard & Company were considered
the premier authority on clocks and
watches throughout the 1890’s; and
while many other companies emulate
the quality of the company, their
product has not been duplicated it
in over 100 years.
Escapement : the device that
controls the rate of the clock by
advancing the gears at regular
intervals, (or ‘ticks’); the
mechanism that transforms the
rotational energy into motions.
*NOTE: THERE ARE A TON OF
DIFFERENT ESCAPEMENT TYPES, WHICH
WILL BE COMING SOON!
F
Fly Pinion & Fly :
Female Stops :
Face :
G
Gear, Stationary :
Gear, Revolving :
H
Hands :
Hammer Shaft :
Hub, Month Wheel :
Hub, Disk :
Hub, Center Lift :
Hub, Center Wheel :
Horology
: the art/science of measuring time.
L
Leap Year Pawl :
Lockwork :
M
Male Stops :
Main Strike Arbor :
Month Roll :
Month Click :
Movement : the mechanism;
inner workings; of a clock or other
timepieces
P
Plate :
Plate, Day Click :
Plate, Center Click :
Plate, Month Click :
Plate, Revolving Gear :
Pendulum :
Pendulum Rod :
Pendulum Reel :
Pocket Watch : smaller,
personal timepieces that are
traditionally carried in a pocket,
either alone or (more commonly)
attached to a chain that affixed to
the carrier. They were created in
1524 by Peter Henlein, who
miniaturized the movement of
existing clocks for this purpose.
R
Ratchet :
Ratchet Bridges :
Ratchet, Safety :
Rivets, Slide :
Rivets, Revolving Gear :
Rivets, Standard :
Regulator : generic term for
a clock that other clocks are tested
against as a means of checking
accuracy; a weight-driven clock
designed to be more accurate by
removing non-essential movements
such as striking mechanisms and the
use of separate minute, second and
hour hands. These small
modifications cut down on friction,
allowing for improved accuracy.
S
Stem :
Strike Wire :
Slide Loop :
Slide Bushing :
Safety Click :
Shield :
Slide :
Screws, Connection Loop :
Screws, Disk Hub :
Screws, Locking Spring :
Screws, Pillar :
Screws, Pillow :
Screws, Standard :
Springs, Center Click :
Springs, Center Spiral :
Springs, Center Locking :
Springs, Day Locking :
Springs, Day Click :
Springs, Detent :
Springs, Friction :
Springs, Leap Year Pawl :
Springs, Month Locking :
Springs, Main Time :
Springs, Main Strike :
Springs, Month Click :
Springs, Verge :
Springs, Passing :
Standards, Stationary Gear :
Standards, Back Center :
Standards, Center Lift & Day Roll :
Standards, Front Center :
Standards, Outside Roll :
Spandrels : the decorative
designs at the corners of a clock.
Speculator : an individual
who purchases items for resale,
either as a whole or for parts.
Spring-Driven : the power
source of a clock; based on a coiled
spring that unwinds.
T
Tablet : also known as
‘decorative glass’ or ‘reverse glass
paintings’; It is the panel either
in front of, or as a backdrop for,
the clock face.
Terry, Eli :
Time Pinion :
Thomas, Seth : Founder of the
Seth Thomas Company which originated
in 1813, primarily for the
construction of Grandfather and
Tower clocks. The company changed to
more contemporary commissions in
1859, after Seth Thomas’ death. He
remains most well known for his
design of the tower clock in Grand
Central Station in New York City,
NY. His sons, however, continued
with the company and the family
trade. Many of their pieces made
between 1881 – 1918 have a date code
stamp on the back, or bottom of the
case. It is the date, in reverse,
followed by a letter of the
alphabet, which corresponds with the
month.
V
Verge : the spindle of a
watch movement created to regulate
the motion of the wheel train,
causing the hands to move.
Verge Escapement : also
called a ‘crown wheel’, was the
original design for all clocks until
the creation of the anchor
escapement.
W
Watch:
Weight-Driven : a power
source for time pieces based on a
the pull of hanging weights.
Willard, Aaron :
Willard, Simon
Wheel, Crown :
Wheel, Count :
Wheel, Center :
Wheel, Day :
Wheel, Friction Center :
Wheel, Month :
Wheel Bracket :
We are now accepting requests for
our June Clock Auction Catalog,
please call or email to receive one
413-448-8922.
Please let us know if you would
like our Antique Clock Auction
Catalog mailed to you. As this
is a very specialized auction, we
are only mailing this full color
catalog upon request. If you are
on our mailing list, please call and
let us know you would like this
catalog also.
Date: June 14, 2008
Time: 11:00 am
Previews:
Friday June 13th 10am-5pm Saturday
June 14th 8am-11am
Location: Fontaine's Auction
Gallery 1485 West Housatonic St ,
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Phone: 413-448-8922
Auction Details:
Auction
to include:
Collection of E. Howard’s # l, #
3, # 4, # 5, # 7, # 8, #9, # 10,
#11, #70, E. Howard Limited edition
Bicentennial Banjo Clock, E.
Howard Astronomical Floor Standing
Regulator, Marine Clock,
Howard #70 with 16 inch dial, A.
Howard Banjo Clock, Waltham weight
driven banjo, Mini banjo, Elmer O.
Stennes fantastic Girandole, Tall
clock with Rocking Ship in Inlaid
Roxbury Style Case, Lyre banjo
clock, Important Brides Model
Presentation banjo Clock, Foster
Campos, banjo clock, Campos maple
banjo, Campos Willard Style banjo,
Howard & Davis #4 banjo clock,
Unsigned Weight driven banjo’s,
Riley Whiting Tall Clock, French
Carriage Clocks, Ithaca calendar
Clock, Waterbury calendar Clocks,
Marine Clocks, Signed English Tall
Clock, Chelsea brass Clocks Seth
Thomas #1 extra, #2, #3, Gallery
clock with 24inch Dial, Ships bell
clock, LeCoultre Atmos Clock
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