Antique and Vintage Clocks

Searching for a weight driven time-only banjo clock can be a challenge and acquiring an authentic example would go a long way to completing my collection. Securing an authentic Willard would certainly be the icing on the cake.

The style was widely copied by other members of the Willard family of clock makers and many others clock-makers

I was fortunate to have seen several Willard banjo clocks during my visit to the Willard Museum in Grafton Mass. in June 2019.

Few American clock-makers at the beginning of the 18th century were innovative. One of the most notable achievements was the small 8-day, weight-driven clock developed by Simon Willard. The Willard clock is a uniquely American wall clock with a banjo-shaped case designed and constructed by Simon Willard. Willard was originally of Grafton, Massachusetts, later of Roxbury, Massachusetts, and patented his unique clock in 1802.

The Willard banjo clock has no striking mechanism and indicates time only by its hands and dial. It is correctly defined as a timepiece.

The wooden case features a round opening for a painted dial, a long-waisted throat, and a rectangular box with hinged door. Both the throat and door are ornamented with reverse-painted glass panels and the case is usually flanked by curved and pierced brass frets. A finial mounted atop the case usually takes the form of a cast-brass eagle or pointed brass orb.

Only 4,000 authentic Simon Willard banjo clocks were made. The style was widely copied by other members of the Willard family of clock makers and many others clock-makers, both craftsmen and industrial manufacturers.

Variants of the banjo-style clock made by others include examples with square or diamond-shaped dials and heavily gilt cases. I would not consider the E Howard #1 Regulator as a banjo clock nor does the NAWCC (National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors) museum in Columbia, Penn. classify it as such. Though made in 1880 it has similar elements to Willard’s original banjo clock.

In my collection I have two that are a salute to the banjo style.

The Ingraham Nordic has a mechanical movement with a lever escapement, the sort of movement found in ships clocks and alarm clocks. It has a cast brass eagle on top, a round 5 inch dial face surrounded by a brass bezel, long throat, curved brass frets, a rectangular box that does not open and 2 painted decorative panels but is is less than half the size and one twentieth the value of an authentic Willard.

The second is the Sessions Lexington. It has a cast brass eagle on top, round 6 inch dial face surrounded by a brass bezel, long throat with faux wood diamond inlay, curved brass frets, rectangular box that opens to the right to reveal the swinging pendulum and card-stock sailboat insert for the tablet. It is 3/4 the size and one fifteenth the value of an authentic Willard.

Spring driven banjos like the Ingraham and the Sessions can be had for very little money and are not considered desirable by collectors.

Authentic banjos are rare, sought after by serious collectors (not as much in Europe) and command high prices. Yes, it just might be a long search.