Hello Sukotto,
Thank you for sending in this mantel clock to mearto.com for an appraisal. I shall try to help you with that today.
TITLE:
Stained wood and Dore bronze, two train, double steel spring, eight-day time and hour/half hour striking mantel clock, Duarte model,
made by the Waterbury Clock Company, Waterbury, Connecticut, USA circa 1912.
PROVENANCE:
‘Grandfather owned. Been in family several decades.’
DESCRIPTION:
Case – 11 7/8ths” x 15 ¼”, stained light-walnut (originally made with patinated white and black marbleized enamel), and the façade is made with a rounded arched pediment, centering the glazed brass dial bezel, and having straight vertical sides down to the base of the façade which has a serpentine skirting. The arched pediment runs the full depth of the case and has ogival shaped wooden cornices to either side, each tapering down to a horizontal cornice at the level of the ten and the two, relative to the dial. These cornices are recessed, concave mouldings which have Dore bronze vertically fluted columns below, the columns resting on the broad base moulding, both adjacent to the central façade where there is an applied foliate Dore bronze ornament below the dial. The case rests on gilt spelter (Dore bronze), curled acanthus leaf feet. The back of the case is black patinated pine and has a door for access to the movement compartment and the back has two pasted labels: one with the name ‘Duarte’ (model) and the name of the company etc. and below a Directions label for setting the clock functioning and keeping it so.
Dial – A gilt floral glazed bezel overlies the dial with its egg and dart ornamented brass surround. The paper dial has a Roman hour chapter ring with closed minute track, Brocot aperture @12 for making the movement run faster and slower from the dial side and French, “Simple Roman” steel hands. The base of the dial is marked, “Manufactured by Waterbury Clock Company, USA”.
Movement – This is a rectangular solid brass plate movement with pillars at the corners connecting the front and rear plates, which are secured with screws and nuts at the back plate. (The use of screws and nuts starts post 1900. Before that, they were pinned at the back plate with cotter pins.) The pendulum hangs from the upper back plate. The movement has an anchor recoil escapement, steel cut pinions and two steel coiled springs which power the clock for a duration of eight days and cause striking on the hour on the coiled gong and on the half hour on the cup shaped bell. He movement is unsigned. A small round gilded lead bob is attached to the bottom of the metal pendulum rod.
CONDITION:
Case – In very good used condition with the surface refinished and some of the gilding worn off on the Dore bronze components, especially the feet. Label is partially torn and missing.
Dial – In Good condition with some darkening of the paper surface from oxidation of the paper. Hands are original and excellent. Printing very legible.
Movement – In good condition and assumed it will function as is, or with a cleaning.
Commentary – This model was made as the ‘Duarte’ in white and black marbleized wood, the ‘Duarte Green’ with dark enameled green marbleized wood and the ‘Duarte Mahogany’ with mahogany colored enameled wood. The last was the rarest of the three Duarte models, all were made starting in 1912. Two decades ago, they sold in the $130-$150 range.
WATERBURY HISTORY:
The Waterbury Clock Company (WCC) originated in 1857 and lasted until 1944. It originated in the Benedict and Burnham Manufacturing Company, an organization involved in the brass industry. The connection between the American brass industry and the clock industry was an easy one to make, and the Ansonia Clock Company as well as the Waterbury began in this manner. WCC made all kinds of clocks and was considered one of the seven great clock companies during the end the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries. They made wall, shelf, tallcase, alarm and calendar clocks. They styled their own cases and issued an annual catalog to the public and offered entire cased clocks as well as just movements. They made watches for Ingersoll in 1892 and then purchased the firm in 1922 when it failed. Then the Company became known as the Ingersoll Waterbury Co. (1922 and 1944). Its trademark was "Ingersoll". It became a division of U.S. Time Corporation in 1944. The trademark name switched to "Timex".
COMPARABLES:
https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/15747824_waterbury-mantel-clock-duarte (sold for $70 in 2013)
https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/7903584_3-mahogany-waterbury-duarte-mantle-clock (sold for $30 in 2010)
https://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/46440-antique-waterbury-8-day-mantel-clock (this is just to show you what your original model would have looked like)
https://www.shopgoodwill.com/Item/71479774 (not pictured by goodwill sold this model in 2019 for about $35 with shipping.)
https://treasure.craigslist.org/atq/d/old-working-waterbury-duarte-model-clock/7223150787.html (Offered on craig’s List for $130.)
PRICING:
I must admit that the clock looks better stained than it did in the marbleized form, but collectors of such items do not feel that way. They do want it in original surface. The closer to original condition, clocks will bring higher prices. However, I still believe that your clock would have a fair market value in the $40-$60 range today with retail value being somewhat higher. I hope this appraisal has helped you further understand and price your mantel clock correctly in today’s very demanding marketplace. Thank you again for choosing mearto.com
My best,
David