Waltham “Harvard”

In the 1920’s, the Waltham Watch Company, Waltham, MA, USA published a sales booklet that offered various banjo clocks for sale.   An excerpt from this booklet appears below:

Waltham Banjo Clocks of Willard Charm and Waltham Accuracy

Waltham Banjo Clocks of Willard Design are faithful reproductions of Simon Willard’s “Patent Timepieces” of one hundred and twenty-five years ago……….. The large clocks have eight-day weight-driven movements and pendulums with heavy brass plates.  These Waltham Banjo clocks are worthy successors to Willard’s “Patent Timepieces” and have earned for Waltham the same pre-eminent position for accuracy and beauty in clock making in the twentieth century that Simon Willard occupied in the early days of the nineteenth century.

Waltham Watch Company

Waltham, USA

We are pleased to offer this wonderful example of the Waltham “Harvard” weight driven banjo clock.   The “Harvard” model is one of the finest banjo clocks that Waltham made, and certainly one of the hardest one’s for a collector to acquire since so very few were made.   It’s not hard to understand the scarcity of this model, since it was made for only a short period of time, it was very expensive to own (price of $100 during the 1920’s) and the economic climate of the country was extremely unstable during this period of time.

The presentation mahogany timepiece with half round, torus molded frames and bezel, rounded sides, presentation bracket, carved wooden side arms, and carved flame finial measures 41 1/2 X 10 1/2 X 4 inches overall.  The eight day weight driven brass timepiece with maintaining power, Geneva winding stops keeps perfect time.   The carved top, side ornaments, and special presentation bracket is unique to the Waltham Harvard model, and was inspired by Simon Willard’s timepiece presented to Harvard University.

Condition:  The clock is completely original, including the winding crank.   The case and dial are untouched and retain their original finish.  The signature on the dial is untouched and original, and there are no extra holes behind either the dial or the works.  All three glasses in the clock are original.  The works have been serviced in our shop, and they are in excellent condition.   The weight has never gone through the bottom of the case.  There is a minor crack in the bezel at the location of the hinge that has been stabilized.

SOLD