Banjo Wall Clock with Wooden Works and Strike

Square banjo-style wall clock, wooden works and rare strike. Well-built movement, indicative of the earlier wooden works. Straight trunk with painted glass panel in a primitive style but well-executed. Rectangular base with replaced painted glass panel in similar style.

These clocks are rare, probably an experiment by Connecticut makers, often attributed to Eli Terry, Jr., Henry Terry, and Terry & Sons. They were likely made as a more affordable alternative to the more expensive Willard style banjo clock that used a brass movement. Friction limited these wooden works clocks to thirty-hour duration, and they were susceptible to humidity, drying, cracking and warpage. Wood movements would often have to be completely replaced, but some exhibited excellent workmanship, as does this example.