Ansonia Clocks
The famous antique Ansonia clocks were founded back in 1850 and they are recognized on the most part for their many ornate designs and unique styling .The Ansonia Clock Company at one time was producing over 440 different casings and the story begins with a boy named Anson Greene Phelps born on March 24, 1781.
It is written that Anson Greene Phelps was a descendant of some of the early colonial governors such as John Haynes and Thomas Dudley. It is also told that Anson's mom died when he was around the age of 12 and that he lived with the minister of Simsbury, Connecticut, which is located in Hartford County in the north central part of Connecticut. It is also said that Anson chose his brother Thomas Woodbridge Phelps as his guardian around the year 1799. Anson was also a family man, he married Miss. Olivia Egleston in October 26, 1906 and together they had eight children. He was also known for his many charitable contributions as well as his Christian morality. Anson was known in the mercantile community as a Christian merchant.
The history I have read, lists Anson as having two other brothers, the first one Thomas and the second one being William. The story goes on to say that the three brothers and a cousin by the name of Job Phelps left Simsbury, Connecticut to go west. Anson decided to stay in Connecticut and move to Hartford where he began manufacturing saddles and became very successful selling them to the south. Later on in 1812 Anson moved to New York and started a metal business with Elisha Peck; the company was named Phelps, Peck & Company. Anson then became acquainted with a man named Sheldon Smith who wanted Anson to invest in the town known as Derby, Connecticut. Anson decided that just north of Derby on the east side of the Naugatuck River was a better location for his metal company, because of the power generated by the river, so he moved to what would soon be known as the town of Ansonia.
Ansonia soon became a leader in the metal production and import business with rolled brass being one of his top leading products. He knew that the regular clock movements that were once made out of wood and cast iron were now being replaced by brass and by coincidence, at the same time he started his brass business in Connecticut, clock companies were popping up everywhere in fact in Connecticut alone there were 9 clock factories. Phelps realized that by opening up his own clock company it would create a larger demand for his brass, thus the Ansonia Clock Company began in 1850.
In the year 1853 Mr. Phelps sold the Ansonia clock Company to his son-in-law James B. Stokes, who was one of the directors of his import metal company. In that same year Mr. Anson G. Phelps passed away at the age of 73 at his home in New York on November 30.
The Ansonia Clock Company purchased a building in New York in 1877 and moved most of its manufacturing to this location. A new face to the scene was a man named Henry J. Davies of Brooklyn. Davies was a inventor, case designer and clock maker with a lot of new ideas. As one of the founders of the new Ansonia Clock Company, he was also made president of the company and was responsible for bringing many different designs to the clock industry.
The Ansonia Clock Company brought a variety of clocks to the table, some of the best known are the figurine clocks, swing clocks, as well as their mantel clocks. There casings were made from wood such as oak, porcelain and cast iron. There is nothing plain about any one of their time pieces. They were all elegant in their own right. If you have the time to go through the web site you will notice just how much thought and time went into each and every time piece. Ansonia clocks are still one of the most sought after clocks today. Register for eBay today! Its free.
 |
