James Collins of Goffstown, New Hampshire. A full striking wall clock. 213050.
Introducing a truly rare find, the New Hampshire striking banjo clock, crafted by the skilled hands of James Collins from Goffstown, New Hampshire.
Full-striking banjo clocks, like this rare New Hampshire striking banjo example, are highly sought after by collectors due to their scarcity. They were significantly more expensive than the timepiece versions and required an additional weight to power the strike train, making them very heavy and potentially dangerous if not properly secured.
Today, we see very few of these annually in the marketplace. It is unusual in its form, its’ oversized case, and its’ construction. This clock measures approximately 42 inches long from the bottom of the bracket to the top of the center final and 10.5 inches wide across the lower box. It has a painted dial that measures 9 inches in diameter. The frames are fitted with rope and are gilded. The gilding is original to this clock. The decorated frames support the decorative tablets. They are painted from the back in good colors. They are also original to this fine example. Unfortunately, they are cracked. They have been professionally stabilized since then and are solid. They are hand-painted in excellent colors. The throat features traditional themes. An American eagle is depicted in this location in an unusual position. It is powerful. The lower tablet depicts a lovely river scene. A tower bridge spans the river. The colors are excellent. The case structure is constructed in mahogany and retains an older finish. The sidearms are cast in brass. They are nicely formed and fitted to the sides of the case. The bezel and finial are also brass. The iron dial is original to this clock. It is painted and features a Roman numeral time ring. The dial is protected by glass that is fitted into the bezel.
The movement is constructed in brass and features a full striking train. This weight-driven clock is designed to run eight days in full wind and strike the hour on the hour. Please note that the plates of this movement feature an unusual shape. Several other movements have been found that share this unusual shape. These clocks have had dials signed by James Collins. Besides the unusual shape of the plates, other characteristics include plates supported by three posts, bells mounted at the top of the movement, rack-and-snail striking, and weights marked for the appropriate sides of the movements. For a more detailed discussion, please read New Hampshire Clocks and Clockmakers written by Charles Parson and Paul Foley’s book, Willard’s Patent Timepieces.
This clock was made circa 1820.
Inventory number 213050.
James Collins is interred in Wolcottville, Indiana, where his gravestone remains. The gravestone records his birth as August 8, 1801, and his death as December 8, 1882. Collins was born in Goffstown, New Hampshire, to Stephen Collins. He married Lucy Knight of Hancock, New Hampshire, who was the daughter of clockmaker Elijah Knight. It is believed that Collins received some clockmaking training from his father-in-law. Reports indicate that Collins traveled periodically to Ashby, Massachusetts, and Providence, Rhode Island, likely for clock-related business. Ashby was a small town, notable primarily for the wooden works clockmaking families of Edwards and Willard. Hundreds of wooden movement tall clocks were produced there. In Goffstown, Collins is listed in various town deeds as a "Husbandman, Yeoman, Silversmith, Jeweler, Watchmaker, and Clockmaker." Collins appears to have left Goffstown in the mid-1840s following Lucy's death in 1844, then relocated to Illinois, possibly Michigan, and later to Fort Wayne, Indiana. A few of his clocks have been identified. Documented examples include Tall Clocks, a New Hampshire Mirror clock, and a full Striking Banjo Clock. The New Hampshire Historical Society holds an example of his work in its collection. Charles Parsons, author of New Hampshire Clocks & Clockmakers, resided in Collins's former house for several years.
