Welch, Spring & Co., Forestville, Connecticut. The "Titiens, V.P.," model 30-day. 223123.
223123 Welch, Spring & Co., Forestville, Connecticut. The "Titiens, V.P.," model 30-day. 223123.
Welch, Spring & Co. of Forestville, Connecticut, introduced the Titiens V.P. model in their 1880 catalog. Named in honor of the world-renowned soprano, Teresa Caroline Johanna Titiens, the clock pays tribute to her remarkable career. Born in Hamburg in 1831, Titiens achieved fame throughout Europe, performing mainly in Frankfurt and Vienna. Her talent took her to Paris in 1863 and to America in 1876, before her death on October 3, 1877.
The case is constructed from rosewood and retains its original finish. A distinctive black-and-gold label on the back displays the maker’s and model information. Expertly turned finials and columns add elegance, while glass panels on both sides, framed with gold trim, allow a view inside. The arched glass door provides protection for the dial.
The white enamel dial, accented with brass rings, stands out against the darker wood case. It features a closed minute ring and Roman-style hour numerals, along with a flowing script signature—"Welch, Spring & Co. / Forestville, Conn."—to authenticate its origin. Traditional Welch-style hands mark the time, while an open center section reveals the nickel plates and brass movement within.
The nickel-plated, time-only, spring-powered movement is designed to run for 30 days when fully wound. Crafted by B. B. Lewis—who also created the mechanisms for the Patti series and perpetual calendar clocks—this movement is both reliable and visually striking. Its pleasing arrangement is showcased through the open center of the dial. The pendulum, suspended from the back of the case, further enhances the clock’s appearance with a gilt-finished wooden rod and a 3.5-inch brass-faced bob swinging against a black-papered backboard.
The polished rosewood case stands 23.5 inches tall, measured from the finials at the top and sides. With a width of 16 inches and a depth of 6.5 inches, it fits beautifully on mantels, shelves, or atop case furniture.
The Titiens model is a difficult mantel clock to find, suggesting it was produced in limited numbers.
Inventory number 223123.
Welch, Spring & Co. was formed in 1868 to produce a higher-quality clock than its parent label, E. N. Welch. The clocks produced incorporated high-quality wood in the construction of their cases and a higher level of detail work. As a result, Welch & Spring Clocks were often more expensively priced.
Elisha Niles Welch was born on February 7, 1809. He had many ventures in clock-related businesses over his lifetime. He was the first President of the Bristol Brass and Clock Co. in 1850. He absorbed many clock businesses over a relatively short period. In 1864, he formed them into the E. N. Welch Mfg. Some of those acquisitions included the Manross clock business in Forestville, J.C. Brown, John Birge, Frederick Otis, and Irenus Atkins. Welch was also a world traveler and a lover of the arts and music. He often invited guests to his house and provided them with entertainment. Several clock models were named after his talented entertainment. One popular model, the “Patti V. P,” was named after the prodigy vocalist, Adelina Patti. Adelina was a soprano prima donna. She is described as a beautiful, wealthy, liberated, and nonconformist woman. She was very popular with men.
Solomon Crosby Spring, SC, was born on January 29, 1826, in Grandby, Connecticut, and died in 1906. He was the son of Thomas Spring and Candace Holcomb. SC began his career in the business of designing, manufacturing, and managing clock-related activities. He worked for S. B. Terry in Terryville and later moved to Bristol. By 1858, he was in business for himself under the name S. C. Spring. This company was the successor to the Birge, Peck, & Company. Solomon retired from clock-making in 1895.
