With a capital of $20,000, the New Haven Clock Company was incorporated in the early 1850s. The president of the company was Hiram Camp who retained that title for 40 years.
The company was formed to produce inexpensive brass movements for the Jerome Manufacturing Company. The Jerome Company went bankrupt and had to sell its assets, including its manufacturing plant.
Good fortune arose when the New Haven Clock Company purchased the defunct Jerome Company. From that day in the 1850s, until the 1880s, the company experienced successful years. In addition to expanding its operations by making complete clocks, it promoted pocket watches and wrist watches. New Haven sales offices were located around the world in such cities as Liverpool, England, and Yokohama, Japan. Through catalogs, New Haven sold its own clocks, as well as those made by F. Kroeber of New York, E. Howard Company of Boston, and E. Ingraham & Company of Bristol. New Haven soon became one of the largest clock companies in the United States. Among the clocks produced were French clocks, jewelers'' regulators, ebony and mahogany cabinet clocks, wall clocks, including clendar varieties, figure clocks (now called statue clocks), and tall-case hall clocks. This sales procedure, however was discontinued in 1885. Only a small number of imported clocks were offered for sale. Clocks manufactured by other domestic clock companies were no longer marketed by New Haven Clock Company.
A novelty, the Flying Pendulum clock, was patented in the early 1880s. The New Haven Clock Company took control of the patent and improved its mechanism and design until it became one of the funniest and most attractive clocks ever produced. Its movement is unique. A flying ball takes the place of the pendulum. It was advertised as the best show window attraction ever made, but it was not noted for its time keeping accuracy. This unique clock has been reproduced from time to time, and as recently as the late 1950s.
In 1910, the company offered a vast variety of clocks. From 1917-1956, the company offered a vast variety of clocks. From 1917-1956 the clock maker was a major producer of inexpensive watches. A corporation, The New Haven Clock and Watch Company, took over the company in 1946. Financial woes plagued New Haven from 1956-1959.
After 107 years in business, the New Haven Clock Company facilities and products were sold at a public auction in March of 1960. One reason for the company''s demise was a tremendous overproduction of its products that made it impossible to realize a profit.
