George Marsh and William L. Gilbert purchased a clock shop in 1828 which they named Marsh, Gilbert & Company. They were soon at work in Two Connecticut cities, Bristol and Farmington.
In 1837, John Birge joined William Lewis Gilbert and the company name became Birge, Gilbert & Company. They made Empire style shelf clocks.
The company name continued to change. From 1839-1840 Jerome, Grant, Gilbert & Company was established. Clock makers Chauncey and Noble Jerome and Zelotas Grant went into partnership with Gilbert to create Jerome''s inexpensive brass movement clocks.
In 1841, Gilbert and Lucius Clarke acquired a clock factory in Winsted, Connecticut. Later the town name was changed to Winchester. Ezra Baldwin was a member of this company for a time.
From 1841-1845 Clarke, Gilbert & Company produced inexpensive brass clocks. In 1845 William Lewis Gilbert bought Clarke''s share in the company. Three years later, Clarke purchased his shares again. The partnership lasted until 1851. The company name became W. L. Gilbert & Company until 1866 when the Gilbert Manufacturing Company was established. Only 30 years following its purchase in 1871, the Winsted (or Winchester) factory burned down.
William L. gilbert was not a quitter. He formed the William L. Gilbert Clock Company that very same year (1871). William Lewis Gilbert died in 1890, but the company name was retained for 63 years.
George B. Owens managed the clock company from 1880 to around 1900. Despite financial problems from 1934-1957, the company remained active as the William L. Gilbert Clock Corporation.
During World War 2 (1941-1945) clock production was limited. The war effort required metal. The clock company was allowed to manufacture papier-mache case alarm clocks rather than metal ones. These clocks enabled workers to get to their war related jobs on time.
After the General Computing Company took over the Gilbert Company, the name General-Gilbert Corporation was used.
By 1964, the company clock division was no longer profitable. Spartus Corporation of Louisville, Mississippi, and Chicago purchased the former Gilbert Company.
