What the Waterbury Clock Company Actually Was
The Waterbury Clock Company was a clock manufacturer based in Waterbury, Connecticut, operating from 1857 through the mid-20th century. It was founded by Chauncey Jerome, who had already built a significant reputation producing tower clocks and brass movements. The company started as the Jerome Clock Company and was reorganized as the Waterbury Clock Company in 1866 after a partnership dissolution. They produced inexpensive, mass-produced clocks that became common in American homes, schools, and offices. Their most well-known products were the Waterbury Brass and Waterbury Regulator clocks. These used lever escapements rather than the more traditional deadbeat escapement found in higher-end timepieces. The company also made some striking novelty clocks and alarm clocks in their later years.
Waterbury Clock Company History: From Factory to Timex
In 1885, the Waterbury Clock Company merged with several other Connecticut clock makers to form the United States Time Manufacturing Company. That entity later became United States Time Corporation, which eventually rebranded as the Timex Corporation. So the modern Timex brand traces part of its lineage back through this company, though the relationship is more corporate than mechanical. The Waterbury name itself was used on clocks well into the 1950s as a brand identifier on Timex products. The factory operated along the Naugatuck River, which provided water power early on before the company switched to steam and then electric power. Waterbury itself became known as the Clock City of America because of the concentration of clock manufacturing there. Several other companies operated in the same space, including Elgin National Watch Company's Connecticut operations and numerous smaller shops.
What Makes Their Clocks Collectible Now
Waterbury clocks are generally not high-value collector pieces. They were designed to be affordable, and millions were produced. A typical Waterbury wall clock from the late 1800s might fetch between $50 and $300 at auction, depending on condition and model. The regulator clocks in good working order tend to command higher prices. Novelty shapes, especially animal or decorative forms from the early 1900s, sometimes reach higher prices because fewer survived. Here is a practical thing most people miss when evaluating a Waterbury clock. The movement type matters more than the case. A Waterbury with an original brass lever movement in working condition is worth significantly more than one with a replacement or heavily modified movement. Many surviving Waterbury clocks have had their movements swapped out over the decades because the original ones wore out. Check whether the movement has the Waterbury hallmark or serial number stamped on it. If it does, that is a good sign. If it looks like a generic replacement, assume the value drops considerably. I once inherited a Waterbury regulator clock from my grandfather. The case looked rough, but the movement was original and running. I took it to a horologist who confirmed the movement numbers matched a circa 1890 production run. It sold at auction for about $425, which was more than I expected. The buyer specifically wanted it for the movement, not the case. I should have cleaned it first. That would have likely pushed the price another hundred dollars.
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Identifying Genuine Waterbury Clocks
The dial is usually the first place to check. Early Waterbury clocks had printed dials with "Waterbury Clock Co." or "Waterbury, Conn." prominently displayed. Later models under the United States Time umbrella sometimes used just the Timex name. The serial number system is not fully documented, but researchers at the Waterbury Historical Society have compiled partial records. Serial numbers in the low thousands typically indicate pre-1870 production. Numbers in the high hundreds of thousands point to the 1920s and 1930s. Case material is another indicator. The cheaper models used painted wood cases, often black or dark green. Higher-end pieces had walnut or rosewood cases with decorative inlays. Tin and pressed metal cases appeared in the novelty line. If someone is selling a Waterbury with an ornate carved case and brass movement, verify the paperwork. There are reproductions and restored pieces with swapped parts circulating at estate sales and flea markets.
Common Problems with Surviving Waterbury Clocks
Leather pivot holes are the most common issue. The brass plates in Waterbury movements have small leather washers that act as bushings for the pivots. Over 100 years, this leather compresses, dries out, or disintegrates. When that happens, the gears develop excess play and the clock either runs poorly or stops. A full restoration involves replacing every leather pivot, which is time-consuming work. A skilled restorer can do it in about 3 to 4 hours for a standard wall clock movement. The mainsprings in these clocks are another failure point. They are thin, flat springs that fatigue over time. A broken mainspring is not catastrophic, but it requires disassembly of the entire train. Many clocks sitting in attics have cracked or separated mainsprings that simply need replacement with a correctly sized modern substitute. Stock a few common sizes if you are dealing with these regularly. 22 millimeter and 24 millimeter widths are the most common for Waterbury wall clock movements. I once worked on a Waterbury alarm clock where the alarm mechanism was completely seized. The alarm spring had rusted solid inside the barrel. I soaked the assembly in WD-40 for two days, then gently tapped it with a mallet to break up the corrosion. That usually works for minor cases, but this one was bad. I ended up cutting the barrel open, cleaning each component individually, and reassembling it. The alarm now works, but it took about six hours of careful work. A replacement alarm mechanism from a parts donor clock would have been faster if I had one on hand.
Where to Find Information and Parts
The Clock Collectors of America has a dedicated Waterbury section in their publications and online forums. The Waterbury Historical Society maintains archives of company records, including production ledgers and pattern books. Some of this material is digitized and available through their website. Pat Harrison's reference books on American clocks also cover Waterbury production in detail and include pricing guides. For movement parts, specialty suppliers like The Hour Glass Shop and NAWCC member sources carry replacement pivots, springs, and escapement components compatible with Waterbury movements. eBay remains a source for complete donor movements, though you need to verify authenticity before purchasing. Several Waterbury models share movement dimensions with other Connecticut clock makers from the same era, so cross-compatibility exists in some cases. The Waterbury Clock Company History is really the story of American mass production applied to timekeeping. These clocks brought accurate time into ordinary households at a price point that previous generations could not afford. They are not fine craftsmanship by European standards, but they are functional, historically significant, and still running on walls and mantels over a century later. If you find one in decent condition, it is worth keeping going rather than letting it sit silent.
