Jerome & Co Alarm Clock
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
circa 1850
This alarm clock was manufactured by Jerome & Co in New Haven, Connecticut, circa 1850. The clock features a black wooden case with a gable top and decorative gilt patterns on the door.
It is a spring-wound timepiece equipped with a specific mechanism designed to prevent over-winding, utilizing a star-like wheel on the winding arbor that interacts with another wheel based on the Geneva stop principle. The dial includes a central brass component for setting the alarm function. Measuring 25 cm in height, 18 cm in length, and 9.5 cm in width, the object is part of the collection at Museums Victoria, acquired through a bequest from Mr.
John Askew in 1928.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Technical characteristics
- Date
- circa 1850
- Type
- Alarm clock
- Maker
- Jerome & Co
- Origin
- New Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Mechanism
- Spring wound with Geneva stop over-wind prevention
- Dimensions
- 18 cm x 9.5 cm x 25 cm
- Place recorded
- United States
- Maker / attribution
- Jerome & Co
- Registration Number
- ST 19358
Design
- Visible features
- • Black wooden exterior with gable-top silhouette • Gilt ornamentation visible on the base and door frame • White chapter ring with Roman numerals • Central circular brass alarm-setting dial
- Movement and Function
- The clock is powered by a spring-wound movement. It incorporates a technical feature to prevent damage during the winding process, specifically a device designed to stop over-winding. The mechanism uses a star-like wheel fixed to the winding arbor. This wheel includes one tooth of greater length than the others, which engages with a secondary wheel featuring smaller, equal-sized teeth. The operation follows the Geneva stop principle, where the number of turns allowed is limited by the number of teeth on the star-wheel before the longer tooth restricts further movement.
- Construction and Exterior
- The clock is housed in a black wooden case topped by a gable. The front of the case is decorated with gilt designs, particularly surrounding the door and along the lower base. The dial features a clear chapter ring with Roman numerals for standard timekeeping. Integrated into the center of the dial is a brass component specifically used for setting the alarm. The overall construction reflects the firm's output in mid-19th century Connecticut, with dimensions measuring 25 cm in height by 18 cm in length and 9.5 cm in width.
- Provenance and Documentation
- The object is registered under the number ST 19358 in the collection of Museums Victoria. It was associated with the manufacturing works of Chauncey Jerome based in New Haven, Connecticut. The clock entered the museum's collection through a loan and subsequent bequest provided by Mr. John Askew. This transition was finalized on 23 April 1928.
Identification
- Source note
- Facts transcribed from the linked source listing or collection record. Attribution and specifications are source-reported and have not been independently authenticated.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: Source does not specify the material composition of the dial beyond the alarm component
- Research required: Internal movement condition is not described beyond the over-winding mechanism