Banjo Clocks Photos

A Banjo clock is a wall clock in the shape of a banjo. The mechanism was patented by Simon Willard of Roxbury, MA in 1802. This clock is narrower than tall clocks of the time since Willard found a way wherein the pendulum did not have to swing as far. Banjo clocks mostly had painted glass panels over the pendulum compartment. Several giandole clocks are included since they differ from banjo design in that the bottom is round instead of rectangular.

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Exploded components display of patent timepiece by Samuel Whiting et al of Concord since each part made by specialist shops of Concord at Concord Museum. Concord, MA.Banjo clock with eagle & image of Boston State House at Isham-Terry House Museum. Hartford, CT.Banjo clock detail of Boston State House at Isham-Terry House Museum. Hartford, CT.Banjo clock detail of face & eagle at Isham-Terry House Museum. Hartford, CT.
Exploded components display of patent timepiece (aka banjo clock) (c1815-35) by Samuel Whiting et al of Concord since each part made by specialist shops of Concord at Concord Museum. Concord, MA.Banjo clock with eagle & image of Boston State House at Isham-Terry House Museum. Hartford, CT.Banjo clock detail of Boston State House at Isham-Terry House Museum. Hartford, CT.Banjo clock detail of face & eagle at Isham-Terry House Museum. Hartford, CT.
Willard banjo clock with American Eagle at Oliver Ellsworth Homestead Museum. Windsor, CT.American Eagle details of Banjo clock at Oliver Ellsworth Homestead Museum. Windsor, CT.Banjo clock by A. Willard with painted romantic scene at Hurlbut-Dunham House. Wethersfield, CT.Painted scene on Banjo clock by A. Willard at Hurlbut-Dunham House. Wethersfield, CT.
Willard banjo clock with American Eagle at Oliver Ellsworth Homestead Museum. Windsor, CT.American Eagle details of Banjo clock at Oliver Ellsworth Homestead Museum. Windsor, CT.Banjo clock by A. Willard with painted romantic scene at Hurlbut-Dunham House. Wethersfield, CT.Painted scene on Banjo clock by A. Willard at Hurlbut-Dunham House. Wethersfield, CT.
Banjo clock by Jabez C. Baldwin of Salem, MA at Yale University Art Gallery. New Haven, CT.Banjo clock scene of Mount Vernon in Rhode Island Period Room at DAR Memorial Continental Hall. Washington, DC.Banjo wall clock at Dodge House. Council Bluffs, IA.Reverse glass painting of chariot on banjo wall clock at Dodge House. Council Bluffs, IA.
Banjo clock (1805-9) by Jabez C. Baldwin of Salem, MA at Yale University Art Gallery. New Haven, CT.Banjo clock (c1825) scene of Mount Vernon in Rhode Island Period Room at DAR Memorial Continental Hall. Washington, DC.Banjo wall clock at Dodge House. Council Bluffs, IA.Reverse glass painting of chariot on banjo wall clock at Dodge House. Council Bluffs, IA.
Banjo clock by Elnathan Taber of Roxbury, MA at Art Institute of Chicago. Chicago, IL.Early American banjo clock by J. Abbott in dining room at Grouseland. Vincennes, IN.Banjo clock in library at Nichols House Museum. Boston, MA.Banjo clock in rear bedroom at Nichols House Museum. Boston, MA.
Banjo clock (1802-5) by Elnathan Taber of Roxbury, MA at Art Institute of Chicago. Chicago, IL.Early American banjo clock by J. Abbott in dining room at Grouseland. Vincennes, IN.Banjo (aka patent) clock in library at Nichols House Museum. Boston, MA.Banjo clock in rear bedroom at Nichols House Museum. Boston, MA.
Patent timepiece by Lemuel Curtis with case attrib. William Munroe of Concord at Concord Museum. Concord, MA.Patent timepiece by Joseph Dyar with case attrib. William Munroe of Concord at Concord Museum. Concord, MA.Banjo clock with painting of Massachusetts State House sold by Shreve, Crump & Low Co. at Orchard House. Concord, MA.American banjo clock with scene of midnight ride of Paul Revere at Mayflower Society House. Plymouth, MA.
Patent timepiece (aka banjo clock) (c1816) by Lemuel Curtis with case attrib. William Munroe of Concord at Concord Museum. Concord, MA.Patent timepiece (aka banjo clock) (c1816-9) by Joseph Dyar with case attrib. William Munroe of Concord at Concord Museum. Concord, MA.Banjo clock with painting of Massachusetts State House (c1920s) sold by Shreve, Crump & Low Co. at Orchard House. Concord, MA.American banjo clock with scene of midnight ride of Paul Revere at Mayflower Society House. Plymouth, MA.
Banjo clock by Willard in drawing room at Jeremiah Lee Mansion. Marblehead, MA.Banjo clock made in New England in Aspet North parlor at Saint-Gaudens NHS. Cornish, NH.Banjo clock by Aaron Willard at Conde-Charlotte Museum. Mobile, AL.Banjo clock by Sessions at Capt. Charles Schreiner Mansion. Kerrville, TX.
Banjo clock by Willard in drawing room at Jeremiah Lee Mansion. Marblehead, MA.Banjo clock made in New England in Aspet North parlor at Saint-Gaudens NHS. Cornish, NH.Banjo clock by Aaron Willard at Conde-Charlotte Museum. Mobile, AL.Banjo clock by Sessions at Capt. Charles Schreiner Mansion. Kerrville, TX.
Banjo-style clock by Simon Willard & Sons of Boston at Jeremiah Lee Mansion. Marblehead, MA.Girandole clock from Boston at National Gallery of Art. Washington, DC.Perry's Victory reverse painting detail on girandole clock from Boston at National Gallery of Art. Washington, DC.Girandole Clock with Aurora decoration by Lemuel Curtis of Concord, MA at Museum of Fine Arts. Boston, MA.
Banjo-style clock by Simon Willard & Sons of Boston at Jeremiah Lee Mansion. Marblehead, MA.Girandole clock (1813-20) from Boston at National Gallery of Art. Washington, DC.Perry's Victory reverse painting detail on girandole clock (1813-20) from Boston at National Gallery of Art. Washington, DC.Girandole Clock with Aurora decoration (c1816-21) by Lemuel Curtis of Concord, MA at Museum of Fine Arts. Boston, MA.
Girandole Clock with marriage decoration by Lemuel Curtis of Concord, MA at Museum of Fine Arts. Boston, MA.


Girandole Clock with marriage decoration (c1816-21) by Lemuel Curtis of Concord, MA at Museum of Fine Arts. Boston, MA.


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All photos on this page are originals by & copyrighted by Jim Steinhart.
All rights reserved. Permission required to use.

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