241.         $500

Angelus Clock Co. (Philadelphia, PA) prayer clock, 1874-1876.  This company made clocks that struck the call to the Angelus devotional prayer at 6 am, 12 noon, and 6 pm; at each time the clock strikes three sets of three strikes, separated by pauses, and then nine consecutive strikes.  The Angelus commemorates the incarnation of Jesus Christ and is used primarily by the Roman Catholic Church; you can find more information on this prayer here.  This clock is striking properly.  The walnut case is 21.5-inches tall with the cross at the top; there are two lighter-color appliques on the front at the bottom and on the door around the dial.  The one-piece glass is old but probably a replacement, and the lower image is a decal.  These clocks usually held a religious paper color print in the lower glass.  The dial here is an aluminum replacement with a glossy paper dial, the hands are period but may be replacements as well.  Seth Thomas provided the 8-day, time- and angelus-strike movements for these clocks; this one is running and striking as expected, although you will need to set the time to the strike chain if you want to follow the dawn, noon, and dusk prayer schedule.  It strikes on a wire gong.  There is a label on the backboard behind the gong base, but it is very dark and difficult to read; there is also some printing on the back of the case that I cannot read.  There is a short article from the NAWCC Bulletin on this clock company (Vol. 281, page 717, 1992).  AAC sold an Angelus clock last summer for $500; Fontaine’s sold a pair in 2020 for $3250.  $500–$1000.