131. $3500
Ebenezer Boynton dwarf tall case, 1812-1844. Boynton started out in Attleboro MA but moved to Waterville ME around 1820; it’s not clear (to me) when or where this clock was made. The pine case is 44 inches tall without the 5-inch hollow brass finial and was probably originally grain-painted. The door on
the hood appears to be veneered in mahogany; the glass is modern and there is a pull-handle on the left to allow the door to open. The trunk door has a similar pull-handle but does not latch. The brass dial appears to hold the original paint and is signed
E Boynton in script; the hands are iron and likely original. The wood and brass-gear movement, time-only and probably 8 days
running, appears complete but cannot be tested because the metal rod pendulum has been lost. There is a slot in the back of
the movement for a suspension spring, but the crutch has a horizontal bend that would normally go through a wooden plug in the suspension
rod. A 30-inch rod is required and would need to be modified to work. There is an appropriate cast iron weight included. There are some penciled notations on the back of the door with repair dates from the mid-1800’s. This is a rare clock and I
can find no other examples by this maker, although Spittler, Spittler, and Bailey in Clockmakers and Watchmakers of America, 2011,
note that there were a number of spellings of his name, including Bolkcom. This clock sold at Cottone’s in 2016 for $1700. $3500–$5000.
Antique American Clocks JANUARY 2025