67.              $100

Atkins Clock Co./Forestville Mfg. Co. stenciled shelf clock, ca. 1860.  This is an uncatalogued clock as best I can tell, and is not shown in Gregory & King’s book, The Clocks of Irenus Atkins.  It looks like a Parlor No. 2 but is only 16 inches tall (Parlor No. 2’s were 18.5 inches tall and all examples had a wagon spring movement; this clock has an unsigned 8-day, time-and-strike standard spring movement).  The gilt stenciling on the front of the case is not typical of Atkins but is typical of Forestville Mfg. Co.; of interest, the very small portion of a label inside matches a Forestville label.  In contrast, the movement is clearly an Atkins Clock Co. movement, no. 284 shown on page 84 of Gregory & King’s book.  Perhaps FMC obtained the movement from Atkins, who was known to trade parts and cases with other makers.  I am assuming this clock was marketed by FMC, based on the partial label, but it is also possible that it was marketed by Atkins, as this and related movements were used in a variety of uncommon shelf clocks by Atkins in the early 1860’s (see Gregory & King, page 85).  The gilt stenciling on the rosewood case is strong and the finish is clean; both glasses are likely original with the dial surround and lower tablet well-preserved, but the lower tablet has been rebacked.  The contoured metal dial holds old paint and proper period hands.  The clock is running and striking on a wire gong.  As noted, only a shred of a label.  $100–$500.

A customer tells me that he has one of these with an Atkins label.