Antique American Clocks July 2020
51. $750
Bradley & Hubbard, “Topsey”, ca. 1870. Perhaps the most desirable blinking eye
clock. She stands 17 inches tall in cast iron. Like most of these old iron clocks she has been repainted; certainly the
skirt, where you can see paint chips underneath the newer paint. Likely her blouse, possibly the stockings and shoes as well. The thing to look for with blinking eye clocks are the eyes, which should be white with black pupils. They are often replaced
with doll’s eyes. There are modern reproductions as well as antique copies made in Europe. The cast iron bases are not
signed with Topsey. The fit on this one to the base is not quite right, suggesting that it may have been banged around, or the
base is from another figure. The 30-hour balance lever movement is sometimes signed Waterbury Clock Co, but often not; this
one is not signed. It is running and the eyes are moving up and down once you get it started, which you do by rocking it sideways. The dial is old paper; the hands are correct, the dial glass replaced. These generally sell for $800-$1200; Horton’s sold one
in January 2019 for $1190.
