Clock · Tower clock

George M. Stevens & Co. Small Tower Clock

Partially verified

This small seconds-beating tower clock was manufactured by George M. Stevens & Co. of Boston, dated by the auction source to 1885. The movement is built with a red-painted cast iron frame resting upon an ogee-molded base with cabriole legs and an affixed brass maker's plaque. According to the cataloguer, it features a four-wheel gear train, Harrison's maintaining power, and a Graham deadbeat escapement. The accompanying components include a white-painted wooden dial with applied Roman numerals, counterbalanced hands, a red-painted wooden pendulum rod with a heavy cast iron bob, a shaped wooden mounting board, assorted pulleys, a winding crank, and a custom Lexan movement cover.

George M. Stevens & Co. tower clock movement, painted dial, pendulum rod, bob, mounting board, and pulleys — Schmitt Horan & Co.. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source: www.invaluable.com
Category: Clock · Tower clock
Maker / attribution: George M. Stevens & Co.
Reference: Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier: 147
Source-reported date: 1885
Country: United States

Source-reported attribution and specifications are not independent authentication. A listing does not establish present ownership, current display, availability or permission to reproduce.

Object description

Frame, Dial, and Included Components

The clock movement is built with a red-painted cast iron frame resting on an ogee-molded base with cabriole legs and features a brass Stevens plaque. Visible auxiliary components include a wooden movement mounting board, iron pulleys, a purpose-made Lexan movement cover, and a winding crank.

The dial is described in the auction record as rectangular, wooden, and painted white, bearing applied Roman numerals and fancy counterbalanced hands. The accompanying pendulum consists of a wooden rod painted red and a heavy cast iron bob.

Evidence for this section

“the red painted cast iron frame resting on an ogee molded base with cabriole legs and brass Stevens plaque”
“pendulum with wooden rod and heavy, cast iron bob, the rectangular, wooden, white painted dial with applied roman numerals and fancy, counterbalanced hands, together with a wooden movement mounting board, pulleys, purpose made Lexan movement cover, and winding crank”
“pendulum rod also in red paint”

Reported Movement and Drivetrain Specifications

Catalog description characterizes the clock as a small, seconds-beating tower clock. It features a four-wheel gear train equipped with Harrison's maintaining power and a Graham deadbeat escapement.

The auction entry records transmission universal joints and motion work present, although the linking rod is noted as missing. The movement is reported to tick, with a notation that it will need service.

Evidence for this section

“George M. Stevens & Co., Boston, a small, seconds beating tower clock”
“four wheel train with Harrison's maintaining power and Graham deadbeat escapement”
“transmission universal joints and motion work present, linking rod missing”
“movement ticks, will need service”

Reported Condition and Modifications

The condition report states that the movement is repainted, very dirty, and shows losses to paint, with surface rust present on steel components. The cast iron bob is listed as good, while the Lexan movement cover has cracks.

On the dial and drive hardware, the dial is described as dirty and missing its top board, and the hour hand is repaired. The weight is noted as missing, the weight pulley has been replaced, the bearing blocks for the pulley mounted to the board are replaced, and the iron pulleys exhibit losses to japanning.

Evidence for this section

“movement very dirty, repainted, and with losses to paint, steel components with surface rust, pendulum rod also in red paint, bob good”
“dial dirty, missing top board, hour hand repaired”
“bearing blocks for pulley mounted to board replaced, iron pulleys with losses to japanning, weight pulley replaced, weight missing, lexan cover with cracks”

Open research questions

What markings or records in Stevens company ledgers substantiate the 1885 date reported in the catalog?
What was the original configuration and profile of the missing dial top board?
Were the replaced bearing blocks and weight pulley modern additions made for domestic display alongside the Lexan cover?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for George M. Stevens & Co. Small Tower Clock
Field	Source-reported value	Source quotation
Maker	George M. Stevens & Co., Boston	“George M. Stevens & Co., Boston, a small, seconds beating tower clock”
Escapement and Train	Four-wheel train with Harrison's maintaining power and Graham deadbeat escapement	“four wheel train with Harrison's maintaining power and Graham deadbeat escapement”
Date	1885	“Date 1885”
Dimensions	22in x 12in x 10.5in	“Dimensions 22in x 12in x 10.5in”
Reported Date	1885	“Date 1885”

Visible details

Red-painted cast iron movement frame supported on an ogee-molded base with cabriole legs, fitted with a crank handle and a transparent cover
Square white-painted slatted wooden dial featuring applied black Roman numerals and ornate counterbalanced pierced hands
Shaped vertical wooden mounting backboard with mounted arbor and barrel
Red-painted wooden pendulum rod, heavy cylindrical cast iron bob, and assorted iron pulleys with wire

Research qualifications

Source notes the dial is dirty and missing its top board, the hour hand has been repaired, the linking rod is missing, and the weight is missing
Movement is reported as repainted, dirty with paint losses, having surface rust on steel parts, replaced weight pulley, replaced bearing blocks, and cracked Lexan cover

Photograph identity and source facts were screened before import; rights clearance remains pending.

Consulted source

Sold at Auction: Small tower clock by George M. Stevens & Co., Boston

Reviewed 2026-10-21 · Record 2da654aac3

Terms in this record

Glossary explanations for terms named in this object’s record.