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Early Ohio Clockmaking
In a comprehensive list of American clockmakers operating before 1825, Ohio had only one named clockmaker, making it one of the least represented states. Pennsylvania led with 194, Massachusetts had 151, New York had 122, and Connecticut had 119 clockmakers during this period.
This reflects Ohio's frontier status in the early 19th century - the state was still being settled, and most clockmaking remained concentrated in the established eastern states.
The Herschede Company - Ohio's Premier Clockmaker
The most significant Ohio clockmaking legacy came later: The Herschede Hall Clock Company, based in Cincinnati, Ohio, produced tubular bell grandfather clocks from 1877 to 1983 and became known as the highest quality American clock ever made. In the company's later years, they relocated to Starkville, Mississippi.
Herschede clocks are particularly prized by collectors today and represent Ohio's most important contribution to American horology.
Why Ohio Had Limited Early Clockmaking
Several factors explain Ohio's minimal early clockmaking presence:
- Geographic timing - By the time Ohio was being heavily settled (early-to-mid 1800s), the clock industry was already well-established in Connecticut and Massachusetts
- Transportation - Clocks could be shipped westward via canal and later rail, so settlers could buy Connecticut-made clocks rather than needing local production
- Industrial concentration - Mass production in Connecticut (particularly by makers like Eli Terry and Chauncey Jerome) made it difficult for small regional clockmakers to compete
Ohio became more of a clock market than a clock producer, though skilled clockmakers certainly worked there doing repairs and sales throughout the 19th century.
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