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History of Fred Frick Clocks
The Founder: Frederick Frick (1863-1934)
Fred Frick was born in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, on March 1, 1863, the son of George and Frederica (Oppenlander) Frick. His father, George Frick, had established the Frick Company shops in Waynesboro in 1850, which would later play a role in Fred's life.
Fred Frick became a pioneering figure in the development of programmable master clock systems for schools, businesses, and institutions across America.
Early Years and McCaskey Connection (1894-1901)
From 1894-1901, Frick clock dials, mechanisms and letterheads read "Fred Frick Waynesboro, Pa." During this period, Frick was establishing his reputation in the clock business.
In 1899, Frick purchased the McCaskey Clock Co. This acquisition proved pivotal, as in 1901 he made some improvements on the McCaskey program clock, which became the foundation for his future success in programmable timekeeping systems.
Product Development and Innovation (1894-1901)
During this early period, Frick marketed and distributed his clocks with no jobbers or retailers involved. He controlled his distribution directly, an unusual business model for the time.
Self-winding programmable clocks were introduced, though Frick was still buying clock material from Waterbury and Seth Thomas. This indicates he was manufacturing complete clocks using movements and components from established American clock companies while developing his own innovative programming mechanisms.
He also offered advertising engraving, repairing watches and clocks, and repairing and refinishing furniture, showing the diversified nature of his early business.
Incorporation and Patent Development (1901-1908)
Fred Frick incorporated the Fred Frick Clock company in 1901. This formal incorporation marked a new phase in the company's growth.
From 1901 through 1908, Frank Landis was working with Frick developing patents. This collaboration would prove significant for the company's future.
Later in 1901, Frick disposed of his stock, tools, materials and patents to a new capitalized company. His gain was the royalties as he stayed on as the inventor and designer of programmable clocks. This restructuring allowed Frick to focus on innovation while securing financial backing for expansion.
Technical Innovations
Pinhole Disk Programming System: Frick's pinhole disk patent used 5 minute time intervals, distinguishing his system from competitors. This programmable mechanism allowed schools and businesses to automate bell schedules and other timed events.
Self-Winding Electric Movements: Fred Frick specialized in self-winding master clocks that used electrical impulses to maintain their power. The power source for the movement was four #3 Samson cells in series, delivering approximately 6 volts, with the consideration that slave circuits and program circuits use separate cells for their function.
The movements featured electromagnetic coils that periodically wound a small spring, eliminating the need for manual winding. Frick's design relied on driving the minute hand shaft with a spring versus a weighted lever arm, similar to other contemporary systems like Rempe and National Self Winding clocks.
Master/Slave Clock Systems: Frick specialized in master/slave clocks for schools and businesses. The master clock would send electrical impulses to multiple slave clocks throughout a building, ensuring synchronized timekeeping. The 60-beat movements provided accurate timekeeping with contacts for driving slave clocks at regular intervals.
Sale to Landis (1910-1913)
In 1910, the Fred Frick Clock Co. was sold to Frank & Mark Landis. In the fall of 1913, the Landis Engineering and Manufacturing company took over the Fred Frick interests. (Sources vary slightly on the exact date, with some citing 1910 and others 1913, but this likely reflects a gradual transition period.)
Mark Landis was a Cornell graduate and General Manager & Chief Engineer for Landis Program Time Clocks.
The Landis Transition Period (1913-1923)
Products from this company's early days still have Frick's name on them until about 1923 when the Frick name disappears. This indicates Landis continued to trade on the established Frick reputation for over a decade after acquiring the company.
Movements were marked Fred Frick even during the Landis ownership period, dating to between 1913 and 1923 based on the metal tags in the cases.
Technical Differences: The Landis program time clock patent used a pinhole cylinder mechanism with 1 minute time intervals versus Frick's pinhole disk patent of 5 minute time intervals. This improvement increased the precision of programmable scheduling.
Later Corporate History
Cincinnati Time Recorder Co. bought out Landis in about 1937, marking another transition in ownership. The Fred Frick name had long since been phased out by this point.
Fred Frick's Later Life and Death
After selling his clock company, Fred Frick had been employed at the Frick company shops, the industry established by his father in 1850. He returned to work in the family's original business.
Fred Frick died suddenly at noon on April 2, 1934 (though sources indicate he was 71, which would align with his 1863 birth year, though the obituary was published in 1942, creating some confusion) at the Waynesboro hospital following a stroke while at work at the Frick Company shops.
He was survived by his wife Minnie Sprenkle, one daughter Mrs. Richard Betts, three brothers (Ezra, Abraham O., and Amos Frick), one sister (Mrs. Annie Good), four grandchildren and one great-grandchild. He was buried in Burns Hill Cemetery in Waynesboro.
Product Range and Applications
There is so much more history about the Fred Frick Clock Co. He was a genius in the development of the master programmable clocks and the companion slave clocks used in schools and offices across the U.S.
Fred Frick clocks were installed in:
- Schools (for bell schedules between classes)
- Businesses and factories (for shift changes and time tracking)
- Government buildings
- Railroad stations
- Any institution requiring synchronized timekeeping
A notable example: A top-of-the-line 60-beat self-winding hanging wall Master Clock with a 12" white enamel dial marked Landis Waynesboro was placed in the new Waynesboro High School (later East Junior High School) on West Main Street. It ran many secondary clocks in the individual classrooms and controlled the bell schedules. East Junior High School was demolished starting in 1999, but this clock was saved by a local collector.
Legacy and Collectibility
The only records of the company were gleaned from payroll ledgers obtained many years later by Ted Carbaugh (deceased). Carbaugh donated these Frick records to the National Watch and Clock Museum library in Columbia, PA. They are a great source of information.
Examples of Fred Frick clocks are numerous. Sadly many have been converted to electric time-only household wall clocks and the programmable mechanisms removed. This makes intact examples with their original programming mechanisms particularly valuable to collectors.
Important Note: Frick & Schick (Not Related)
It's important to note that there was a completely unrelated company called Frick & Schick of Pforzheim, Germany, which operated in the 1950s and produced run-of-the-mill German mantel clocks. These are not related to Fred Frick of Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, and are of nominal monetary value compared to the significant historical importance of Fred Frick's programmable master clock systems.
Summary
Fred Frick (1863-1934) was a pioneering American inventor and manufacturer who specialized in programmable master clock systems. Starting in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania in 1894, he purchased the McCaskey Clock Company in 1899, improved their designs, and by 1901 had incorporated his own company. His innovative pinhole disk programming system and self-winding electric movements revolutionized institutional timekeeping. After selling to Landis in 1910-1913, his name continued on products until the early 1920s. Today, Fred Frick clocks represent an important chapter in American industrial timekeeping history, though intact examples with original programming mechanisms are increasingly rare.
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