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History of George Marsh Clocks
George Marsh: The Person and Partnership (1828-1833)
When William Lewis Gilbert (1807–90) and his brother-in-law George Marsh bought a clock business serving Farmington and Bristol, Connecticut, they established what was originally known as Marsh, Gilbert and Company. This partnership began in December 1828.
Early Partnership Movements: They relocated the business to Dayton, Ohio, in 1834, but after just a year they transferred it back to Bristol. However, records indicate George Marsh was active in multiple Connecticut locations during the early years.
George C Marsh worked at Winchester and Winsted and Bristol and Wolcottvile and Farmington and Dayton from 1828-33. George Marsh & Co operated in Farmington in the 1830s. Marsh, Gilbert & Co operated in Bristol and Farmington starting in 1828.
The Gilbert Connection
George Marsh's connection to William L. Gilbert is crucial to understanding the clocks bearing his name. George Marsh was involved in the clockmaking business with his brother-in-law William Gilbert circa 1828-31. Then Marsh moved to Ohio, and Gilbert continued to make and sell clocks for a time using Marsh's name.
Clocks Made Under the Marsh Name (1840s-1850s)
Here's where the story becomes interesting—most "George Marsh" clocks were not actually made by George Marsh himself:
The Official Record: Spittlers' and Bailey's Clockmakers and Watchmakers of American states: "Marsh, George: Bristol, Conn. ca 1850. 30 hour OG clocks manufactured by William L Gilbert in Conn. in about 1850, but sold under the label of his brother-in-law George Marsh, who then lived in Ohio, even though the label says Winchester. Marsh in Ohio probably financed the manufacture of these clocks but they appear to have been made in Conn."
Why Gilbert Used Marsh's Name: The information indicates that clocks with the Winchester location may have been made by William L. Gilbert but were marked on the label with George Marsh's name (he was Gilbert's brother-in-law) and date from the 1850's. Marsh apparently lived in Ohio and financed the making of the clocks in Connecticut.
There are several theories about why Gilbert sold clocks under his brother-in-law's name, including financial backing arrangements or market diversification strategies.
The Chauncey Jerome Connection (1858)
There's an additional complexity to the George Marsh story involving the famous clockmaker Chauncey Jerome:
These George Marsh OG clocks weren't made by George Marsh. They were made by Chauncey Jerome, who briefly set up operation in the William Gilbert clock factory in 1858. Jerome had gone bankrupt, as a result of his failed partnership with PT Barnum, and had lost the use of his own name in trade.
His agreement with Gilbert included the use of Gilbert's nephew's name on the label. Although Jerome's partnership with Gilbert lasted only nine months, he must have produced a great many clocks in that time, as they aren't all that uncommon today.
However, this claim is disputed by some experts, with one noting that movements in George Marsh clocks don't match Jerome's typical products and that Jerome was essentially Gilbert's employee at that time, making any clocks produced correctly considered Gilbert products.
Typical George Marsh Clock Characteristics
OG (Ogee) Clocks: The most common George Marsh clocks are OG style shelf clocks featuring:
- 30-hour brass movements
- Time and strike functions (counting out the hours)
- Typical height of about 25 inches
- Pressed zinc dials
- Various painted glass tablets (often street scenes, though other designs exist)
- Weights typically 2-3 pounds each
- Labels indicating "Winchester" or "Winsted," Connecticut
Dating: Most George Marsh clocks date from approximately 1840-1850s, though the partnership began in 1828.
The Mystery of Multiple Locations
The confusion about locations (Winchester, Winsted, Bristol, Farmington, Dayton, Ohio) reflects the peripatetic nature of early American clock manufacturing. Actually Winsted is/was part of the town of Winchester close to Barkhamsted, which explains some of the geographic confusion.
Wooden Works vs. Brass Movements
Interestingly, there are reports of both types:
- A clock made by George Marsh in Bristol, Conn between 1828 and 1831 with wooden works
- Most surviving examples from the 1840s-1850s have brass movements
This suggests the earlier partnership clocks (1828-1831) used wooden movements typical of that period, while later clocks bearing the Marsh name used brass movements.
Collectibility and Value Today
George Marsh clocks are relatively uncommon but not extremely rare. They represent an interesting transitional period in American clockmaking and the complex business relationships of Connecticut's clock industry. Their value varies based on:
- Condition of the case and movement
- Originality of the tablet (painted glass)
- Working condition
- Completeness of all components
They are considered important pieces of American clock history, particularly for collectors interested in the William L. Gilbert story and Connecticut clockmaking.
The Limited Historical Record
There's not a lot of info on George Marsh, as one collector noted. Unlike William L. Gilbert, who went on to create one of America's major clock companies, George Marsh himself faded from the clockmaking scene relatively early. His name lived on primarily as a label used by his brother-in-law's manufacturing operations.
Summary
George Marsh (active 1828-1833) was William L. Gilbert's brother-in-law and early business partner in Connecticut clockmaking. While the partnership dissolved early with Marsh moving to Ohio, Gilbert continued manufacturing clocks under the Marsh name through the 1840s-1850s. Most "George Marsh" clocks were actually made by Gilbert (and possibly Chauncey Jerome during a brief 1858 partnership), with Marsh likely providing financial backing from Ohio. These OG shelf clocks with 30-hour brass movements represent an interesting footnote in American clock history, where names on labels didn't always reflect who actually manufactured the timepiece.
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