Chelsea Clock: Gilbert Clock Co

Sunday, 9 September 2012

Gilbert Clock Co

On July 5, 1871, the William L. Gilbert Clock Company was formed at , Conn. to succeed the Gilbert Manufacturing Company (1866-1871) which had been dissolved after a fire destroyed the factory. These firms had grown out of the operations of William L. Gilbert (1806-890) who, since 1828, had been involved in various partnerships in Bristol, and , Connecticut.
In July of 1873, the new factory complex was completed and manufacturing commenced. George B. Owen (1834-1916) had come to in 1866 as General Manager and ran the firm for nearly 50 years, designing many interesting cases and patenting several clock movement features. Owen also operated a concurrent clock business at between 1875 and 1894.
In 1897, the Gilbert firm built a four-story building for a new case shop and another building by 1900 for storage and shipping. A three-story office building was built in 1902. The recession, which began in 1907, along with the financial pressures of their recent expansion headed the firm in a decline that culminated by forcing George B. Owen and his sons to relinquish control in 1914
Bankruptcy and liquidation were barely avoided in 1914 and a new manager, Charles E. Williams, was appointed and served until his death in 1930, just a few months following the stock market crash. Pressures of the Great Depression and money spent in developing electronic clocks sent the firm into receivership in September, 1932.

Gilbert Clock Co

Gilbert Clock Co

Gilbert Clock Co

Gilbert Clock Co

Gilbert Clock Co

Gilbert Clock Co

Gilbert Clock Co

Gilbert Clock Co

In 1828 George Marsh and William Lewis Gilbert purchased a clock shop. They named their clock shop Marsh, Gilbert & Company. The shop was soon at work in Bristol and Connecticut. In 1837 John joined Gilbert and the company name became , Gilbert & Company. They made Empire-style shelf clocks. From 1839 to 1840 the company was known as Jerome, Grant, Gilbert & Company. s Grant, Chauncey and Noble partners with Gilbert to create Jerome's inexpensive brass movement clocks. From 1841 to 1845 Clarke, Gilbert & Company produced inexpensive brass clocks. In 1845 William Lewis Gilbert purchased Clarke's share of the company, but three years later, Clarke bought his shares back. The partnership lasted until 1851. The company name became W.L. Gilbert & Company until 1866 when the Gilbert Manufacturing Company was established. In 1871 the (or Winchester) factory burned down. Gilbert was not a quitter; he formed the William L. Gilbert Clock Company that same year. Gilbert died in 1890, but the company name was retained for sixty-three years. George B. Owen managed the company from 1880 until about 1900. Despite financial problems from 1934 until 1957, the company remained active as the William L. Gilbert Clock Corporation. During World War II, clock production was limited because the war effort required metal. The clock company was allowed to manufacture -mach'e case alarm clocks rather than metal clocks. The clocks enabled workers to get to their war-related jobs on time.

Gilbert Clock Co