Ansonia Clock Company
The Ansonia Clock Company was one of the most prolific American clock manufacturers of the 19th and early 20th centuries. Founded in 1850 by Anson Greene Phelps in Ansonia, Connecticut, the company initially operated as a division of the Ansonia Brass and Copper Company, producing clocks as a sideline to its primary metals business.
In 1878 the company relocated to Brooklyn, New York, where it expanded dramatically and became one of the largest clock manufacturers in the world. At its peak, Ansonia employed several thousand workers and produced millions of clocks annually, exporting them to markets across Europe, South America, and Asia.
Ansonia is particularly celebrated for its ornate figural and novelty clocks, including its famous “open escapement” crystal regulator clocks, which showcased the movement through a glass case. The company produced an extraordinary range of styles — from simple wooden shelf clocks to elaborate gilt bronze mantel clocks adorned with porcelain panels and figurines.
Other notable Ansonia products include the “Jumper” novelty clocks featuring animated figures, swing clocks, black mantel clocks in the fashionable Victorian style, and a wide variety of wall clocks including the popular “Drop Octagon” regulator.
Ansonia’s quality declined in the early 20th century as competition from German manufacturers intensified. The company ceased operations in 1929, and much of its equipment and tooling was sold to a Soviet trade delegation and shipped to Russia, where production continued under the name “Ansonia” for some years.
Today, Ansonia clocks are among the most actively collected of all American antique clocks, prized for their variety, decorative appeal, and the quality of their best examples.