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Antique Ansonia Clocks
The founding of the Ansonia Clock Company took place in 1844 in Connecticut, when Anson G. Phelps set up the Ansonia Brass Company as a solution to the use of rolled brass products as a replacement for the usual cast brass and wooden movements that had traditionally been used. Phelps was already established as an importer of metals such as brass, copper and tin and it seemed to him to be the obvious thing to do to start another company that could refine and use the imported products further. Clocks seemed the best way forward and so when Phelps met two men who were already well established in clock making, the result was inevitable.
The business marriage was a win-win for all concerned, Phelps finding a use for his existing brass production facility and for Terry and Andrews, giving them access to the required materials to make their Ansonia antique clocks at much cheaper prices. In order to streamline production the factory was moved to Ansonia so that production could be closer to the raw materials from Phelps' mill. Andrews was later to leave the partnership in 1852. Phelps retired from the business in 1853 and sold all of his holding in the company to his son-in-law, James Stokes. Stokes was already working for the importing division of the Phelps metal division, so was well aware of the potential of the company. Throughout the company’s history there have been a couple of near-disastrous events, such as the 1854 fire that swept through the factory in Ansonia that completely destroyed it and all the machinery and stock inside. Full production did not resume until 1869 after much reorganization, the sale of the original buildings and a new name of Ansonia Brass & Copper Co was registered. From 1870 the company expanded production of Ansonia antique clocks and opened another factory in Brooklyn, New York. In total the new company employed over 470 workers. The new company had a short life however, when in 1880 the new factory in New York was again destroyed by fire. This time however the factory was rebuilt in a relatively short time and production resumed. In 1883 the original factory in Connecticut was closed and all production moved to New York.
The end for Ansonia and antique Ansonia clocks came after the First World War. Other clock making companies were by now improving their production levels and were giving the Ansonia Clock Company some stiff competition. Ansonia made a critical business error by trying to beat their competition on price alone. The price of their Ansonia antique clocks were slashed in an attempt to price out their competition. It was a critical mistake. Gradually the number of antique Ansonia clock models was reduced as debt levels increased. Buildings were sold off in a vain attempt at saving the company but it was too late. In 1929 the company finally went into liquidation and was eventually sold to a Russian company. Antique Ansonia clocks can be found all around the world due to the huge amount of exports that took place, so the Ansonia clock has a following by clock collectors in every corner of the globe. The variety and style of Ansonia clocks is well known, but the sheer number of clocks produced by the company is mind-boggling. Phelps original idea was to make as many different variety of clocks as possible, making it hard for anyone looking to purchase a clock look anywhere but at Ansonia. He certainly succeeded, with the number of names of Ansonia clocks extending to well over 400 different models at their peak. Happy Collecting!
Below is a list of current US & UK eBay auctions of Antique Ansonia Clocks.
* all articles on auction courtesy of eBay ** links open a new window at eBay with product details. US Auctions Top
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The Ansonia Clock Company was officially formed in 1850 by Phelps and two other clock makers, Theodore Terry and Franklin Andrews. Terry and Andrews were already established as volume clock makers, producing over 20,000 clocks per year, all using brass for their frames. 
In the early 1900s in an attempt to diversify the company also started production of watches. These were at the cheap end of the market and their attempt at producing the so-called "Dollar Watch". All the same they proved popular with the public and by 1930 over 10 million watches had been produced. 
