Philadelphia Regulator Clock Signed on the dial by Thomas Voigt, with Works by John Child of Philadelphia
Dial signed Thomas Voigt Philada for Thomas Voigt (1787-1844; active 1811-1836). Pendulum stamped twice JCHILD for Philadelphia clockmaker John Child (1789-1876).
Philadelphia
Mahogany
Circa 1800-1820
H: 96”; W: 21”; D: 11”
The arched dial of this clock is inscribed Thomas Voigt and “Philada”. This regulator clock has a brass eight-day movement with maintaining power, a strike system and a sweep second hand. There is a pinwheel escapement on the back of the movement. The movement is set in a finely figured mahogany case with a broken arch pediment with exceptionally well-carved urn finials and leafy rosettes, reeded and leaf carved columns and colonettes.
Inside the case is a flat iron pendulum rod with a heavy bob stamped twice JCHILD revealing that the movement for this clock was made by the clockmaker John Child. A corresponding entry in Child’s account book provides information about his work for Thomas Voigt. The book records that on May 7th, 1814 John Child billed Voigt for a clock with an eight day movement with maintaining power and a pinwheel escapements mounted on the back. This fairly unusual combination of elements describes exactly the movement of this clock. On June 6 and October 7 of the same year Child billed Voigt for two further identical movements.
The discovery of this clock sheds new light on the origins of a regulator clock ordered from Thomas Voigt by the then retired Thomas Jefferson. Voigt received this important commission during the same period as this clock was made. The silhouette of the two clocks is identical except for the additional carving on this example. The works also appear to be identical (see photo of clock and works on following page). Thomas Voight’s experience and astronomical expertise led him to be recommended by Dr. Robert Patterson, Philadelphia mathematician and Director of the US Mint to Thomas Jefferson when he was looking for an astronomical clock for Monticello. In September 1811 Jefferson wrote:
I extremely regret the not being provided with a time piece equal to the observation of the approaching eclipse of the sun. can you tell me what would be the cost in Philadelphia of a clock, the time-keeping part of which should be perfect? and what the difference of cost between a wooden & gridiron pendulum? to be of course without a striking apparatus, as it would be wanted for astronomical purposes only.
The same month Patterson responded:
Mr Thos Voigt, a very ingenious mechanic, a son of our chief coiner at the mint, would very cheerfully undertake to make you such an astronomical clock as you desire; the price 65 dollars, without any case.
Voigt’s shop completed President Jefferson's Astronomical Case Clock in 1812, but due to the War of 1812, Jefferson did not receive the clock until 1815 and had to pay $125, almost double the original estimate.
Unlike the Monticello clock, this example has a strike train that counts the hours while not affecting the power of the escapement. The 13 pound pendulum bob stamped by Child helps maintain accuracy. The Jefferson clock was made according to Jefferson’s instructions to Voigt and indicated he wanted the most accurate clock he could find. From the account book, it is evident that Thomas Voigt appeared to have depended on Child to provide these extraordinarily sophisticated movements.
Another famous clock signed by Voigt but with the movement made by John Child is an eleven-foot-tall clock (also known as the "Ohio clock") outside of the Senate Chamber in the Capitol in Washington D.C. The Senate has original correspondence placing the order for the clock, but Child’s account book indicates he made the movement and billed Voigt on May 31, 1816. John Child also built an extraordinary clock for the Library Company of Philadelphia after a fire in 1831 destroyed a clock designed by David Rittenhouse. This astronomical clock featured an alarm that rang at sundown to signal the closing of the Library each day.
Condition: Dial in good condition, repair at one swan's neck, later brace at back of one rosette, typical scattered veneer cracks. Feet restored, calendar hand replaced, all other hands original. One finial replaced, two original finials with small repairs, caps on two finial plinths replaced.
Literature: Silvio A. Bedini, “Thomas Jefferson, Clock Designer,” APS, Proceedings 108 [1964]: 170, 171, 180; Philadelphia Wills and Administrations Book P, File # A-240-1844 [Philadelphia City Archives]). A Clock for the rooms: the Library Company’s Horological Legacy; Jay Robert Stiefel, 2006, https://librarycompany.org/collections/other/clocks.pdf, accessed 4/15/2022. James Gibbs, Pennsylvania Clocks and Watches, Antique Timepieces and Their
Philadelphia
Mahogany
Circa 1800-1820
H: 96”; W: 21”; D: 11”
The arched dial of this clock is inscribed Thomas Voigt and “Philada”. This regulator clock has a brass eight-day movement with maintaining power, a strike system and a sweep second hand. There is a pinwheel escapement on the back of the movement. The movement is set in a finely figured mahogany case with a broken arch pediment with exceptionally well-carved urn finials and leafy rosettes, reeded and leaf carved columns and colonettes.
Inside the case is a flat iron pendulum rod with a heavy bob stamped twice JCHILD revealing that the movement for this clock was made by the clockmaker John Child. A corresponding entry in Child’s account book provides information about his work for Thomas Voigt. The book records that on May 7th, 1814 John Child billed Voigt for a clock with an eight day movement with maintaining power and a pinwheel escapements mounted on the back. This fairly unusual combination of elements describes exactly the movement of this clock. On June 6 and October 7 of the same year Child billed Voigt for two further identical movements.
The discovery of this clock sheds new light on the origins of a regulator clock ordered from Thomas Voigt by the then retired Thomas Jefferson. Voigt received this important commission during the same period as this clock was made. The silhouette of the two clocks is identical except for the additional carving on this example. The works also appear to be identical (see photo of clock and works on following page). Thomas Voight’s experience and astronomical expertise led him to be recommended by Dr. Robert Patterson, Philadelphia mathematician and Director of the US Mint to Thomas Jefferson when he was looking for an astronomical clock for Monticello. In September 1811 Jefferson wrote:
I extremely regret the not being provided with a time piece equal to the observation of the approaching eclipse of the sun. can you tell me what would be the cost in Philadelphia of a clock, the time-keeping part of which should be perfect? and what the difference of cost between a wooden & gridiron pendulum? to be of course without a striking apparatus, as it would be wanted for astronomical purposes only.
The same month Patterson responded:
Mr Thos Voigt, a very ingenious mechanic, a son of our chief coiner at the mint, would very cheerfully undertake to make you such an astronomical clock as you desire; the price 65 dollars, without any case.
Voigt’s shop completed President Jefferson's Astronomical Case Clock in 1812, but due to the War of 1812, Jefferson did not receive the clock until 1815 and had to pay $125, almost double the original estimate.
Unlike the Monticello clock, this example has a strike train that counts the hours while not affecting the power of the escapement. The 13 pound pendulum bob stamped by Child helps maintain accuracy. The Jefferson clock was made according to Jefferson’s instructions to Voigt and indicated he wanted the most accurate clock he could find. From the account book, it is evident that Thomas Voigt appeared to have depended on Child to provide these extraordinarily sophisticated movements.
Another famous clock signed by Voigt but with the movement made by John Child is an eleven-foot-tall clock (also known as the "Ohio clock") outside of the Senate Chamber in the Capitol in Washington D.C. The Senate has original correspondence placing the order for the clock, but Child’s account book indicates he made the movement and billed Voigt on May 31, 1816. John Child also built an extraordinary clock for the Library Company of Philadelphia after a fire in 1831 destroyed a clock designed by David Rittenhouse. This astronomical clock featured an alarm that rang at sundown to signal the closing of the Library each day.
Condition: Dial in good condition, repair at one swan's neck, later brace at back of one rosette, typical scattered veneer cracks. Feet restored, calendar hand replaced, all other hands original. One finial replaced, two original finials with small repairs, caps on two finial plinths replaced.
Literature: Silvio A. Bedini, “Thomas Jefferson, Clock Designer,” APS, Proceedings 108 [1964]: 170, 171, 180; Philadelphia Wills and Administrations Book P, File # A-240-1844 [Philadelphia City Archives]). A Clock for the rooms: the Library Company’s Horological Legacy; Jay Robert Stiefel, 2006, https://librarycompany.org/collections/other/clocks.pdf, accessed 4/15/2022. James Gibbs, Pennsylvania Clocks and Watches, Antique Timepieces and Their