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| Welch, Spring, & Co. Mantel Clock |
In 1856 Elisha N. Welch took
over J.C. Brown's Forestville Hardware and Clock Company after it
went bankrupt due to a fire as well as Elisha Manross's failing clock
parts business and started a new company named E.N. Welch. This would
go on to be one of the largest clock companies in Bristol.
The E.N. Welch Company was
later formed in 1864 as a joint stock corporation that would succeed
the private company. From 1868 to 1884 Welch formed a subsidiary
company with Solomon Crosby Spring and Benjamin Bennet Lewis called
Welch, Spring, & Company to specialize in producing more
expensive clocks including regulators and calendars. These were well
known for their rosewood cases.
The “Patti” movement was
produced from 1879 until 1884. This movement was thought to be the
highest quality movement created by Welch. He named it after a
Spanish diva named Adelina Patti, whom he was enamored. Today it is
one of the most sought after movements by collectors.
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| E.N. Welch Rosewood Mantel Clock |
Although the Patti movement
was highly regarded, the first Patti clock did not live up to sales
expectations. Welch would die in 1887 only a few years after they
stopped producing the movement, and his son would take over the
company. However, in 1899 two fires would destroy the movement
company.
After the fire, the company
was plagued with financial burdens (mortagages and bank loans that
were past due) that had started directly after Welch's death. Around
1893 the company had even started selling off stock as well as trying
to produce a cheaper clock. Even when a new brick factory was built
in April 1900, they were unable to meet all financial liabilities.
Throughout this time of
burden for the company, members of the Sessions family were buying
out stockholders. By 1902 they took control of the company, and by
1903 it was now known as the Sessions Clock Company.
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