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Blog
The American Clock & Watch Museum staff will use this page to offer information about interesting collections we research, new items added to the collection, interesting people that we meet or who visit the museum or other horological tidbits that might be of interest to our visitors. We would be glad to hear your comments about the items we post.
Posted
by Chris Bailey, Curator on 5/20/2008 at 11:08:22 AM EST.
Subject: S.P. Thrasher, Inventor of Digital Clocks |
| CAN YOU TELL ME MORE ABOUT S. P. THRASHER OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT WHO INVENTED DIGITAL CLOCK MECHANISMS WHICH COULD BE USED FOR SHELF, WALL, GRANDFATHER AND TOWER CLOCKS?
S. P. Thrasher was a resident of New Haven, CT about 1897 when he was promoting his new digital-style clocks. A prospectus for his clocks is in the library of the American Clock & Watch Museum. A few clocks are known.
Samuel Powers Thrasher, Jr., son of Samuel Powers Thrasher (1815-1871) and Ann Wakefield (Haven) Thrasher (1825-1908) was born May 9, 1858 at Cornish, NH. He was married to about 1881 to Esther Tibbel Bristol, daughter of William and Miranda J. (Baldwin) Bristol. “Etta”, as she was known, was born in August, 1860 at New Haven, CT. They had six children, three of whom survived.
S. P. Thrasher had moved to Connecticut by 1880 and was age 22, unmarried and rooming at 80 Water Street, New Haven. His occupation was given as “Seaman Missionary” at that time. He and his wife were married about 1881 and they were living at 47 Salem Street, New Haven, CT in 1900 with two daughters and two sons (two others had died young). At that time Thrasher’s occupation was given as “Secretary of Law & Order League.” (No mention of clocks in any occupations given in any census records).
By 1910 Samuel P. Thrasher and his wife and two daughters and a son were living at 241 New Britain Avenue, Hartford, CT. His occupation at that time was “insurance solicitor.” He was 52 years old by this time.
By 1920 Samuel P. Thrasher and his wife and a maiden daughter were living at 4021 Lake Park Avenue, Chicago, IL. He was age 62 by that time and his occupation as Committeeman for an Association. (the name of the Association was abbreviated and not readable).
Samuel P. Thrasher died Sep. 11, 1925 at Chicago, IL, age 77. His widow, Esther Thrasher, was living in the home of a son-in-law and daughter, at 5715 Blackstone Avenue, Chicago, IL in 1930. Esther Tibbel Thrasher died Dec. 29, 1933 at Chicago, IL, age 73.
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Posted
by Donald Muller, Executive Director on 5/19/2008 at 11:38:27 AM EST.
Subject: Terry, Downs & Company Account Books |
| In 1977 the account books of Terry, Downs & Company were microfilmed by the American Clock & Watch Museum. The two volumes, an Account Book 1851-1856 and a Day Book 1851-1858, are in the museum's collection. These two volumes have been transcribed by Fred Ringer, FNAWCC, of Essex Junction, VT. He completed the work in July 2007 & a limited number of copies have been produced by The Green Mountain Timekeepers Society, NAWCC Chapter 109. A copy has been placed in the ACWM library for research purposes. The horological community owes debt of gratitude to Fred for his labor of love. |
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