Tall case clock w/ 8-day movement housed in a cherry Chippendale style case with scroll pediment, carved floral rosettes and three flame finials. Arched glass door and side lights. Partially engaged, smooth columns at front corners, forming part of the hinged door.
Brass dial has Roman numeral chapter ring, C-scroll and vining foliate engraving at spandrels as well as above and below moon wheel which is painted with a star-spangled sky and moon with face. Engraved "Wilton Atkinson" on lower dial.
Waist has broken arch door and recessed, plain quarter columns. Base has raised, scalloped panel at front with quarter columns that match those in the waist section. Feet are bold ogee bracket style.
Atkinson is believed to have been the son of Matthew Atkinson of Lampeter Twp. Wilton was in the Borough as early as 1763 as a cutler. In tax records, he was listed in 1770 as a watchmaker and in 1772 and 1773 as a clockmaker. He married Anna Maria, daughter of the early Borough clockmaker Abram Laroy. Legend states that Anna Maria also made clocks in Lancaster that were sold bearing her husband's name. The Atkinsons eventually moved to Baltimore where, following his death, Anna Maria conducted business until 1819. (Clockmakers of Lanc. Co.)
Snyder notes on p. 40 of Clockmakers of Lanc. Co, that this case is considered one of the earliest examples of the Chippendale style in Lancaster Co., based on the brief working career of Atkinson (1770-1773).
Provenance
Owned by Dr. George Rohrer, then to son Henry A. Rohrer, then to daughter Mary Louise Webster. Tape adhered to reverse side of dial has the name of the donor's father, "Henry Rohrer/ 9-22-87."
Case has been overcleaned, finished with a glossy varnish then handrubbed with steel wool to remove gloss. Vertical scratch on right side of base; feet marred. Crack at lower right corner of base, below raised panel. There are about nine nail holes over the expanse of the tympanum suggesting missing carving. Heavy dent on dial at left edge, center, and hammer marks at this point on reverse side. Lower left corner distorted.
Object ID
G.01.49.1
Notes
Entry for Wilton Atkinson in "Clockmakers of Lancaster Co. and Their Clocks 1750-1850" notes that: "Atkinson married Anna Maria, a daughter of the early Borough clockmaker Abrum Laroy and legend states that she also made clocks in Lancaster that were sold bearing her husband's name. "
Brochure of the First Reformed Church (UCC) notes that in the 1760s, "the French Laroys" belonged to this church. "One chronicler called the LeRoy sisters (four daughters of a local clockmaker) the 'Belles of the congregation.'... Anna Maria, the youngest of the sisters, learned her father's trade and was said to be 'as good a clockmaker' as he was. She and her husband, Wilton Atkinson, took over the family business." (Note: Abrum Laroy died in 1763).
Above brochure is http://visithistoricalancaster.com/pdf/02LP109 HOW-FR-UCC
Call to church office & conversation with paster Dana Schlegel offered no clues to source of above information (Jan. 2017).
Place of Origin
Lancaster
Credit
In memory of Dr. George Rohrer and Mrs. & Mrs. Henry A. Rohrer by Mary Louise Webster, Heritage Center Collection
Eight-day, tall case clock by John George Hoff, Sr., in a flat-top Chippendale walnut case.
Brass dial has pewter chapter ring with Roman numerals for the hour and Arabic numerals for the seconds. Separate seconds dial below XII. Pewter spandrels. "George Hoff" engraved at bottom of dial, above a calendar window. Painted moon wheel at top has moon on a field of stars.
Bonnet has molded cornice, arched door and arched side windows. Engaged columns at all four corners. Waist has wide chambered corners with lambequins at top and bottom. Door has arched top and molded edges; brass escutcheon (replaced?); door is hung by two brass steeple butt hinges. Base has plain sides and chamfered corners that match those at waist. Molding above four ogee bracket feet.
J.J. Snyder notes that this clock case with wide chamfers relates to other pieces with the same feature, e.g. G.03.1.1 (Jenkins family bookcase on desk) and P.78.76 (Old family bonnet top high chest). The Hoff clock chamfers, however, are not fluted like the large case pieces.
See photo of clock in Wood and Kramer's clock book, p. 37.
Provenance
Professor Kauffman said on 4-23-99 that he purchased this clock from a dealer after Joe Kindig refused it because it was a flat top. A receipt (now in file) was tacked to inside of clock case documenting the purchase from collector/dealer Melvin Hubley of Lancaster City in 1955 (cost $545).
Modest wear, right side light is cracked, molding missing at right side of waist at bottom. Base is scarred, some cracks, especially aroung feet and moldiing. Unfilled nail repair holes at base.
Finish has orange peel surface.
Object ID
G.96.37.1
Place of Origin
Lancaster
Credit
Gift of Henry J. Kauffman, Heritage Center Collection
Walnut flat-top tall case clock made by John George Hoff, Sr. Arched iron dial (circa 1770), has pewter attachments, a chapter ring, spandrels and lunette. Attachments probably made by Hoff himself. Roman numerals used with stylized fleur-de-lis half-hour markers.The two hands are wide and stubby, cut from iron sheeting. Asymmetrical winding arbor holes.
Bonnet has tall arched side windows. Plain columns on hood; plain quarter columns on waist and base. Thin molding at bottom of base.
Note: John J. Snyder, Jr. states "This is one of the finest flat-top clock cases from Lancaster County; it is distinguished by its molded platform on the hood, crisp cove molding of the cornice, and narrow waist section." (Clockmakers of Lancaster County, p. 36 and p.113).
Eight-day tall case clock of walnut, engraved "Jacob Gorgas / at Ephrata / 1771" on a silvered round cartouche within dial arch. Engraved silvered dial has chapter ring with Roman numerals, interspersed with fleurs-de-lis marking the half hours. Recessed center dial has foliate and floral engraving. Small seconds dial at top has engraved 4-petal flower within raised circular frame. Calendar wheel in aperture at bottom. Six white metal spandrel pieces restored with gold leaf in 1990.
Scroll-pediment case has molded rectangular base panel and molded frames on the side windows of the hood. The thin molding of the scroll pediment and plain roundels which form the rosettes are probably an updating of the case done in the Federal period, about 1790-1810 (per John J. Snyder, Jr., p. 47 of Lancaster Clockmakers book). Central urn finial has double ringed spire. Arched pendulum door has butt hinges and lock escutcheon. Waist section and base both have chamfered corners with lamb's tongues. Ogee bracket feet.
NOTE: Upper section of bonnet was indeed reworked. Cover board is removable, revealing a compartment containing a floor-mounted bell with strike hammer activated by a "pull chain" passing through floor board to clockworks beneath. Leaf spring attached under "floor board" activates strike hammer. Signed underneath lid board is "Repaired by God (?) Zahm / Lancaster May 1887." This is apparently Godfried M. Zahm (1817-1895), a clock and watch maker in Lancaster.
Jacob Gorgas, Sr. (1728-1798)
Provenance
Clock purchased by Irvin Hoffman Nolt, Sr. of Willow Street. He purchased 3 clocks for each of his 3 children. Gorgas clock given to son Irvin H. Nolt, Jr. (b. 1920 m. 1950) circa 1935 (while teenager). When Irvin Jr. moved to Florida in late 1940s, he entrusted the clock to his aunt Mabel H. Nolt (1886-1971) for storage. Mabel forgot Irvin was owner, so willed the clock to LCHS. (Informant: daughter of Irvin Jr., Nancy Nolt of Lancaster).
Case finish restored Nov. 1989 by Clifford Clayton. Restoration of dial parts in March 1990 by (1) chemical removal of the earlier improper silver plate surface by Theo. R. Schwalm and (2) resilvering of dial parts by John D. Metcalfe. Simultaneous restoration of white metal spandrel pieces (6) by gold leaf application by Jean Ankrum of York.
1887 repair of upper bonnet chamber by G. Zahm, involving remounting of the single bell above the movement. Very visible nail has been toe-nailed into top of left side window from the molding above.
Object ID
1971.031
Credit
Bequest of Mabel H. Nolt estate in memory of LeRoy H. Nolt
Copper teakettle with round body, gooseneck spout, very low domed lid w/ scrolled knob of sheet copper riveted onto lid with a hand-cut washer added under lid, suggesting repair or replacement. Curved handle hinges onto tapered plinth tab bases with two rivets each. Vertical dove-tailed side seam opposite single-seamed spout. Dove-tailed bottom.
Touchmark on top of handle is "R..REED." within a rectangular reserve with serrated ends.
Made by Robert Reed, working in Lancaster 1771-1779, then 1785-1795.
Provenance
Purchased by Heritage Center from Philip Bradley Antiques
Transferred from Heritage Center to LancasterHistory.org December, 2012.
Tax assessment lists Robert Reed 1786-1793.
Kauffman, Henry J. American Copper and Brass. New York: Bonanza, 1979.
Coppersmith info from Shelley Horvath Posten (dau. of Don Horvath), 2009
Copper dented and scratched overall, polish residue at handle hinges. Side handle break repaired with sheet iron patch secured to outside with two iron rivets. Knob appears to be a repair or a replacement.
Object ID
P.80.131
Place of Origin
Lancaster
Credit
Heritage Center Collection. Purchased through the generosity of the James Hale Steinman Foundation,
Strainer of glazed redware, but with a lighter brown color than most redware. Resting on three tapered 1-1/8 " long feet. The flat-bottomed dish has straight sides that flare out to a molded, high lip. Applied handles at sides. Large holes in bottom and three rows of smaller holes at sides.
Lead glaze overall with some streaks/runs of a darker brown.
Numerous chips on body overall; some large ones on underside and a large chip on the side; handle edges have suffered the most significant chipping loss. Glaze is crackled overall and has some staining, particularly on the interior. Feet are moderately worn.
Object ID
G.98.12.17
Place of Origin
Pennsylvania
Credit
Gift of Mrs. S.R. Slaymaker II, Heritage Center Collection
Saltcellar of Stiegel-type clear glass, blown into a 3-piece mold. Body is an inverted pear form on a pedestal base. Upper body decorated with 25 slightly slanted vertical ribs. Bottom is slightly concave with pontil mark at center.
Provenance
Donor bought cellar for $70.00 at Horst Auction on 10-19-96, from the collection of Edward Miller.
Small free-blown wine or dram glass, Stiegel type. Conical form. Low profile knop on stem. Round pedestal base with concentric ring created by folded foot. Pontil mark on bottom.
Provenance
Purchased by donor Hampton C. Randolph, Sr., for $65 at the sale of the Henry E. Balmer estate, Lancaster, PA on April 20, 1996, then donated to the Heritage Center of Lancaster County.
Clear, free-blown leaded glass mug, near barrel shape. Stiegel-type glass has bubbles and other imperfections throughout. Applied threading at rim; ribbed loop handle; engraved design on side is a bird with floral and foliate designs. Pontil mark on bottom has been smoothed around edges with grinding wheel.
Similar to #5, plate 35 in "American Glass" by George and Helen McKearin.
Provenance
Descent within the Nichols family of Lancaster Co. Family history states mug was always kept in a decorated dower chest, dated 1808.
Clear mold-blown Stiegel-type glass mug in cylindrical form. Bottom quarter has 14 fluted ribs that carry through to the bottom and converge on the pontil mark. Rim edged with gold. Side has multicolored fruit and floral paint decoration with a central orange oval cartouche outlined in gold with gold cursive lettering: "Remember me." Applied handle.
Provenance
Descent to Sarah Muench from family, likely her Aunt Alice Potter Fordney, an antiques dealer.
Small plate, used as a paten (communion plate). Circular, with single reed brim, marked on bottom with initials "I.CH." and Jacobs touch #169. Double incised lines near brim and single incised line within sunken bottom.
British quart-size pewter tankard, part of the Warwick Congregation's (now known as the Brickerville United Lutheran Church) communion service.
Straight-sided body with raised band below center; molded base. Hinged domed lid with erect thumbpiece and C-scroll handle. Applied to front of tankard is a cast decorated portrait medallion with the profiles of a man and a woman facing each other with a crown above their heads. Encircling the pair are the words: "LONG LIVE PRINCE AND PRINCESS OF ORANGE". The medallion commemorates the Prince of Orange (William III) and his wife Mary Stuart, daughter of Charles I of England. The couple ruled England as joint sovereigns 1689-1702.
Provenance
The entire communion service remained in use over the years until the congregation decided in 1997 to find a safe place for this valuable communion set. Purchased by the Heritage Center of Lancaster County.
Diameter of bottom is listed. Diameter of top is 4".
Condition
Good
Condition Date
2014-08-28
Condition Notes
Overall abrasions and staining. Cracked where handle is attached at top. Inside pitting. Some cracks on inside of lid's rim. Large dent above medallion.
Object ID
P.97.08.4
Place of Origin
England
Credit
Acquired through the generosity of the James Hale Steinman Foundation and Friends of the Heritage Center Museum, Heritage Center Collection
Pewter plate, part of the Warwick Congregation's (now known as the Brickerville United Lutheran Church) communion service.
Flat bottom, rounded booge and wide, flat rim with single reeded edge.
Underside struck with two worn round marks, on left an anchor over top of the letter "G", undereath of which is "PERCHARD". The right mark has a flower over "LONDON". Another stamp below is heavily worn with "MADE I(N) (L)OND(ON)". Three smaller square marks below.
Provenance
The entire communion service remained in use over the years until the congregation decided in 1997 to find a safe place for this valuable communion set. Purchased by the Heritage Center of Lancaster County.
