30-hour clockworks installed into a built-in walnut corner cupboard with softwood interior painted white. Constructed in two parts: Upper section has an upper section of 3 doors, glazed central dial door flanked by two blind doors. Below are three glazed doors, central pendulum door flanked by two doors leading to shelves. Base section of cupboard has central false door flanked by two blind doors. Recent addition of brass lock escutcheons on all but dial door. Clock dial is white with paint decoration; calendar wheel; signed "John Hoff/ LANCASTER." Cupboard was built into home of Daniel Zittle/Sittle (1773-1855) of Lampeter Square and removed about 1887 by later owner Dr. J. Henry Musser. Plywood backing added then.
Clockworks by John Hoff (1776-1818), Lancaster Borough, and cubboard by an unknown joiner in the vicinity of Lampeter Square.
Provenance
From Daniel Zittle to son Cyrus Zittle who sold property in 1887 to Dr. J. Henry Musser (b. 1845 in Lampeter), where he practiced medicine1866-1916. Dr. Musser removed the clock to his Lampeter residence. Then removed to son William M. Musser's Lampeter home in 1923. Then given to his son (donor) in 1952 for his home at 1768 Rockvale Rd., Lancaster, PA. Then moved to home of donor's son William M. Musser, III at 1525 Mission Dr., Lancaster, PA. Finally gifted to Heritage Center May 26, 1994.
Fewer than six cupboards with centrally positioned clockworks are known. John Hoff's account book has an August 19, 1812 entry noting the sale of an alarm clock with 12" dial to Daniel Sittle of Lampeter Square, to be done in 2 months. Later entry notes "Took the Clock away Nov. 28, 1812"
Clock functions, minute hand partially broken and hour hand bent. Cupboard has old crazed finish, not original. Cornice molding replaced at right corner; side pieces of molding missing at mid-line; nail holes and damaged areas at lower sides and bottom edges where attached to floor and walls. Holes and indentations remain where missing latches were attached at four lower and middle doors. Mullions removed on glazed doors. Waist section gouged out at sides to allow pendulum room to swing.
Object ID
G.94.10.1
Credit
Gift of William Musser in memory of Dr. J. Henry Musser, Heritage Center Collection
8-day clock works by George Hoff, Jr. (1788-1822) installed in a curly maple Federal style case signed by either J(acob) Stein/Stine or J(osiah) Shufflebottom (inside waist section). White painted dial signed with maker's name and "Lancaster". Moon wheel above. Scroll pediment has turned roundels and urn finials. Bonnet has applied carving under center finial, free-standing turned columns at front and back, arched side lights and reeded base moldings. Chamfered quarter columns on waist and base. Reeded moldings at top and bottom of waist. Door has shield inlay at lock escutcheon and ghosting from a now-removed metal escutcheon. French bracket feet.
"Hertzler" is etched onto top surface of bonnet top. Signed inside waist: appears to be either Josiah Shufflebottom or Jacob Stein/Stine.
Provenance
Donor states clock was part of the furnishings in the home of her grandparents John B. and Emma (Groff) Hertzler at 131 E. Orange St., Lancaster. Hertzler was a banker at The Lancaster Trust Company in early 20th c..
John J. Snyder states Stine was listed on tax lists 1817-19 and Shufflebottom worked c. 1811-1848. Both were cabinetmakers in Lancaster Borough.
Dial paint is crazed. Base has large cracks on both sides and lifting veneer and crack at front. Dents and other scarring on cove molding at top of base. Small cracks on left side of hood.
Works cleaned and repaired by Paul Warfel, 1980. Glazing in door replaced by curator Bruce Shoemaker, 1983, due to crack.
Object ID
G.77.25.1
Place of Origin
Lancaster
Credit
Gift of Elizabeth H. Nichols in memory of John and Emma Groff Hertzler, Heritage Center Collection
Eight-day tall case clock w/ cherry case & walnut inlay. White-painted arched dial has Arabic numerals, sweep seconds and calendar hands, exceptionally well painted dial w/ fan-decorated spandrels & rare rope-like border on chapter ring. Signed "Martin Shreiner" over "No. 182". Clock expert Gary Sullivan says dial was made by Samuel Curtis & Knowles of Boston who later operated out of Philadelphia (see Notes).
Bonnet has four free-standing corner columns, broken arch pediment with inlaid fylfot rosettes at terminals and three urn finials (likely replacements) on tall plinths and a central keystone medallion at the tympanum.
Above rectangular thumbnail molded waist door with hollow top corners is an inlaid eagle within an inlaid walnut oval within multi-line inlay. Eagle has wax-infilled shield and banner in his beak that reads, "Bluribus Unum," (without the initial "E" and Pluribus misspelled). Large inlaid oval on door and brass steeple butt hinges on door. Quarter columns have reeded chamfers which extend only 3/4 of the way up, terminating in lambs tongues.
Facade of base is veneered with mitered corners surrounding a large inlaid square with fan corners. At bottom is horizontal double line of string inlay. There is a drop apron and four French feet. The weights, winding key and door lock & key are not original.
Notes: J.J. Snyder has studied eagle inlaid clock cases and notes in 12/5/96 letter to HC Director, "It is virtually certain that the workshop of Emanuel Deyer of Manheim was the source of many of these..." In 12/15/96 letter he notes that two eagle types were used - symmetrical & asymmetrical, as on this clock.
Stacy Wood's 1995 article on Martin Shreiner notes on p. 580 that a Shreiner clockworks numbered #180 is dated 1815. Thus, we can safely say that this clock - #182 - would be dated about the same year.
Lancaster Borough (clockworks) and probably Manheim (case)
Provenance
Donor is great, great, great-grandson of Shreiner. Clock descended through the Cochran family to him.
Case cracked in many places, e.g.across eagle & cove molding above base. Heavily refinished. Urn finials likely replaced. Infill at cracks and separated joints. Strip added to left side of door opening where door locks, and repair at upper left corner. Wood loss at left hollow corner of door; door lock replaced; one-inch-long gouge in veneer of base at left side of front. Chipped at corners and feet; dents on base front. Dial overpainted at many places.
Object ID
G.96.31.1
Notes
See commentary on clock by John J. Snyder, Jr. in his letter of 5 Dec 1996. He notes the clock has "mediocre surface and finish, many repairs and patches, and questionable urn finials."
In 2015, clock expert Gary Sullivan stated that Shreiner used dials made by Samuel Curtis of Boston (commonly have a paper label on reverse, reading "Curtis Manufactory for Patton & Jones, Phila.) Popularity of tall case clocks lasted longer in PA, so Curtis moved to Phila. Abraham Patton & Samuel C. Jones formed a partnership in 1797 called "Patton, Jones & Co." Changed to "Patton & Jones" in 1798. Parnership failed in 1814 when they could no longer get materials from England due to the War of 1812. Tell tale sign is the banner sign spanning the globes under the moon wheel.
Works made by Martin Shreiner, Sr. (1769-1829). Case attributed to Emanuel Deyer.
Credit
Gift of Paul A. Mueller, Jr., Heritage Center Collection
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
