Trumbull County Wooden Works Tall Clock Dials : Analysis and interpretation of construction and layout

Abstract

Employing the methods of industrial archaeology, this study utilized as its primary source a newly assembled collection of wooden works tall clock dials produced in Trumbull County, Ohio between 1815 and 1835 to create an artifact derived history of the industry. The construction, design, lettering and markings of a group of local clock dials were analyzed to ascertain patterns that could be interpreted to establish the identities and business relationships among the owners, makers, jobbers and merchants active in the Trumbull County wooden works clock industry. Absent any previous research focused on wood movement clock dials, the writer devised a system to measure, record and categorize evidence of industrial processes employed in early batch and mass production to reveal traits attributable to specific factories or shops. The patterns of occurrence of these traits form the basis for the artifact derived history of the industry that was used to test and expand the existing historic narrative. Subsequently, the usefulness of the methods and conclusions of this limited, regional sample were explored relative to both the greater wooden movement tall clock industry and the companion wood movement shelf clock production.