August 19-20 Sale Includes Hundreds Of American Tall, Banjo, Bracket & Mantel Clocks

ROXBURY, CONN. — On Friday and Saturday, August 19 and 20, Schwenke Auctioneers will offer the entire contents of the estate of a long-time clock collector at an unreserved onsite public auction in Roxbury. The sale will be conducted under tents on both days, and bidders must attend to bid as there is no internet bidding for this sale. Absentee and phone bidding will be available for the Saturday session.

When interviewed about this upcoming sale, Woodbury, Conn., auctioneer Tom Schwenke said, “This is the most unbelievable collection of American clocks I have ever seen or heard of in my 45 years in the antiques and auction business. Due to circumstances beyond our control, we were not able to begin inventory work on this sale until August 1. Prior to that day, we had only walked through the house and taken a quick count and some smartphone photographs. We knew there were hundreds of clocks in this classic Eighteenth Century Roxbury colonial home — many tall clocks were lined up in rows in the first floor rooms, and there were literally stacks of banjo clocks and piles of mantel clocks everywhere. What we did not know is that the dozen or so vehicles on the premises were filled with mantel clocks and that most of the chests and other case pieces in the home were filled with banjo clocks – and good ones.

“My long-time friend and fellow auctioneer Jon Lee from Albany signed on to help with the sale, and when he, his wife Nancy and some of our staff started work on the sun porch of the house on August 1, the real adventure we had undertaken began to unfold,” Schwenke continued. By the end of the afternoon, we had uncovered almost 50 additional American clocks, which were not visible in a room that was being used for storage and was piled high with boxes. We discovered nine American tall clocks — including a rare Jacob Willard, 24 banjo clocks – including four L. Curtis examples – and 15 pillar and scroll and Empire mantel clocks by makers such as E. Terry, Silas Hoadley, Eli Terry Jr and many others, mostly Connecticut makers. A five-drawer New England tall chest in the room had five first-rate banjo clocks ‘filed away’ inside, one in each drawer.”

At present, the firm anticipates that the auction will include more than 50 American tall clocks, including examples by Simon Willard, Aaron Willard, Elnathan Taber, at least 100 pillar and scroll and Empire mantel clocks, and possibly another 100 shelf, bracket and mantel clocks.

A massive collection of Lionel trains found in the attic will be sold on the first day, along with selected furniture, clocks and general estate items. The second day Schwenke will focus on the core collection of clocks.

The second session may be previewed on Friday, August 19, from 8 am until 4 pm and again from 8 am to sale time on Saturday. Both sale sessions begin at 10 am The exact location of the sale, as well as information regarding parking and transportation, will be available on the Schwenke Auctioneers website beginning one week prior to the auction. For information, www.woodburyauction.com or 203-266-0323.