New Haven Clocks
Incorporated February 7, 1853, the New Haven Clock Company was formed by clockmaker Hiram Camp and others to supply clock movements to the Jerome Manufacturing Company, then the largest clock making operation in the world. Three years later, the Jerome firm went bankrupt and in April of 1856 the New Haven Clock Company raised an additional $20,000 and purchased the Jerome operation.
By 1860, the firm producing about 170,000 clocks a year. In 1866, the old Jerome factory was destroyed by fire, but a new brick factory was soon built which survives today with many additions
New Haven had trade connections with Jerome & Co. Ltd., an English sales firm which continued business independently after the bankruptcy of the Jerome Manufacturing Company in 1856. By the 1870's the firm was using the trademark "Jerome & Co." on some of their products and purchased the entire English operation in 1904.
In 1902 leadership of the firm passed to Walter C. Camp who is better known as the "father of American football." However, Camp modernized the watch-manufacturing department in 1904, resulting in cheaper production costs, and had wristwatches added to the line in 1915.
From 1943 through 1945, the firm was involved almost totally in manufacturing war products.
In March of 1946, the firm resumed clock and watch manufacture and was reorganized as the New Haven Clock and Watch Company.
In 1956, it was reorganized under Chapter X of the bankruptcy act and in 1960 the operation ceased and the clock manufacturing facilities were sold on March 22‑24, 1960 at public auction and by private negotiation.
