Willard Brothers
Encyclopedia
All Willard Brothers were born at their modest family farm
in Grafton
, Massachusetts
, successively between 1743 and 1755. Owning independent workshops at Boston, they were the most celebrated clockmakers in the early United States
.
Sr. and Sarah Brooks. After his last son was born, Benjamin Senior apprenticed in horology
craftsmanship, and subsequently he opened a workshop at the farm. All sons learned horology as well, and they grew up while dividing their lives between the farm and the workshop.
Later, all sons became clockmakers who professionally influenced each other strongly. After them, three successive Willard generations were dedicated also to horology.
Jr. built his first clocks. Later, of all brothers he was the first one who moved to Boston
's Roxbury Street, in 1770. Subsequently, he was followed there by both Simon and Aaron. Benjamin Junior's best clocks were tall longcase clock
s.
Among the Willard brothers, Simon Willard was the most renowned clockmaker. In 1788, he moved to Boston and soon regarding his brothers' workshops Simon's business became the leading one.
Initially, Simon Willard's main economical support stemmed from the Tall Clock production but he didn't produce these models longer after 1802 when he patented his Banjo clock and this invention became Simon's main sustenance. Tough, Simon Willard preferred rather to build special great clock models which have had historical significance indeed, whether in galleries, churches, and the like.
Later, by his profession he fraternized also with the most important American politicians. Examples are both Thomas Jefferson
and James Madison
.
Also, Simon Willard patented many inventions. The most important was the Banjo Clock. This modern compact wall model was widely copied by competing clock manufacturers although for him Willard didn't claim the royalties
which should have rightfully corresponded ever.
Indeed, differently to Aaron, Simon Willard wasn't a quite good businessman and after retiring Simon finished just with 500 dollar
s.
In 1785, Aaron Willard moved to Boston's Roxbury Street too. His shop was 400 meters near Simon's one. Aaron achieved a good reputation too. However, rather Aaron preferred to produce standardized clock models in large quantities. At his heyday, Aaron's workshop gathered about thirty workers.
Thus, for Aaron's business Simon's compact Banjo Clock was perfect so Aaron produced them hundredfold. These clocks kept the original Simon's frontal glass style and with their brass mechanism they ran for eight days.
Nonetheless, Aaron's clocks are praised too for their beauty. This is particularly so about his other popular compact model, the Shelf clock. Aaron's cachet was their artistically painted glass panels. However, in auction
s nowadays their selling bid
s are much lower, in comparison to bids for Simon's timepieces.
Farm
A farm is an area of land, or, for aquaculture, lake, river or sea, including various structures, devoted primarily to the practice of producing and managing food , fibres and, increasingly, fuel. It is the basic production facility in food production. Farms may be owned and operated by a single...
in Grafton
Grafton, Massachusetts
Grafton is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 17,765 at the 2010 census. Grafton is the home of a Nipmuc village known as Hassanamisco Reservation, the Willard House and Clock Museum, and the Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, successively between 1743 and 1755. Owning independent workshops at Boston, they were the most celebrated clockmakers in the early United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Parents
Their parents were Benjamin WillardBenjamin Willard
-The Willard Family:Benjamin Willard, Jr. was the eldest of four brothers who were notable clockmakers in central Massachusetts during the late 18th and early 19th centuries.The other Willard brothers involved in clockmaking include:* Aaron* Ephraim* Simon...
Sr. and Sarah Brooks. After his last son was born, Benjamin Senior apprenticed in horology
Horology
Horology is the art or science of measuring time. Clocks, watches, clockwork, sundials, clepsydras, timers, time recorders and marine chronometers are all examples of instruments used to measure time.People interested in horology are called horologists...
craftsmanship, and subsequently he opened a workshop at the farm. All sons learned horology as well, and they grew up while dividing their lives between the farm and the workshop.
Later, all sons became clockmakers who professionally influenced each other strongly. After them, three successive Willard generations were dedicated also to horology.
Benjamin Willard (1743 to 1803)
In 1766, under his father's tutelage, Benjamin WillardBenjamin Willard
-The Willard Family:Benjamin Willard, Jr. was the eldest of four brothers who were notable clockmakers in central Massachusetts during the late 18th and early 19th centuries.The other Willard brothers involved in clockmaking include:* Aaron* Ephraim* Simon...
Jr. built his first clocks. Later, of all brothers he was the first one who moved to Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
's Roxbury Street, in 1770. Subsequently, he was followed there by both Simon and Aaron. Benjamin Junior's best clocks were tall longcase clock
Longcase clock
A longcase clock, also tall-case clock, floor clock, or grandfather clock, is a tall, freestanding, weight-driven pendulum clock with the pendulum held inside the tower, or waist of the case. Clocks of this style are commonly 1.8–2.4 metres tall...
s.
Simon Willard
- See corresponding article: Simon WillardSimon WillardSimon Willard were produced in Massachusetts in the Grafton and Roxbury workshops of Simon Willard , a celebrated U.S. clockmaker...
Among the Willard brothers, Simon Willard was the most renowned clockmaker. In 1788, he moved to Boston and soon regarding his brothers' workshops Simon's business became the leading one.
Initially, Simon Willard's main economical support stemmed from the Tall Clock production but he didn't produce these models longer after 1802 when he patented his Banjo clock and this invention became Simon's main sustenance. Tough, Simon Willard preferred rather to build special great clock models which have had historical significance indeed, whether in galleries, churches, and the like.
Later, by his profession he fraternized also with the most important American politicians. Examples are both Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
and James Madison
James Madison
James Madison, Jr. was an American statesman and political theorist. He was the fourth President of the United States and is hailed as the “Father of the Constitution” for being the primary author of the United States Constitution and at first an opponent of, and then a key author of the United...
.
Also, Simon Willard patented many inventions. The most important was the Banjo Clock. This modern compact wall model was widely copied by competing clock manufacturers although for him Willard didn't claim the royalties
Royalties
Royalties are usage-based payments made by one party to another for the right to ongoing use of an asset, sometimes an intellectual property...
which should have rightfully corresponded ever.
Indeed, differently to Aaron, Simon Willard wasn't a quite good businessman and after retiring Simon finished just with 500 dollar
Dollar
The dollar is the name of the official currency of many countries, including Australia, Belize, Canada, Ecuador, El Salvador, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan, and the United States.-Etymology:...
s.
Aaron Willard (1757 to 1844)
- See corresponding article: Aaron WillardAaron WillardAaron Willard was an entrepreneur, an industrialist, and a designer of clocks who worked extensively at his Boston factory during the early years of the United States of America.While at the family farm at Grafton, Aaron Willard developed his career conjointly with his three brothers,...
In 1785, Aaron Willard moved to Boston's Roxbury Street too. His shop was 400 meters near Simon's one. Aaron achieved a good reputation too. However, rather Aaron preferred to produce standardized clock models in large quantities. At his heyday, Aaron's workshop gathered about thirty workers.
Thus, for Aaron's business Simon's compact Banjo Clock was perfect so Aaron produced them hundredfold. These clocks kept the original Simon's frontal glass style and with their brass mechanism they ran for eight days.
Nonetheless, Aaron's clocks are praised too for their beauty. This is particularly so about his other popular compact model, the Shelf clock. Aaron's cachet was their artistically painted glass panels. However, in auction
Auction
An auction is a process of buying and selling goods or services by offering them up for bid, taking bids, and then selling the item to the highest bidder...
s nowadays their selling bid
BID
Bid may refer to:*Bidding, making a price offer in an auction, stock exchange, or card games*Bid , a British home shopping channel...
s are much lower, in comparison to bids for Simon's timepieces.