E. Ingraham Company

Elias Ingraham (1805–1885) opened his own shop in Bristol in 1831 as a cabinetmaker and designer of clock cases. In the 1840s he designed the four-column 'sharp Gothic' steeple clock, which was copied by many other makers and became perhaps the best-selling distinctively American clock design. In partnership with Elisha C. Brewster the firm traded as Brewster & Ingraham(s) in the 1840s and early 1850s, before continuing under the Ingraham name.

By Elias's death in 1885 the E. Ingraham Company ran five factories with more than 500 employees and made about 250,000 clocks a year. His son Edward introduced the black-enamelled wooden cases that became the standard finish for American mantel clocks in the late 19th century; by the 1890s the company concentrated on eight-day pendulum clocks in wooden cases and nickel alarm clocks. It began making wristwatches in 1913 and eight-day alarm clocks in 1915.

The Ingraham family controlled the business until 1956. During the Second World War it turned to time fuses and other war work, for which it received the Army-Navy 'E' award.

How to recognise the work: Ingraham clocks usually carry a printed paper label inside the case naming the model and 'E. Ingraham & Co.' or 'The E. Ingraham Co., Bristol, Conn.'; dials of later clocks are often signed too. Labels, case style and the type of movement are the main guides to date.