Ithaca clocks — especially calendar clocks made by the Ithaca Calendar Clock Company — hold a special place in American horological history. Known for their ingenious calendar mechanism invented by Henry B. Horton and produced in a wide range of wooden cases, these clocks are treasured by collectors for both their mechanical complexity and period craftsmanship. Many models — from wall-mounted calendar clocks to mantel and grandfather variants — remain in circulation today, prized for their historical significance and distinctive appearance.
Why Ithaca Clocks Are Still Valued
Ithaca calendar clocks are valued because they uniquely combined timekeeping with perpetual calendar mechanisms at a time when most clocks required frequent manual adjustment. The company’s calendar clocks, first patented in 1865, were notable for their innovative ability to automatically track days and months, including leap-year adjustments, making them both useful and fascinating to owners. These features, along with the variety of case styles ranging from simple wall models to larger floor clocks, make Ithaca clocks especially desirable to today’s collectors and enthusiasts.
Ithaca Clock History Summary
Founded in 1865 in Ithaca, New York, the Ithaca Calendar Clock Company began with Henry B. Horton’s patented calendar clock mechanism and quickly grew as the company manufactured clocks with calendar and timekeeping movements. Over the following decades, the company expanded production with various models in walnut, cherry, and other wood cases, and even introduced larger floor clocks in the late 19th century. Despite earlier prosperity, changing market conditions and rising costs led the company into financial difficulty, and it ultimately closed after bankruptcy and public auction of assets in 1917, ending more than 50 years of distinctive American clock-making.
Read more about Ithaca Clock Company’s history.
Caring for an Ithaca Clock
Exceptional care helps preserve an Ithaca clock’s timekeeping and calendar functions. Protecting the clock from humidity, extreme temperatures, and direct sunlight will safeguard both its wooden case and delicate calendar and time movements. Regular gentle winding and keeping your clock on a stable, level surface are good daily habits, but because many Ithaca calendar clocks are more than a century old, professional servicing — including cleaning, lubrication, and adjustment — is essential for long-term reliability.
Ithaca Clock Repair & Service
If your Ithaca calendar clock is not keeping accurate time, the calendar mechanism isn’t advancing properly, or your clock hasn’t been serviced in years, Clock Repair Studio can help. Our expert horologists diagnose issues specific to calendar mechanisms, escapements, striking trains, and other internal components. We offer personalized repair recommendations and professional restoration to help bring your Ithaca clock back to proper working condition.upgrade that had been patented on August 28, 1866, the Ithaca Calendar Clock Company was established in 1865. They started their business in 1865 with very little money.