Description:
Born in Mansfield, Connecticut, Nathan Storrs trained with Jacob Sargeant (1761-1843), originally a clock and watchmaker who expanded to silversmithing and jewelry making, in Springfield, Massachusetts. In 1791, Storrs moved to Northampton, staying there until his death in 1839. Storrs was also a watch and clockmaker who diversified and supplemented his trade as a silversmith by making surveying instruments, cutlery, and other objects. Storrs’ shop was located on Shop Row, former site of E. J. Gare and Son, Inc. Clock dial (fragment) made by Nathan Storrs of Northampton, Massachusetts. The dial was designed to be made for a musical or chime clock. Listed at the top of the face are the six songs the clock works could play: Marlborough Duetto; 149th Psalm in 2 Parts; Shady Bowers; Careless Sally; The Banks of the Dee; and Farewell ye Greenfields." Below the song names is a moving portion onto which is engraved two moons, a log cabin, and a two-masted ship. Engraved at the bottom is "Nathan Storrs/ Northampton." Possible replaced (later) moving portion. Clock dial made from a sheet of brass with an arch at the top, and a portion at the top cut out for another rotating piece of brass (later replacement), the dial is engraved with rococo flourishes, cornucopia, a bird, and a pair of hemisphere globes; in the center is the clock face with the following numbers from the outside in: the seconds (5-60)l the hours (I-XII), the days of the month (1-31), and the seconds (10-60), at the bottom within a laurel cartouche is the inscription "Nathan Storrs/Northampton" for silversmith and clockmaker Nathan Storrs (1768-1839) of Northampton, MA , there are several holes drilled into the face of the clock for the winding mechanism, screws or bolts and the clock hands. The Gare Collection at Historic Northampton includes two clock faces for tall case clocks signed with the name of Nathan Storrs.

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