Collection — Willard House & Clock Museum
Source: https://willardhouse.org/highlights-from-the-collection
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:19
Collection — Willard House & Clock Museum
Contact Us
Use the form on the right to contact us.
You can edit the text in this area, and change where the contact form on the right submits to, by entering edit mode using the modes on the bottom right.
11 Willard Street
North Grafton MA 01536
5088393500
info@willardhouse.org
The Willard House & Clock Museum is a historic place with festive roots, right in the heart of Massachusetts. Come visit us for a guided tour of our museum.
Willard House & Clock Museum
Info
Email
Search
Collection
Highlights from the collection
EIGHT-DAY CLOCKS
Tall or longcase clocks (also called “Grandfather clocks”) could have either eight-day or one-day (30-hour) movements. An eight-day movement clock required winding only once a week. Most of the eight-day clocks are driven by weights moving the pendulum and striking mechanism, with chimes or a bell. Museum hosts dozens of the original clocks made by the Willards.
Learn more
PATENT
TIMEPIECES
On February 8, 1802, Simon Willard patented an eight-day pendulum clock housed in a case having a round top portion bearing the dial, an elongated central portion, and a rectangular base. The shape of the upper part of the case inspired the term “
banjo clock”
, a name Simon did not use. Willard called this clock a “
patent time
piece
” or an “
improved time piece
”.
Learn more
OTHER FORMS
Several types of timepieces are represented in the Museum. This includes numerous shelf clocks, lighthouse clocks, large-scale gallery and tower clocks, various regulators, astronomical scientific timepieces and domestic and foreign-made watches. Below please find some of the finest examples of the Willard House & Clock Museum collection including current loans.
Learn more
PAINTINGS AND DRAWINGS
Other than clocks, Willard House and Clock museum is a home to an extensive collection of Federal and Victorian period art. It consists of several hundred fine and decorative art objects, prints and drawings together with many original pieces of furniture and household items. Our collection includes both European and American paintings, works on paper, embroidery, silver, ceramics and glass.
Learn more
IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS
Documents from the collection include scientific and architectural drawings, business and personal letters from the Willard family members, numerous bills and receipts related to clockmaking business in Grafton and Roxbury, many photographs and silhouettes, newspaper advertisements, and an important daybook with the original records of the trade of Willards and their associates.
Learn more
TOOLS & SCIENTIFIC
INSTRUMENTs
Clockmakers were known for using some of the most progressive and precise tools for their delicate work since 16 century, as well as credited for inventing and improving new mechanical instruments for their trade. Around 18th century horological tool manufacturing emerged as an independent industry. Many of these tools are still being used by early clock enthusiasts and restorers nowadays.
Learn more
Contact Us
Use the form on the right to contact us.
You can edit the text in this area, and change where the contact form on the right submits to, by entering edit mode using the modes on the bottom right.
11 Willard Street
North Grafton MA 01536
5088393500
info@willardhouse.org
The Willard House & Clock Museum is a historic place with festive roots, right in the heart of Massachusetts. Come visit us for a guided tour of our museum.
Willard House & Clock Museum
Info
Search
Collection
Highlights from the collection
EIGHT-DAY CLOCKS
Tall or longcase clocks (also called “Grandfather clocks”) could have either eight-day or one-day (30-hour) movements. An eight-day movement clock required winding only once a week. Most of the eight-day clocks are driven by weights moving the pendulum and striking mechanism, with chimes or a bell. Museum hosts dozens of the original clocks made by the Willards.
Learn more
PATENT
TIMEPIECES
On February 8, 1802, Simon Willard patented an eight-day pendulum clock housed in a case having a round top portion bearing the dial, an elongated central portion, and a rectangular base. The shape of the upper part of the case inspired the term “
banjo clock”
, a name Simon did not use. Willard called this clock a “
patent time
piece
” or an “
improved time piece
”.
Learn more
OTHER FORMS
Several types of timepieces are represented in the Museum. This includes numerous shelf clocks, lighthouse clocks, large-scale gallery and tower clocks, various regulators, astronomical scientific timepieces and domestic and foreign-made watches. Below please find some of the finest examples of the Willard House & Clock Museum collection including current loans.
Learn more
PAINTINGS AND DRAWINGS
Other than clocks, Willard House and Clock museum is a home to an extensive collection of Federal and Victorian period art. It consists of several hundred fine and decorative art objects, prints and drawings together with many original pieces of furniture and household items. Our collection includes both European and American paintings, works on paper, embroidery, silver, ceramics and glass.
Learn more
IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS
Documents from the collection include scientific and architectural drawings, business and personal letters from the Willard family members, numerous bills and receipts related to clockmaking business in Grafton and Roxbury, many photographs and silhouettes, newspaper advertisements, and an important daybook with the original records of the trade of Willards and their associates.
Learn more
TOOLS & SCIENTIFIC
INSTRUMENTs
Clockmakers were known for using some of the most progressive and precise tools for their delicate work since 16 century, as well as credited for inventing and improving new mechanical instruments for their trade. Around 18th century horological tool manufacturing emerged as an independent industry. Many of these tools are still being used by early clock enthusiasts and restorers nowadays.
Learn more