Issac Youngs Wall Clock

In my opinion, there are few Shaker objects that are as special as the Issac Newton Youngs wall clocks. My reason for thinking this it not just the clocks themselves but the man that made them, he is a pretty good story too.

If you have any interest at all in Shaker furniture it is doubtless you have seen this style of clock before. One of the more famous American clocks, it has been featured in many books and magazine articles over the years. After all it is Shaker design at it’s best, perfect proportions, simple (but really not) and of course, a clock is still a useful thing to have around.

I is surprising to me even as popular a project as this clock design has been, like a lot of other Shaker pieces, details and actual dimensions of the original clocks are pretty much non existent (The Ejner Handburg drawing is the closest I have found). I know a good many do not care to make an exact copy of anything, I really don’t either most of the time. On the other hand, the original clocks have quiet a lot of details that add to the look of the piece that are worth replicating in a copy.

I have been fortunate to be able to photograph and measure three of the original wall clocks. This is the first of a series of posts covering what I have dredged up on these clocks and their maker.  Not sure how many posts or how long it will take, just gonna’ see how it plays out. I will be making a clock with the same joinery and specs as the original along the way too. Off we go………..

-Will Myers