Advertising Clocks

Advertising clocks looked a lot different in the late 1800s than they did by the mid 1900s, when round light-up electric clocks advertising soft drinks hung over soda fountains.

These two cast-iron advertising clocks date from the end of the 19th century, and their similar brass-washed cases were made by the same company, Golden Novelty Co. of Chicago. The clock on the left, advertising Copper Distilled Pure Rye, sold for $2,280 at Showtime Auctions. The clock on the right, advertising Ullman & Co. Gin Phosphate, went for $3,240 at McMurray Auctions. Both cases are cast with grapevines cherubs, but the Ullman clock’s upper case is decorated with openwork. The clocks are both about 16 inches tall.

Photos are courtesy of Showtime Auctions, 22619 Monterey Drive, Woodhaven, MI 48183 (ShowtimeAuctions.com), which held its auction April 4-6, 2014, in Ann Arbor, Mich.; and McMurray Antiques & Auctions, P.O. Box 393, Kirkwood, NY 13795, which held its auction March 29, 2014.