United Metal Goods Clock

Q: I bought this clock for my parents about 55 or 60 years ago. It is 16 inches long, 10 inches high, and 4 inches wide. There is a switch in the back that turns on the light and makes the driver’s arm move and crack the whip. The clock is in perfect condition, except that the original whip is missing. I put a makeshift replacement whip in the driver’s hand to see if it still whips, and it does! It’s marked on the bottom “United Metal Goods Mfg. Co. Inc., Brooklyn, N.Y., Model No. 701, Made in U.S.A.” I would appreciate learning the value of this and any other information about it.

A: United Metal Goods was founded in Brooklyn in about 1905. The company made a wide assortment of novelty clocks. Some were offered as the top prize in carnival games. This hansom cab clock was advertised in the 1967 Sears catalog for $19.99. It often shows up for sale online at prices ranging from $12 to over $100, mostly depending on the clock’s condition. Your clock is missing the reins as well as the original whip, so its value would be about $50.