How Connecticut clocks secretly invaded England in the 1800s

Chauncey Jerome’s Brass Clock Deception Against British Customs

Chauncey Jerome pulled off one of the best trade tricks in American history.

After the 1837 crash wiped out wooden clockmakers, this Bristol, Connecticut craftsman built brass clocks that could cross oceans without warping.

When British merchants snubbed his products in 1842, Jerome priced them at just $1. 50 each.

Suspicious customs officials thought this was tax fraud. They bought his entire first shipment to teach him a lesson, then bought his second shipment too.

Only after the third cargo did they grasp their mistake – they had become unwitting distributors for Yankee clocks across the British Empire.

The American Clock & Watch Museum now tells this tale of Yankee wit that changed timekeeping worldwide.

The 1837 Depression Crushed Connecticut’s Clock Business

The 1837 economic crash hit Connecticut clockmakers hard.

Wooden clock sales dropped nationwide as money got tight. Clock shops closed all over Bristol, America’s clockmaking center.

The biggest problem?

Wooden clock parts couldn’t handle ocean trips. Damp sea air warped the wooden gears, making them stop working.

Chauncey Jerome watched his once-busy wooden clock business fall into debt as markets shrank and his products couldn’t reach foreign buyers.

Brass Movements Changed Everything for American Clockmakers

Chauncey Jerome came up with a smart fix around 1838. He replaced breakable wooden parts with tough brass ones in his clocks.

These new brass clocks kept good time even after rough sea trips. The metal parts didn’t warp in damp weather like wood did.

His brass clocks cost more to make but worked much better than others on the market.

This breakthrough meant American clocks could now travel anywhere without breaking, opening huge new markets for Connecticut clockmakers.

Jerome Sent His Son to Crack the British Market

In 1842, Chauncey Jerome loaded a ship with his new brass clocks headed for England.

He sent his son, Chauncey Jr., and a smart businessman named Epaphroditus Peck to sell them in London.

The clocks cost about $1.50 each to make, way cheaper than English timepieces.

Jerome knew breaking into the stuck-up British market would be hard, but he bet his new brass clocks would win customers with their quality and low price.

British Shopkeepers Turned Up Their Noses at “Yankee Products”

Young Jerome and Peck faced constant rejection trying to sell their clocks in London. Shop owners wouldn’t even look at the American timepieces.

“We don’t want any of your Yankee trash,” they said, turning them away.

British clockmakers had owned the market for hundreds of years with costly, handmade pieces. The idea that Americans could make good clocks seemed silly to them.

The men walked store to store, facing rejection after rejection despite having clocks that worked better than many British ones.

A Reluctant Shopkeeper Made the First Sale

After weeks of rejection, one London shopkeeper finally gave in. “Fine, leave two of them. But I won’t pay until they sell,” he said.

The next day, both clocks sold within hours. The shocked shopkeeper asked for four more. These sold just as quickly.

Customers loved the strong, reliable American clocks that cost much less than British options. Soon the same store owner ordered a dozen more.

Word spread through London about these strange but excellent American timepieces that kept perfect time at bargain prices.

Orders Grew Faster Than Jerome Could Fill Them

The once-doubtful London merchant soon ordered 200 clocks. Other shopkeepers who had laughed at the “Yankee peddlers” now wanted Jerome’s timepieces too.

Orders came in faster than ships could cross the Atlantic. Jerome sped up production back in Bristol, hiring more workers to keep up.

His factory ran day and night making brass movements. The $1.50 price tag that British merchants had mocked became their biggest selling point.

Customers couldn’t get enough of these cheap, reliable American clocks.

Customs Officials Couldn’t Believe the Low Prices

When the first big shipment of Jerome clocks reached English customs in 1842, officials stared at the paperwork in shock.

Each clock listed at just $1.50? No way! British clocks cost many times that amount. The customs men thought Jerome was cheating on import taxes.

British law had a trick for such cheaters: customs could buy any imports at the stated value plus 10% if they suspected lying.

The officials smiled at each other, ready to teach this Yankee a lesson.

The British Government Became Jerome’s Best Customer

Customs officials used government money and bought Jerome’s entire shipment on the spot. They paid $1.65 for each clock (the listed $1. 50 plus 10%), feeling clever about catching the supposed fraud.

Jerome’s men happily took payment for the full cargo without visiting a single shop. The officials expected Jerome to complain or raise prices next time.

Instead, he simply took the money and sent more clocks. His factory in Bristol worked extra hours to fill the unexpected government order.

History Repeated Itself With the Second Shipment

Days later, another Jerome shipment arrived in England with the same $1. 50 price.

The customs officials couldn’t believe it. “He’s still trying to cheat us!” they said, sure the American hadn’t learned his lesson.

Again, they took the entire shipment and paid Jerome the listed value plus 10%. Again, Jerome’s men gladly took the money without complaint.

The customs officials patted themselves on the back for stopping another “fraud,” while Jerome’s bank account grew fatter with each “seized” shipment.

The Third Time Wasn’t the Charm for Customs Officials

When a third shipment arrived with the same $1. 50 prices, customs officials got suspicious.

Why would Jerome keep sending underpriced clocks if he lost money each time they were taken? The truth hit them – the clocks actually cost just $1.50 to make.

The British government had been paying full price plus a bonus for hundreds of American clocks. Worse yet, they had no use for all these timepieces.

The officials realized they’d become unwitting sellers for Connecticut clockmakers, buying entire shipments at good prices.

Jerome’s Clocks Spread Across the British Empire

The British customs officials ended up selling their “seized” Jerome clocks throughout England and its colonies.

Sea captains told Jerome they spotted his distinctive brass clocks in shop windows from Egypt to Jerusalem, India to Australia, and even on remote St. Helena island.

The British government had accidentally helped Jerome break into markets he might never have reached otherwise.

His clever “Yankee Clock Trick” turned customs officials into his sales force, spreading Connecticut timepieces across the globe and making “Yankee ingenuity” famous worldwide.

Visiting American Clock & Watch Museum

The American Clock & Watch Museum at 100 Maple Street in Bristol tells the story of Chauncey Jerome’s clever “Yankee Clock Trick” that fooled British customs officials.

You can explore eight galleries with over 1,500 timepieces in this 1801 Federal-style home. Admission costs $12 for adults, $10 for seniors, and $5 for students.

The museum opens Wednesday through Sunday from 10am-5pm, with special guided winding tours on select Fridays.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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