History of the American Clock Business for the Past Sixty Years, and Life of Chauncey Jerome Barnum's Connection with the Yankee Clock Business

In this vivid memoir a lifelong mechanic recounts the transformation of America’s clock business from a handful of makeshift workshops to bustling New England factories. He traces his own journey, beginning with childhood farm chores and a stint as a carpenter, then follows years of apprenticeship, wartime service, and the hard‑earned climb into clock‑dial production. Along the way he describes the shift from wooden movements to metal mechanisms, the introduction of simple machines, and the surge of demand that turned time‑keepers into a vital export.

Readers gain firsthand insight into pioneers such as Eli Terry, the inventive details of case designs, and the gritty realities of peddling clocks on horseback across a young nation. The author does not shy away from personal setbacks, noting the loss of his reputation and savings while celebrating the sense of purpose that came from supplying reliable timepieces to households worldwide. His plain, unembellished storytelling makes the rise of an industry feel both monumental and intimately human, offering a compelling listen for anyone fascinated by invention, labor, or 19th‑century American life.