Ephraim Downs

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Ephraim Downs (1787-1860) was an early America wooden movement clockmaker in business from 1810 through 1842. He worked with Eli Terry, Silas Hoadley, and Seth Thomas in the early Connecticut clock trade. During the ten year period 1830-1839, Ephraim supplied nearly seven thousand wood movement clocks to the wholesale trade. These sales summarized in his surviving account books show that he made approximately seven hundred clocks per year. Eighty percent of his clocks were of the thirty - hour looking glass variety. Wholesale prices for these clocks was $9.00 in 1830 and by 1839 the price was reduced by one half due to competitive price cutting and reduced manufacturing costs.

Downs sold a few brass movement clocks but it is not believed that he manufactured any of this type. The year 1842 was the last that Ephraim Downs did extensive business in clocks. He did continue to produce and sell a few wood movements. His last recorded sale was to "Wesley Sawyer Allen Coats company", dated October 1, 1845, "to one hundred movements with faces and bells $75.00." He continued to work and ran his gristmill until 1850. He died in Bristol, Connecticut on December 8, 1860. His old clock shop burned down about the time of the end of the U.S. Civil War. It was located on the south side of the river as was the mill, but on the east side of the road now called Downs Street, whereas the mill was on the west side. The Downs mill was taken down in 1921 and a stone monument with a water fountain was erected in its place.