Advertising – Demuth Pipe Co.

This advertising novelty clock inkwell was made to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of the Pipe Company, DEMUTH. On either side of the clock are two figural pipes with pen wipes, used to clean the pen tips. Under the face of the clock is an eagle with its wings spread open holding a shield in his talons with the pipe company’s initials, “WDC”. Next to the shield are four coins. Below that, is the inkwell. The lid of the inkwell, which swivels open and closed, has embossing which reads, “Wm DEMUTH & CO. N.Y.”. There are markings on the front of the clock base that read “GOLDEN 1862 * 1912 JUBILEE”. There is a shield on the back of the clock which reads, “Made by the art metal works Newark, N.J.”.

The back of the clock is marked “Waterbury Clock Co. Patented May 29, 1894. The 30-hour brass movement has a balance wheel escapement and is wound by a key on the rear cover. There is also a knob for setting the spade hands and a lever to regulate the time. A porcelain 2″ dial has “NEW HAVEN, U.S.A.” written below ’12’ and the company name written below the ‘6’. The dial is surrounded by a brass bezel which houses a beveled clear glass.

William Demuth. (Wilhelm C. Demuth, 1835-1911), a native of Germany, entered the United States at the age of 16 as a penniless immigrant. After a series of odd jobs he found work as a clerk in the import business of a tobacco tradesman in New York City. In 1862 William established his own company. The William Demuth Company specialized in pipes, smoker’s requisites, cigar-store figures, canes and other carved objects. The Demuth Company was known for the famous trademark, WDC in an inverted equilateral triangle.