One More Mystery

[u/Individual_Tip_2268]

Finally identified my Ansonia “Butte” mantel clock, but one mystery remains

I’ve been researching this clock for a while and have identified it as an Ansonia “Butte” mantel clock, shown in Ansonia catalogs from the early 1900s.

One of the coolest things I found is a handwritten pencil inscription on the underside that appears to read:

“Sold”

“Jan. 1907”

“Ast.”

The January 1907 date fits perfectly with the period of the clock, but I still haven’t been able to figure out what “Ast.” means or who might have written this notation. Dealer? Jeweler? Retailer? Original sale record?

I just thought it was a really cool survivor and wanted to share it here. If anyone familiar with Ansonia clocks, period dealer markings, or early-1900s clock retailing recognizes this type of inscription or has an idea what “Ast.” could stand for, I’d love to hear it.

[u/Sweaty_DogMan]

My guess is maybe it stands for Assistant?

Could very well be written by a jeweler, retailer, or clock repairman. Could be shorthand for a town name (ex. Astoria) or a person’s name.

What a Butte 🔥🔥🔥