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The Plato Clock The Plato Clock was patented by Eugene L. Fitch, NYC, in 1903 patent # 733,180 and was made in four basic models starting in 1904. Mr. Conrad Hubert, president and owner of The American Electrical Novelty and Manufacturing Company, 304 Hudson Street, New York, NY became interested in Fitch’s Plato clock and financed its production and also handled the marketing. Hubert Conrad wanted the clock to have a name and the patent attorney, Mr. Williams suggested they name it Plato (Plate-o), because of the plates to tell time. Most people just assume that name Plato was named for the Greek philosopher. The Plato clock was one of the feature items at the Ever Ready Exhibit, 1904 St. Louis World's Fair and appeared on Ever Ready Souveners and catalogs. Mr. Hubert called the Plato Clock "The Wonder of The New Century." It is said that Mr. Hubert sold 40,000 Plato clocks but was met with resistance at the retail trade level and they were therefore sold as novelty items. As far as I can tell, the production of these clocks, in the U. S., was made by The Ansonia Clock Co. and in Europe by The Junghans Clock Company. There was also a French Company (name Unknown) That made a few Plato's. About 1900, Mr. Hubert brought in Samuel Stern, a German immigrant with production connections in Germany and set up offices there and France to expand the line of novelty electrical items. Many of the items sold by his company were made in Germany and imported into the U.S. In 1901 he started a British Company, The American Electrical Novelty and Mfg. Company Limited, to sell his novelties. The Plato clocks cases were most often gilded or lightly plated so be careful when cleaning the outer case. The clocks can be found with plates in White,red,blue and dark green with numbers in Black, White, Gold, and Navy. The complete story on Eugene Fitch and the Plato Clock can be found in the NAWCC Bulletin, October, 1964, Pages 445-460. An additional article can be found in the NAWCC Bulletin, December, 1948, Page 516-519. Can also be found on Page 266 & 267 In "Collectable Clocks 1840-1940" by Alan & Rita Shenton. If you have any additional information on the Ever Ready or The American Electrical Novelty and Mfg. Company clocks, please email me. Rareclock@aol.com Left Side is a Sterling Silver, Serial # 7286 with Junghans Movement Center is Enameled Flowers and Gild, no serial number, Ansonia Movement Right Is Gild Brass with the Ever Ready Trade Mark on top, Serial # 4626, Junghans Movement Ever Ready Trademark Patent, October 8, 1901 by American Electrical Nov. & Mfg Co. 1901 Ever Ready Trade Mark American Electrical Nov. & Mfg Co. On The Top Of This Ever Ready Plato Clock 1904 Silver Cased Plato Serial # 7286 GSG & Co. Makers Mark for Birmingham Circa 1904 Hallmarks on the Sterling Silver Plato September, 1904 "The Keystone" Trade Journal Ever-Ready Plato Clock American Electrical Novelty and Mfg Co. 304-314 Hudson Street, NYC 184 Lake Street, Chacago Plato Clock Movement Marked with Junghans identification logo Plato Movement Marked Ansonia Clock Co "Ever-Ready" Novelties Clock & Ad Brimshaw Baxter & Eliot Ltd. Catalog Dated after 1909 Eight Day *French Movement & Platform Escapement As Advertised Above Early US Plato Clock,Brass Case with Key holder and marked The Plato Clock Ansonia Movement above. Early Square Plato Requires winding key and has Key Holder Ansonia Marked Movement Ever Ready Chronos Clocks