Our History

The Clock in The SideWalk

Working with longtime employee Frank Homm, F. William Barthman designed the first iteration of our world-famous Sidewalk Clock in 1896 as a neighborhood novelty to entice passersby to enter the store at the corner of Broadway and Maiden Lane (we wonder if he knew that it would become such a unique and lasting landmark after several centuries.)

This three window jump-clock was a wonder of technology at the time, a mechanical marvel with an innovative battery backup and hidden lightbulbs for visibility even at night. Installation came in 1899, and the clock was maintained personally by Homm until his passing in 1917. The loss of that expertise left a gap in the clock's consistently-needed upkeep, so the Barthmans eventually transitioned the clock to a more traditional format in the 1940's.

In the interrim period, the Maiden Lane Historical Society saw fit to install a plaque above the clock to give a window into the area at the time of its inception. The clock was tenderly immortalized in a photograph by Ida Wyman in 1947, and a copycat was created by Windsor admirers Dyson & Sons after Mr. Dyson visited New York in 1949.

The clock has had aesthetic and functional updates over the years, including a refitting and facelift in 1966. When the Natkin family bought the business in 1983, the responsibility to maintain the unusual timepiece transferred to them. They enlisted the assistance of Cartier to repair the clock after years of wear-and-tear, and for a time, their name was nested alongside Barthman's. 

The clock has survived depressions, world wars, hurricanes, and even the tragedy of 9-11. It is a testament to a bygone era, a time capsule of digital innovation when the world was firmly analog. The timepiece is currently maintained by master jeweler Guillermo Vintimilla, who provideda complete restoration of the clock in 2024 after a haphazardly-covered crack across its dial diminished its appearance. The care he shows for this piece of history reflects the energy of William Barthman Jeweler as a whole, and we hope that it and its clock will continue to bring beauty and service to New York City for many more centuries.