Sessions

A Phoenix From the Ashes of E. N. Welch — and a Quiet Fade Into the Modern World

The Sessions Clock Company emerged from one of the most dramatic restructurings in American clockmaking. In 1903, the E. N. Welch Manufacturing Company of Forestville, Connecticut—once a large and respected clock producer—fell into financial ruin. A group of investors led by the wealthy William E. Sessions purchased Welch’s assets and reorganized them into a brand-new enterprise: The Sessions Clock Company.

Sessions was thus born not from a workshop or a clockmaker’s bench but from a corporate rescue—a rebirth of infrastructure, tooling, and talent.

Reinventing an Old Company for a New Century

With Welch’s machinery and workforce, Sessions gained an immediate foothold in the clock industry. Throughout the early 20th century, the company produced:

• Mantel clocks and shelf clocks
  

• Alarm clocks
  

• Regulator-style wall clocks
  

• Mission-style and Art Deco designs
  

They embraced electric movements relatively early, becoming known for reliable synchronous electric clocks in the 1930s and 40s.

Sessions clocks were not always as ornate as Ansonia nor as famous as Seth Thomas, but they were solid, dependable household instruments—practical and priced to sell.

The Mid-Century Electricity Boom

As Americans wired their homes for electricity, the demand for battery-free, plug-in clocks exploded. Sessions flourished in this market, producing kitchen clocks, wall clocks, and mantel models powered by synchronous motors that kept time with the household current.

For a while, Sessions rode this wave confidently. Their electric clocks became staples in mid-century kitchens and offices, often recognized for their retro styling today.

A Slow Dimming of the Lights

But as the latter half of the 20th century unfolded, foreign competition once again reshaped the American clock landscape. Cheaper electric and quartz clocks produced abroad eroded Sessions’ customer base. By the 1960s, Sessions began phasing out traditional clock production.

A successor company, The New Sessions Company, shifted to manufacturing timers and small electrical components rather than clocks. By the late 20th century, all clock manufacturing had ceased entirely.

The Sessions Legacy

Sessions stands today as a testament to adaptation. It rose from the corpse of a once-great firm, found relevance in new technologies, and then gently stepped aside as global manufacturing transformed the world of timekeeping.

Collectors often prize early Sessions clocks, especially carry-over Welch designs and mid-century electrics with their distinctive American styling.