The Colgate Clock is not in NYC but is located in Jersey City, New Jersey on the banks of the Hudson River. Although New Yorkers complain and joke about New Jersey, it plays an important part in the city's economy, services and labor supply. The New Jersey skyline is the dominant view from Manhattan's west side with the Colgate Clock readily visible from lower Manhattan. At 50 feet in diameter, the current clock is claimed to be the largest in the world. It is a replacement for original clock (38 feet in diameter) from 1904, made by the Seth Thomas Company - it has been relocated to a Colgate factory in Clarksville, Indiana. The octagonal design was based on Colgate's Octagon Soap. The toothpaste tube was added in 1983. Read more here. The clock is the last remnant of the site of the former headquarters of the Colgate-Palmolive consumer products conglomerate. In 1985, all the buildings on the site were leveled and the entire operation was moved to Kansas and Indiana, leaving the clock alone, rather drab and dreary looking on an empty lot awaiting development ...Photo Note: This photograph was taken on a neighborhood boat ride on the Hudson aboard the Queen of Hearts.
11 comments:
I love all those old forgotten vestiges of giant vintage commercial things that have been left all around the place...
I am learning a lot about NY from your photo blog. Thanks
I used to think that Big Ben was the largest clock. How outdated my knowledge is!
On a different note, I had read somewhere that there is a statue of Gandhi in Central Park. A quick search on your blog showed the pic of the statue in Union Square Park. So, is the article I read wrong in saying that the statue is in Central Park? I don't know the geography of NY, so I am not clear about whether Union Square Park is a part of Central Park or is it nearby or the article got it wrong. Oct 2 (tomorrow) is Gandhi's birthday and the UN has declared it as International Day of Non-Violence.
hyderabad -
I am not an expert, but I am reasonably sure there is no Gandhi statue in Central Park. And absolutely there is one in Union Square. I go there all the time. Union Square is no way connected to Central Park - they are over 2 miles apart. I am interested what article you are reading.
Very interesting. I always wanted to know about that.
You know, there must still be some Colgate activity in the region: I see job adds for the group all the time. I never pay attention where it is though but it must be in the tri-state area.
Eliane,
Question did you really see a job adds or job ads?
I agree with Lucy, and I like the old item left behind from Colgate corporation. Well one thing for sure the clock is still being used if not for time, but for historial purpose. Thanks Mister "B". sign: The Queen
The new book Jersey City: A Monumental History by Randall Gabriellan has tons of great photos of Jersey City during its industrial heyday, when it was a center of manufacture and trade.
For more information about Jersey City today, visit www.wiredjc.com
Brian, thanks for the info. It was a n article in the local newspaper. I don't have it now but if I find it I will let you know. Thanks.
The librarian at my school who lives in Jersey City was telling me about the clock today. Apparently it has been moved in the past. I posted this image and the Pepsi sign on my blog.
Best,
Frank
http://fadingad.wordpress.com
The clock in Indiana has been there at least from the early 1960's. So most of this story is incorrect.
wmv1203 - The clock you speak of in Indiana is the original which was moved back from New Jersey to Indiana in 1924. I believe the story is accurate.
There are two clocks. One is in Clarksville, IN, and can be seen from the Louisville side of the river. The NJ clock looks a little different, and is still in NJ. The property in Indiana was just sold so the question is what will happen to the clock here as well.
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