Clockmakers Riley Whiting and Silas Hoadley were among the many nineteenth-century artists and artisans who recognized the benefits of catering to the burgeoning fraternal market. Both men were members of Federal Lodge No. 17 in Watertown, Connecticut, and were further related through marriage, although Whiting worked more directly with Silas Hoadley’s brothers, Samuel (1776–1858) and Luther (1781–1813).

Whiting and Hoadley each sold tall-case clocks with Masonic symbols painted on the dials. It was typical for such concerns to make the clockworks and to hire another artisan to paint the face. The decorative case might be made by yet another craftsman. The Whiting example is replete with symbols similar to those seen on aprons, certificates, and tracing boards dating to the same era. The Masonic symbols on the clockface from the Hoadley shop are considerably more restrained, with only a small square and compasses, signifying reason and faith. By placing such an elegant and prominent object in his home, the owner displayed his wealth, knowledge of current decorative trends, and also identified his membership in the Masonic fraternity.