This street clock was made by Joseph Mayer & Brothers Company, a watchmaking and wholesale jewelry business begun in Seattle in 1897. Founded by German immigrants Markus (1878-1950), Albert (1872-1929), Emil (1881-), Herman, and Joseph (1868-1937) Mayer, the company existed in various form until 1991. About 100 Mayer street clocks were produced between 1909-1930, often placed in front of jewelers or watchmakers. As of 2014, 15 of the 46 confirmed Mayer clocks in Seattle survive.
This clock, with the phrase "Absolutely Correct Time" on its face, stands on Market Street in San Francisco. The tall building across the street is the Flood Building, built in 1904 and still a San Francisco landmark in 2017.
Austin Seward (1885-1974) worked as a local photographer in the early 1920s for Pierson’s studio, a commercial photography firm that took pictures for Mayer Brothers.
Businesses in image: United Cigar Stores Co.; Yale Dentists Signs in image: Milton's Here Soon; Douglas Building Photographer's number: 189
Caption information source: http://www.shiawasseehistory.com/mayer.html
ID Number: 1980.6877.5.55
Date: Circa 1920
Physical Description: 1 photographic print mounted on linen : b&w ; 7.5 x 9.5 in.
Additional Information: Digital copy of this item available thanks to funding from a 2016 Institute for Museum and Library Services grant. Metadata updated as part of a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services administered by the Library Services and Technology Act, through the Washington State Library, a division of the Office of the Secretary of State. View the finding aid for this collection at https://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:80444/xv46755
