The Ansonia Clock Company was founded on May 7, 1850 in Ansonia, Connecticut by Anson G. Phelps, Theodore Terry and Franklin C. Andrews. It should be noted that Theodore Terry was the nephew of Eli Terry, who is largely credited as the first clock maker to standardize clock works. Terry and Andrews had previously manufactured clocks at Bristol, Connecticut under the name of Terry & Andrews since 1841.

 During the New York World's Fair which opened on July 4, 1853, Ansonia primarily exhibited their cast iron cased clocks ornamented with paint and mother‑of‑pearl.

The factory in which the Ansonia Clock company was housed was tragically burned to the ground in November 1854.  At that time the following resolution was passed by the stockholders:

“That in consequence of the destruction of the Building by fire it has been agreed to sell the Land & ruins to A. G. Phelps [Jr.], Wm. E. Dodge, Daniel James, James Stokes, Wm. E. Downs, Jr. & D. Willis James for the sum of Eight Thousand Dollars and that the President be authorized to make and execute a deed of the same." 

The above resolution and sale on November 16, 1854 ended the original Ansonia Clock Company and for the 15 years following the fire, the history of clock manufacture at Ansonia is more difficult to follow. The parent firm of Phelps, Dodge & Co. manufactured a few cased clocks, but largely made movements to sell to other firms. Very few Ansonia Clocks from this era are seen today and those that are usually have the "Ansonia Brass Company" label.  A few clocks were also labeled "Ansonia Brass & Battery Company" during this period.

The business was reorganized on February 11, 1869 and clocks made during this time were labeled "Ansonia Brass & Copper Company".  Then on December 21, 1877, a joint stock corporation was formed at New York City adopting the original name, "Ansonia Clock Company".

In April of 1879, the operation was moved to a new facility at Brooklyn, New York.  However the factory at Ansonia was not completely shut down until around 1883. Tragically on October 27, 1880 fire once again claimed the Ansonia Clock company.  A new factory was built on the same site, and by 1883 the entire manufacturing operation was centered in Brooklyn.  The company had sales offices in New York, Chicago and London. By 1914 they were offering almost 450 different clocks; they are most noted for their iron-cased clocks.

 Unfortunately these high times were not to last.  By 1920 they were offering only 136 clocks and 9 watches and by 1927 they only offered 47 clocks and 3 watches.  In July of 1929 the factory was sold to the Russian purchasing agent and the entire operation was moved to Moscow in the summer of 1930. The Ansonia trademark has been used in the last few decades by a Lynwood, Washington sales operation on imported clocks.