Wait, The Gilded Age’s Jack Made How Much For His Clock?

by

Spoilers follow for “Marriage Is a Gamble,” episode four of The Gilded Age’s third season.

In the latest installment of “The Gilded Age,” set in 1883, we find John “Jack” Trotter (Ben Ahlers) striking it rich! The Van Rhijn house footman has finally cashed in on the patent for his ingenious invention – a new alarm clock – from season two. In an unprecedented deal, Jack and his partner Larry Russell (Harry Richardson) sold not only the patent but also the manufactured clocks for a whopping sum of $600,000! That’s six figures’ worth of cash in today’s terms, making it an unimaginable fortune in the late 19th century.

Certainly, let’s rephrase that in a more natural and easy-to-understand way:

Indeed, such a sum of $600,000 would undoubtedly have a profound impact on the life of the young footman. However, you might wonder how much this amount was worth in 1883, or if an alarm-clock manufacturer would pay that much for a patent. It’s also intriguing to consider whether Jack has now become wealthier than any other character during the Gilded Age, surpassing even Morgan Spector’s portrayal of Daddy George Russell. Fret not, as we have thoroughly researched historical context to answer these questions regarding Jack’s substantial fortune, and will also provide an answer to the question that truly matters: Will he secure a box at the opera?

What would be the equivalent value of Jack’s wealth in 2025 dollars? Unfortunately, it’s challenging to determine precisely due to the limited range of the inflation calculator provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, which only goes back to 1913. However, using the maximum available range (from January 1913 to May 2025), we can calculate that Jack’s wealth would amount to approximately $19,681,530.61 in current dollars.

Over this time period, approximately from 1883 to 2025, an outdated online calculator suggests a total of $19,096,930.69. However, it’s important to keep in mind that inflation significantly impacted the value of money throughout this timeframe. Inflation increased dramatically starting in 1870, peaked around 1913, and dropped during the Great Depression. This suggests that the total may be less than what the calculator shows.

In summary, Jack’s wealth isn’t fully realized yet, as there are plans for additional investments. However, by the end of “Marriage Is a Gamble,” Jack owns half of the money, which translates to approximately $9.5 million in 2025 value, when considering ease of understanding.

Could someone really spend such a large sum on a simple alarm clock? That’s what one might wonder when considering John Ellison Conlee, the enthusiastic holder of a baby clock patent, Mr. Weston. Would he part with $600,000 for an upgrade to something that was already in existence? Interestingly enough, Hymen L. Lipman managed to sell a patent for a pencil with an eraser attached back in 1862 for $100,000. However, this transaction turned out to be a questionable investment, as Reckendorfer, the buyer, ended up losing a court battle over a similar design. The Supreme Court ruled that combining two existing items did not constitute inventing something new (although legal language was not used in this context).

In the Gilded Age, there was an explosion of inventions, such as telephones, incandescent lightbulbs, cars, and Kodak cameras. It’s easy to see now how something as groundbreaking as a pencil with an eraser could lead to a contentious patent dispute. However, if an enhancement to the already existing alarm clock warranted a price tag of $600,000 while a pencil with an eraser sold for just $100,000, it seems quite extraordinary. Granted, Jack’s invention might be truly exceptional, but looking back from 2025, it appears to be a significant jump. Only Mr. Weston and Julian Fellowes can verify the truth behind its value.

To cover the significant expense of $600,000, how many alarm clocks do you think would need to be sold? This seems like a substantial amount that you’ve likely considered before, Larry suggests.

In the 1870s, each alarm clock was priced around $1.50. After Seth E. Thomas patented his version in 1876, these new gadgets became quite popular. However, to recover his investment, Weston would need to sell a staggering 400,000 alarm clocks, not considering manufacturing costs and other expenses. On the flip side, due to the enthusiasm for novel items during that era, there’s a chance consumers might trade their existing clocks for a more advanced model like Weston’s.

Here are two interesting points to consider: Firstly, Weston might be purchasing the patent not for the purpose of manufacturing alarm clocks, but rather as an investment to sell it at a higher price to another party. It’s all about the value of the patent, not the invention itself. Secondly, in 1890, the cost of wristwatches plummeted to just $1. This means if they intend to manufacture those clocks, they should act quickly because prices may rise soon.

In approximately 1903, based on information from Reddit and the book “Millionaire Households and Their Domestic Economy,” we can estimate that a footman’s salary might have been around $30-$40 per month in New York. This is similar to a “Useful Man,” who was essentially a jack-of-all-trades in these households. However, it should be noted that this figure may not directly apply to a first footman as mentioned in PBS’s “Manor House” due to the different geographical location and potential differences in job roles and economies.

Based on the information given, it’s reasonable to assume that Jack was earning between $20 and $40 per month. However, since these figures are from two decades later, his actual earnings might have been lower.

As a movie-goer, I’d put it like this: If I, a humble footman named Jack, were to hire 10,000 more footmen at $30 a month each, I’d burn through my savings faster than you can say “cut!” That’s not a wise move according to my financial advisers.

As a passionate film enthusiast, I must say that when it comes to wealth, it seems Jack isn’t far behind the affluent Aunt Ada (Cynthia Nixon), and he certainly outshines Aunt Agnes Van Rhijn (Christine Baranski). We learned this season that Ada Forte inherited a substantial sum, more than $300,000, but it appears it’s not an astronomical figure. On the flip side, poor Agnes Van Rhijn lost her fortune last season, so she’s not really a fair comparison in terms of wealth. Larry, with his wit, seems to be enjoying a bit of friendly mockery.

To clarify, Jack doesn’t belong to the uppermost circles of society, much like how the Russells are reminiscent of the Vanderbilts and Astors who were financial titans back in the 1880s (and indeed existed). In today’s terms, Jack is merely a millionaire by modern standards, but feel free to continue addressing him as “Clock Daddy” if you prefer.

What is the possibility for Jack to secure an opera box at the Metropolitan Opera House? If Bertha (Carrie Coon) consents and there’s one available, then yes, he could theoretically afford it since each box cost approximately $1,200 per season in 1883. However, the wealth of those who owned boxes surpassed Jack’s current financial standing: The poorest box owner was estimated to have a net worth of around $450,000, while the average wealth was about $6 million. Looks like Jack needs to find new ways to make money, such as inventing more clock designs!

Read More

2025-07-14 05:58