Sunday, January 30, 2005

Oooooh an 18thC clock?

There is a J Morris, Pershore listed in as working in 1750, ref. Watchmakers and Clockmakers of the world, Vol 2. Brian Loomes. 1978 edition. Although J. Morris is listed at this date it does not indicate his working life span, only that he was known to be working then, he may have worked many years before or after this date.

David Walter commented as follows: "This clock is a nice and typical, English 30 hour long case clock that is commonly found in either a pine case that was usually painted to look like mahogany (nowdays usually stripped to look like Country pine) or an Oak case. In either instance the cases are quite simple and plain. These were made as cottage clocks or sometimes for the servants quarters in large country houses."



Graham Dead Beat Escapement.


"Most were fitted with an hour hand only like this example as this was cheaper to make. The brass dial is nicely matted in the center and is pleasantly engraved.
The single steel hour hand appears to be original. The brass chapter ring was once silvered, they were never left brass as it makes it difficult to tell the time, silvering makes a good contrast against the blued steel hand. The silvering has been polished off as evideniced by the remains of polishing medium in the corner spandrels. It's difficult to tell but the chain may be a replacement.

From the photo's I would suggest this clock is 1750 - 1770. Why ? In part because of the shape of the pillars and the Brass collets on the wheel arbours.
The corner spandrels look original and are of the Cherub type used in the country clocks about this period. After about 1780 it most likely would have had a painted dial. A great many of these single handed 30 hour clocks were made from the late 17th century until Ca.1850. All in all a very nice clock that will give the owners many more years of pleasure if it is looked after."

Thanks to David Walter for that info.

No comments: