An oak drop dial wall clock. Featuring case of fine colour and patination. In addition 12 inch round painted dial by G and T Hammond of Manchester. Two train fusee movement striking hours.
G and T Hammond – Manchester C1880
Search Results for: chester clocks
American Wall Clock retailed by T P Joyce – Manchester C.1880
A good ‘8-day’ two train drop dial wall clock by T P Joyce of Manchester. Featuring inlaid American cabinet and painted dial.
Wall clock by Moreland – Chester C.1830
A good mahogany fusee dial clock. Featuring ‘8-day’ duration movement by Moreland of Chester. Also the 8 inch convex dial with Roman numeral. Furthermore the cabinet with cast brass bezel. To sum up a lovely collectible timepiece clock.
Case Study in Antique Grandfather Clocks
The following piece ,’The Swing of the Pendulum’, is taken from April 2014 edition of Antique Collecting. It is based on John Andrews interview and discussions with myself Daniel Clements. Manager of Pendulum of Mayfair Ltd.
Interesting clock facts
It takes courage to come from a business in the provinces and open up in the West End of London. Especially when so many antiques concerns have been doing precisely the opposite. But this is what Pendulum did twenty years ago Taking Fred Perry’s shop and residence at 51, Maddox Street by buying the freehold. We then had control over the rent as one important cost element. This having been achieved as a deliberate long-term measure. The costs of converting the shop were a safe investment and Pendulum of Mayfair was launched.
Family Business
Many businesses in this field have come about as a result of what was a part-time hobby. A source of incidental income becoming so absorbing that the plunge to launching into full time was taken. Daniel Clements says that his father is a classic example. He used to say that he became a dealer in 1974 to pay for his vice of collecting. As a qualified mechanical engineer he was engaged in building factories. Designing new machines all over the world, acting as engineering director at Pilkington’s. But his love of clocks, playing with and restoring them, became a passion. This provided relaxation from the stresses of work. Eventually bringing about the decision to leave his job and set up as a dealer full time.
Nearly half a century old
When he did this 40 years ago it was considered to be a crazy thing to do. Like many who have entered the antiques business after years of dealing on the fringes of it. The impulse was too strong to resist. Even now, in his seventies, Mr Clements love of clocks is still as powerful as it was when he set up the business of Coppelia Antiques in Cheshire forty years ago. This passion has led to the establishment of a highly regarded business with a worldwide field of activity.
Finding special clocks
Throughout the 40 years since its start, Daniel Clements says the greatest pleasure the business has provided is in finding special antique clocks. Then restoring them as sympathetically as possible. Over the years they have developed the skills of lots of young people in their care. Trying to instill a love of old things and learning about their origins along the way. Touching old things, smelling them, and getting under ‘their skin’ is a long process and needs patience and understanding.
The workshop
The clock workshop is the hub of the entire operation and nothing is allowed to leave until Mr Clements is satisfied with the result. A familiar motto of the business is the saying ‘well bought, is half sold’. The special type of antique clocks Pendulum look for are so hard to find, selling them is the easiest part.
So many customers are now long term friends
Over the years many special pieces have come into their hands and customers have become friends.Examples of this provide instances of expertise combining with history to provide the customer with a truly remarkable acquisition. One particular clock sold to an Australian client was by the clockmaker Henry Lane. This was a superb musical Bristol Longcase clock from c.1790. Henry Lane, as it happens,was the first clockmaker in Australia. The story of how this comes about was a compelling one.
Transported to Australia
Henry was sentenced to death for forging money.This sentence was later changed by an act of clemency to transportation to Australia. He left Spithead on the Perseus with 112 other male prisoner son the 12th February 1802. This is what Clements feels is so special about antique clocks: they have a history and you can research more about the clockmaker’s life. They are a living working museum to the past and attractive pieces of furniture as well. How proud master clockmakers would feel if they could see their clocks still working perfectly in many homes today.
The Centre of London
With the Pendulum shop being situated right in the heart of London they have sold and restored clocks to many VIPs. Large companies like Asprey’s and Garrard’s, and major hotels like the Conaught. Recently they had the pleasure of restoring some really complex antique clocks for the Russian Embassy in London. Clements states that ‘the Ambassador and his assistants have shown us great kindness and consideration. We have lovely presents from them and also were delighted to attend their special day earlier this year. This was another of the fantastic memories we have built up over the years. The clocks were a challenge but they now look wonderful and are now fully functioning & proudly taking up their prestigious places at the Embassy. It was a real honour for us, and it shows how far we have come as a business over the years.’
Great finds
Another entertaining example comes from their local specialist auction house in Chester. They had a lovely little clock for sale at auction about 20 years ago. There were four clocks in the sale,of which one was of great interest: it was catalogued as an ‘electric clock‘. When the hood was taken off the clock, the movement looked as though it was in a salmon tin, because it was enclosed. ‘We instantly knew what this clock was,and so, says Clements, my mother and father decided to split up in the room.My father said to my mother: you bid; if the other dealers see me bidding they will twig. My mother started bidding on the clock but she was very laid back. So much so that the auctioneer asked her are you bidding Ma’am? She said yes and the auctioneer slammed the hammer down.
Dust Encased Regulator
One dealer who was standing by my father noticed it was his wife bidding. He asked what the clock that she had just bought was. My father said, ‘oh, my wife collects electric clocks.’ Of course it was not an electric clock at all. The clock’s movement had been dust encased. It was a fantastic clock by John Holmes of London. The cartouche had been reversed on the dial and engraved electric clock. It clearly had been used as a ‘slave clock’ in the early 20th century, to drive other clocks around a factory.
‘Daniel Clements says ‘I wish these bargains happened more often but it is not the case. Everyone thinks they have a master piece under their pillow or in their garage. The guy who purchased this ‘electric’ clock was told the story. He laughed; luckily he did not mind paying a handsome profit at the time.
Clocks for Investment
This clock will have appreciated many times in price since then though. Investing in antique clocks is just about as safe as houses. These master timekeepers come from an age where intrinsic labour costs are built in. Movements are handmade and built to exacting standards; they will continue telling the time in peoples’ homes for hundreds of years to come. Even throughout the recession, good genuine clocks have always appreciated in price.’
Hyman Russian Clock
‘I also remember when we purchased a lovely regulator clock with a painted dial. This clock was made for Catherine the Great of Russia. She was the most renowned and long ruling female leader of Russia. The clock came from the Winter Palace.It was brought out on a horse and cart just before the Russian Revolution at the start of the 20th century. I wish we had kept this clock, but then I wish we had kept many clocks we have sold over the years. We are in a business where we only buy what we love and we grow very attached to all our clocks. They are like extended branches of our family. Once you have restored the clocks, you feel part of them.Like selling puppies etc., the potential owners of our clocks, all get proper vetting! Luckily the people who love clocks are generally lovely people.’
Always Learning
‘Every clock we buy and sell has its own story. You realize you are always learning new things; a lifetime is not nearly long enough. We can be proud of restoring and bringing back to life some lovely antique clocks. Yesterday’s craftsman’s work will live on at our shop in London, Pendulum of Mayfair Ltd. We stock some of the finest antique clocks anywhere in the UK. All these are fully restored and come with a year’s guarantee. All antique grandfather clocks are delivered free of charge anywhere in the UK. We have a full export shipping service to all four corners of the world. The USA is one of our biggest markets.’
At a time when there are so many stories of retrenchment in the antiques business it is a pleasure to find one of sturdy optimism.Pendulum of Mayfair at 51 MaddoxStreet, London W1S 2PH
Tel: 0207 629 6606
Public clocks
In this piece I will be carrying on from researching antique clock makers. I suggested visiting the 17th/18th century church in the town your grandfather clock was built. Clock makers often repaired the local church clock. These public clocks used what we call Turret clock movements to operate a series of dials in the church tower.
Turret Clocks
Most churches generally had a clock in the tower. A turret clock is the technical name for any large exterior public clock. These clocks can be in churches, town halls, banks, stable blocks, pretty much anywhere. We have installed these in homes and shops as a centre piece.
Outside Clocks Mechanical or Electric
Modern day clocks like this may use electric motors to drive the hands. All antique turret clocks have a large mechanical movement, the frame is normally made of cast iron. The movement is driven by large weights and a large pendulum. Normally the escapement will beat 1 1/4 seconds or more, this is why you will not normally see seconds hands on these public clocks. The public only ever normally see the clock dial, which again is normally a cast iron dial, with counter balanced clock hands. The hands will need to be counter balanced to stop them swinging down to the six o’clock position and stopping the clock. For more information e.mail mePendulumClocks@aol.com.
Timepiece or Striking Public Clocks
The clocks movements can be timepiece or they can normally strike the hour on a single bell. Maintenance is required every 20 years or so and oiling every year. They are built basically along the same lines as a grandfather clock movement but everything is on a larger scale. Information about turret clocks can be found in various places on the internet. The company Smiths of Derby are still in existence and they still make and repair turret clocks today.
Chester Eastgate Clock
The clock pictured on my blog is a famous clock from the town of Chester. Chester a lovely northern city, the clock is called the Eastgate Clock. The mechanism was manufactured by the famous clockmakers Joyce of Whitchurch. Chester’s Eastgate Clock has 4 dials. The time can be seen from Chesters famous Roman walls and from the streets from the other two sides. This clock is one of the most photographed in the world. I think we all know what the no.1 photographed clock is in the world. In my blog next week we will look at this clock, the one and only Big Ben.
Regional Characteristics of Antique Grandfather Clocks
Antique grandfather clock cabinet production was separate from the clock maker. The clock maker just produced the fine antique clock movements. As you can imagine communities stayed very much together during the early years and people did not travel long distances. As a result you will notice every area of the country in the 18th century had a very different case style. It is very easy to place the manufacture of an antique clock cabinet from just a very few features on the case.
Case Styles on Antique Clocks
Further case styles can be found by clicking here.
London cabinet designs changed only slightly during the 18th century. You will see after C 1720 and up to C 1800 usually two plinths, moulding to trunk door and high quality walnut, mahogany veneers or fine lacquer work cases. Examples of this can be seen below. After about C 1800 London clocks can lose the second plinth and the moulding to the door, but you will still see them being quite similar in design. You will also find these close similarities in cases of clocks within 50 miles or so of London. Many clock makers actually bought London style cases in these areas.
London Case Styles
Scottish case styles
You will find many regional designs of cabinets. After looking for a while you will get a good idea of where the clock maker was based from just looking a certain case features. In Scotland for example, especially the East Coast you get some wonderful cases from C1770 to c1810. They are all very slender, shaped top to the trunk door, high proportion base and standing on bracket feet. The most similar characteristic is the swan neck pediments to the hood.
North Western UK Case Styles
You will also find Manchester, Liverpool and Bristol cabinets to be quite distinctive. In the 18th century these areas were very wealthy, especially because of the trade going on with the West Indies and the USA. Manchester was the birth place for the industrial revolution. Cabinets in Manchester and Liverpool, tend to be quite large with quite imposing features, Og feet, Corinthian columns, fine veneers. You will see a typical high quality Liverpool case below.
Bristol was another very important port in the 18th century and the clocks made in this part of the country are very distinctive. Wobbly doors are very common and scenes engraved to dial are very popular, pierced swan neck pediments and OG bracket feet show the fine cabinet work. Again it is easy to see the wealth in this part of the country in the 18th century, the cases are very flambouyant. Understanding case design and the styles of the various parts of the UK cabinet design is important when looking to buy an antique grandfather clock. You can use this knowledge with further research to pinpoint all those important questions that you need reassurance with, when purchasing antique grandfather clocks. Our shop Pendulum of Mayfair takes all these worries away from you.
WIKIPEDIA RESEARCH – EQUATION OF TIME CLOCK – JOHN TOPPING C.1720
EQUATION OF TIME – JOHN TOPPING C.1720
The clock featured here by John Topping is an extremely rare example of the ‘Equation of Time’ calculation. Shown here on an early 18th century Longcase Clock. It is pictured here purely for research within Wikipedia. In addition it is not for sale or any other commercial purposes. People can ask me questions relating to the ‘Equation of Time’ but the clock is not for sale.
We are all aware of the passage of time. Yet we can not see it. Many inventors have tried to measure time. But it was not until the invention of the pendulum that considerable increased the accuracy of clocks. That the calculation of the ‘Equation of Time’ became very relevant to clocks. Before the advent of the long pendulum in the early days. The clocks were very inaccurate and so calculating the difference between ‘solar’ and ‘our time’ would have been of little consequence.The long pendulum was first invented by Christian Huygens. A Dutch scientists in 1656.The oscillations of the pendulum reduced error to less than 1 minute per day. This eventually came to less than 10 seconds per day.
Peter Clare Inscription
Peter Clare, a clockmaker in the 18th century, who worked in Manchester insisted his clocks were right and the Sun was wrong. A memorial to him reads.
Here’s the cottage of Peter, that cunning old fox. Who kept the sun right by the time of his clocks.
Many people might think Mr Clare’s observations foolhardy, but it would be folly to dismiss them.
The clock pictured here by a maker called John Topping of London. It is a superb month duration. Wwalnut Longcase clock with a dial showing the Equation of Time.With these increasingly more accurate clocks. The difference called the ‘Equation of Time’ became more relevant, and Mr Clare was right to some degree his clocks were more accurate than the sun.
The Equation of Time refers to the difference between the suns time and that shown by the clock. This varies by up to 16 minutes per day during the year. Only on four days in the year is there no difference between the suns time and the time shown by clocks. The days on which the clock and the sun should usually agree are: the 15th of April, 15th of june, 31st of August, and the 24th of December.
Effectively Peters Clare’s clocks were more accurate than the sun. Clearly this is a result of the elliptical rotation of our planet.
John Topping Clock
The clock by Topping shown below is one of the few clocks ever made showing this calculation on a year calendar. It lets the operator know just how many minutes less or more the clocks time is from the suns time. Effectively making it easy to set your clock in the 18th century by means of a sun dial.
This clock also has the special feature of a spherical moon. Also showing the true shape of the moon. In addition this is accompanied with a tidal times indicator. Also rise and fall of the pendulum. Thus making for changes of seconds to the timekeeping. It is housed in a superb elegant burr walnut cabinet.
Very few clock makers ever had the talent to make such complex clocks. Only the finest clockmakers have examples to their work. These are very few and far between. Thomas Tompion I believe made 3 equation clocks. Topping as listed here made a few, Williamson, who made several equation clocks for Quarre and the maker Gregg.Clearly very few are still surviving today. The complexity of the movement is mind blowing. To sum up a very rare and interesting clock.
Great Christmas Gift Ideas
Have you ever been completely lost over what to get your loved one at Christmas?
If so you are one of millions of us rushing around at the last minute with no clue of what to get?
We usually spend hundreds of pounds on something that will be forgotten within a few days. How about some suggestions that will be a memorable present for many years to come ?
Everyone has a budget at Christmas. I will be looking a various options from a few hundred pounds to a few thousands pounds for those with bigger pockets. Maybe for ones like me that tend to save up and buy something really special once a year as a special treat.
Under 500£ Presents
Lovely Art Nouveau Balloon clocks can be a wonderful Christmas gift. Fully restored examples in top condition and of the best quality can be found at under 500£. These lovely little clocks will give years of superb service. Always reminding the person of the day they receive this lovely gift.
Under £1,500 Presents
Antique pre c1900 Fusee wall clocks that have been overhauled and are in showroom condition are fantastic gifts. The earlier type can go from around £1,000 to £1,600. If you want to stretch the budget you can go for a smaller dial example. Convex dials or even rarer large face dials with fusee movement which all are more expensive.
Under £3,000 Presents
For under or around £3,000 you can get a large selection of early or mid 19th century fusee timepiece bracket or skeleton clocks.
Under £7,500 Presents
These superb fusee bracket clocks would be a lovely addition to any home. Woods from mahogany to walnut to ebonized fruitwood can be found on these examples. Most movements are of 8 day fusee type.
From £3,000-£30,000 Presents
Antique grandfather clocks form an amazing addition to any home. They truly are the centre piece. Owning a lovely restored ticking antique grandfather clock is like having someone nice coming to stay with you.
I hope some of these pictures give you the inspiration this Christmas for that really special gift. If not for Christmas then for that special anniversary. Have a part of our nations history ticking away in your home very soon, you won’t regret it.
Daniel Clements
Better Together Campaign
I have been a passionate writer on my blog about all aspect of antique clocks over the last few years. I have tried to give the general public much needed information. They can then understand about various different horological matters. Never have I entered any political debates. This blog is to plead with the Scottish people not to give up on our longstanding Union. On 1st May 1707 our two great countries formed the Act of Union. This was passed by the Parliament of England and Scotland following negotiations agreed the previous year.
Act Union 1707
We have stood together in good times and bad. It is better together than apart I believe. Yes I am English, but I am British as well. I love Scotland and the Scottish people. Is their rivalry when England play Scotland ? Yes there is and I would not expect anything different. Maybe I am different but when Scotland are playing in any tournament to most people. I give my full support to them. I am sure the majority of other proud Englishmen do as well.
I stand with our great Union
You only need to see Andy Murray’s support at Wimbledon. He is a proud Scot, but English people still love him and cheer him on. We have rivalry on a city basis with Manchester United and Manchester City. Like Glasgow has, but we stand together for our national teams. I stand by our great union and I hope the great nation of Scotland wakes up and sends Alex Salmond and this Independence vote packing.
It is worth standing up for
To destroy something so easily that lasted centuries would be a sad reflection on modern day society. Scotlands voice, England voice in the world will be louder together. Further details of this special antique grandfather clock by John Smith.
I could not resist but end this by adding a special antique clock image that brings all this home. It is a lovely clock from a small town in Scotland called Pittenweem. Pittenweem is a small and secluded fishing village tucked away in the corner of Fife on the east coast of Scotland. Look how the clockmaker signed this clock ‘ NORTH BRITAIN ‘. I am sure he was a proud Scot, but he also, a proud Brit as well. This clock dates from around C1790
Daniel Clements
PendulumClocks@aol.com Antique Clocks Twitter
Collecting Antiques
I get asked many times about what I would choose if I was starting a collection of antique grandfather clocks. We feel privileged in helping many special customers and friends source their own private antique clock collections. The most important part if you are deciding to build your own antique clock collection is to purchase them somewhere you can get a guarantee they are genuine. I would also take you time in building up this collection, it can not be achieved overnight.
What type of clocks to collect?
I believe the greatest antique grandfather clocks were produced between C1680 and C1820. I am now going to suggest a possible date and styles that you could choose to form this collection. It is true you might prefer a particular style of antique clock and then you could just collect this style. There is nothing wrong in doing this. You may prefer just famous London makers from the 17th and early 18th centuries like Thomas Thompion or Edward East or George Graham. I have no problem in collectors heading down this route.
Broad spectrum of clocks
A route I will suggest here is a broad spectrum of special antique clocks from the entire range of the period suggested above. The collection could be increased still further from what is listed below by different dial shapes or antique clocks from different towns also showing distinctive case features.
Examples of Interest
1)
I think it is important to start your collection with a special early example of a London marquetry brass square dial grandfather clock by a reknowned but not necessary ultra famous maker. This clock will date from around C1690 and be a good ‘8-day’ example, usually with a lentical to the trunk door.
2)
I think next on the list would be a good ‘8-day’ or ‘month’ duration English burr walnut square brass dial grandfather clock, again by a good London clockmaker.
3)
I think it is then important to source a good arch or square brass dial early lacquer clock from C1715. This again will be a London area example.
4)
A burr-walnut arched brass dial caddy top London grandfather clock is also essential to any collection. These tend to date from C1715 to C1750.
5)
A good early arched or square brass dial provincial oak grandfather clock should form part of any collection. These dating from early to mid 18th century. These will be good ‘8-day’ examples with maybe an early ‘penny’ moon feature or automaton to the arch or dial centre.
The clocks do not have to cost the earth.
6)
An early oak or maybe pine 30 hour duration clock with brass square dial would be nice in any collection.
7)
Moving on to my favourite period in antique clocks from C1760 onwards. A good C1770 London mahogany arched brass dial is vital.
8
A superb London mahogany arch white dial ‘8-day’ grandfather clock.
9)/10)11)
Moon examples of 7 and 8 are also important to any collection, as is an automaton example.
12)
A good Manchester moonphase grandfather clock from around C1770
13)
A typical Liverpool moonphase grandfather clock from around C1770
14)
A typical Bristol tidal times moonphase mahogany grandfather clocks from around C1770
15)
A typical Hull pagoda top mahogany grandfather clock from around C1770/C1790
16)
A good Edinburgh grandfather clock from the end of the 18th century
17)
A good white dial Dundee or thereabouts mhaogany arch dial grandfather clock from C1790
18)
A good London with attached hood columns arched brass dial mahogany grandfather clock.
19)
A good London with attached hood columns square silvered brass dial mahogany grandfather clock.
20)
Various Precision Regulator examples with the differing means of pendulum compensation.
Conclusion
I have tried to form the basis of a wide ranging collection This could be a good tool for you to start building your own antique clock collection. Clearly there are some great clocks from other provincial towns around the country that I have not mentioned. You can also throw in some special provincial makers like Barber or Ogden or Deacon to the mix. I suppose a wide ranging collection should encompace as many differing cabinet styles from all the areas of the UK. These may also include one from the west coast of Scotland, or Ireland, even though I am not a big fan of the typical 18th century case styles from the these areas. This is just a personal taste though and one clock from each place as an example would not be out of place in any collection. I suppose this depends on space and finance though. I believe a minimum of 25 grandfather clocks would be required to be purchased to obtain a good overall wide ranging collection. This can then be bulked out if necessary be adding more towns or special collectible makers. Clock collecting can be quite addictive.
– Daniel Clements – Pendulum of Mayfair Ltd 51 Maddox street, London –