Anyone recognize this clock?

[anamclocks]

I picked this up at an auction a while back. It has a 30-hour, weight-driven brass movement that is unsigned; there is no label on the case, although it appears that there was one inside at one time. It is a very nice walnut case, 29.75 inches tall, with burl walnut side pieces and a carved decoration above the door. The door opens from the right (hinges on left). Note the two brass screws at the top on either side that appear to have always been there. The upper glass is new, the lower glass old, with a lithograph stencil on the glass. It appears that the glass has never been out of the door. There is an old metal dial that has been with this clock a long time, judging from the paint loss around the screw holes at the bottom, but of course it should not be screwed in. It also does not fit the door glass (top of dial is covered by door frame, lower edge of dial does not extend beyond the door midbar.

I'm guessing a homemade clock from the mid-1800's, but the presence of a label imprint is inconsistent with that, unless the backboard is "recycled".

Anybody seen this before?

Thanks

 

[Andy Dervan]

Hello,

It is very difficult to identify clocks with unsigned movements and missing labels. It difficult to really assess the clock as the images are sideways.

30 hr. weight driven brass movements did not become popular to early 1840s, so I would date clock 1840 - 1850. Case is more elaborate with burl flat pillars along the sides and carving over the door than typical period cases.

Andy Dervan

 

[anamclocks]

Ok, I've straightened them up.

 

[KurtinSA]

Not the same clock, but nearly so. Has the same glass panel of the Croton Fountain, NY.

https://mb.nawcc.org/showthread.php...CK-CROTON-FOUNTAIN-NY-Help-with-worth-please!

And this:

http://www.nyhistory.org/exhibit/shelf-clock-14

Kurt

 

[rmarkowitz1_cee4a1]

I picked this up at an auction a while back. It has a 30-hour, weight-driven brass movement that is unsigned; there is no label on the case, although it appears that there was one inside at one time. It is a very nice walnut case, 29.75 inches tall, with burl walnut side pieces and a carved decoration above the door. The door opens from the right (hinges on left). Note the two brass screws at the top on either side that appear to have always been there. The upper glass is new, the lower glass old, with a lithograph stencil on the glass. It appears that the glass has never been out of the door. There is an old metal dial that has been with this clock a long time, judging from the paint loss around the screw holes at the bottom, but of course it should not be screwed in. It also does not fit the door glass (top of dial is covered by door frame, lower edge of dial does not extend beyond the door midbar.

I'm guessing a homemade clock from the mid-1800's, but the presence of a label imprint is inconsistent with that, unless the backboard is "recycled".

Anybody seen this before?

Thanks

Actually, I've seen things like it a number of times before.

My belief it is a "one off" and quite well done. I have seen them both signed and unsigned.

The back portion is "repurposed" hence the label, along with the works, seat board and movement rails. This is also quite consistent with other examples I have encountered.

The glass is a monochromatic decalcomania or transfer depicting the Croton Fountain which was in lower Manhattan. It was a popular image used on the tablets of many 19th century clocks. It too was probably recycled from an earlier clock, like an ogee.

Here's some info about the fountain:

https://ephemeralnewyork.wordpress.com/2014/10/13/a-dazzling-city-hall-fountain-sprays-croton-water/

The glass and other parts may be mid-19th century. However, the front is in my opinion solidly 1870's to 1880's, possibly later.

A handsome object.

Please, if you list this on eBay and use this info, please credit its source unlike the last person.

Thanks.

RM

 

[Steven Thornberry]

I can't speak to the clock case, but the movement looks very like the one shown on page 13, fig. 26 of Snowden Taylor's NAWCC Bulletin article, "Eight-Day Brass Weight Movement of the Noble Jerome Patent Era." The movement shown is said to be by Ansonia Brass Co., and, of course, would be an 8-day movement, rather than a 30-hour movement.

Ansonia Brass Co. was in business 1854 to 1869.

 

[anamclocks]

You know, I haven't actually tested it yet - the weights are 30-hr wts, but I'll set it up and see if it runs, and for how long.

 

[lpbp]

It looks like a Birge product, the dial and definitely the 8 day strap movement.

 

[Steven Thornberry]

It looks like a Birge product, the dial and definitely the 8 day strap movement.

Larry, I don't see this as a strap movement.

 

[Jerome collector]

Steven,
I agree with you. It's an Ansonia movement; definitely not a Birge strap movement.
Mike

 

[anamclocks]

Steve,

Thanks very much for that info on the movement. You are right, it is an 8-day movement. I hung the 30-hr weights that came with it and it did not run for long. When I put 8-day weights on it ran overnight, and they didn't move much.

I am inclined to agree with RM's assessment of the clock being a "one-off". Thanks to all who commented,

Todd Porter