Earlier this year I purchased the English lantern clock described below, at auction. The auction description called the clock a "Modern Lantern Clock" and elaborated as follows:
Modern lantern clock, dial with Roman numeral chapter ring inset with black paint, engraved brass center, pierced hands, fusee drive, hour bell mounted above, partially masked by pierced frets, height 14 inches. CONDITION: Mvt: Running when wound, does not appear to be keeping time and will either need a service or regulation, fine-plus cosmetic mvt condition overall, tarnished plates; excellent dial with light paint loss in engraved Roman numerals; excellent hands; case finial has broken off and will need to be properly repaired.
There have been numerous comments over the years about old lantern clock cases being "up-dated" with fusee movements. Some individuals decrying the practice and others pointing out that at least part of a historical clock which might have been relegated to the scrap heap still survives. Sure, it would be great to have this clock with its original escapement and while we are at it, why not an original bracket, to boot. Realistically, the chain fusee movement is not the first modification this clock has endured.
The clock arrived without shipping damage as was as described in the auction, complete with its broken-off top finial. Upon removing the chapter ring the signature of the original maker was revealed. Richard Lord, who was admitted to the Clockmakers' Company as a Free Brother in 1632. The discovery of the name lead to an interesting and fun series of communications about this clock, other lantern clocks and early 17th. century English horological history with an individual who has written extensively about English lantern clocks.
My correspondent knows of one other lantern clock signed by Richard Lord (formerly with balance wheel escapement) and a possible third which is similar but unsigned. I found photos of the other signed Lord lantern clock and there are many similarities(frets, feet, finials, engraving...) between it and the example here. In the other Lord clock the shield is blank, i.e., not engraved with initials as the present clock is.
The chain fusee movement works properly All I have done to the clock is re-wax and re-silver the alarm and chapter rings and clean and wax the case. I did not polish the brass least the clock look shiny. I repaired the broken top finial. The existing bell is a large and very thick bell with a repaired crack and which does not sound good, having a "thunky" sound. For the meantime I put another bell on the clock pending efforts to fix the crack in the old bell. Detail photos of the old bell are included here. The last photo shows the old bell sitting on top of the clock in a vain attempt to show a side-by-side bell size comparison. Regardless, the auction house photo shows the clock with the proper bell.
Below are various photos, the first one being the auction house main photo. Some of these photographs are detail photos requested by my correspondent. One photo of the chapter ring shows that some of the original lay-out scribe marks were not polished out completely, which detail may be noted on some other lantern clock dials. Maybe this detail was considered unimportant as these early clocks were mounted high on the wall to increase their running time and lighting must have been sketchy at best.
Bruce
Modern lantern clock, dial with Roman numeral chapter ring inset with black paint, engraved brass center, pierced hands, fusee drive, hour bell mounted above, partially masked by pierced frets, height 14 inches. CONDITION: Mvt: Running when wound, does not appear to be keeping time and will either need a service or regulation, fine-plus cosmetic mvt condition overall, tarnished plates; excellent dial with light paint loss in engraved Roman numerals; excellent hands; case finial has broken off and will need to be properly repaired.
There have been numerous comments over the years about old lantern clock cases being "up-dated" with fusee movements. Some individuals decrying the practice and others pointing out that at least part of a historical clock which might have been relegated to the scrap heap still survives. Sure, it would be great to have this clock with its original escapement and while we are at it, why not an original bracket, to boot. Realistically, the chain fusee movement is not the first modification this clock has endured.
The clock arrived without shipping damage as was as described in the auction, complete with its broken-off top finial. Upon removing the chapter ring the signature of the original maker was revealed. Richard Lord, who was admitted to the Clockmakers' Company as a Free Brother in 1632. The discovery of the name lead to an interesting and fun series of communications about this clock, other lantern clocks and early 17th. century English horological history with an individual who has written extensively about English lantern clocks.
My correspondent knows of one other lantern clock signed by Richard Lord (formerly with balance wheel escapement) and a possible third which is similar but unsigned. I found photos of the other signed Lord lantern clock and there are many similarities(frets, feet, finials, engraving...) between it and the example here. In the other Lord clock the shield is blank, i.e., not engraved with initials as the present clock is.
The chain fusee movement works properly All I have done to the clock is re-wax and re-silver the alarm and chapter rings and clean and wax the case. I did not polish the brass least the clock look shiny. I repaired the broken top finial. The existing bell is a large and very thick bell with a repaired crack and which does not sound good, having a "thunky" sound. For the meantime I put another bell on the clock pending efforts to fix the crack in the old bell. Detail photos of the old bell are included here. The last photo shows the old bell sitting on top of the clock in a vain attempt to show a side-by-side bell size comparison. Regardless, the auction house photo shows the clock with the proper bell.
Below are various photos, the first one being the auction house main photo. Some of these photographs are detail photos requested by my correspondent. One photo of the chapter ring shows that some of the original lay-out scribe marks were not polished out completely, which detail may be noted on some other lantern clock dials. Maybe this detail was considered unimportant as these early clocks were mounted high on the wall to increase their running time and lighting must have been sketchy at best.
Bruce
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