Tower Clock ID help

[DanJeffries]

Happy 2010 everyone!

I purchased this small tower clock back first of last year, and the gentleman held it for me all year long. I finally made my way up to St. Louis to pick this thing up and have gotten it home and tried to identify the thing, but with no luck.
After digging into this clock, I'm really intrigued. I didn't really buy it for the value just the interesting make.
I believe it to be of American build maybe English..... The Pilot dial says Waterbury, but to my knowledge they didn't make any tower clocks, I'm thinking someone just stuck the paper dial on there to have a face, but I maybe wrong. The only ID markings on the clock is the top nut says.... E.F.R. Sept 1894. So with that and the pics I have can anyone shed light on this clock for me?
It has one minute remontoire (hands advanced a minute at the time) which is activated by and different movement. pretty interesting, everything seems original except the separate movement. I believe it may have been a replacement.
This clock may have just been someones made up invention, but it has electric slave drive capabilities, so I'm thinking it had to be made up by someone who knew what they were doing. It has the works that drive a set of motion works so I believe it was some sort of public clock at one time.
Anyhow, take a look at the pics and anyone's help is greatly appreciated. If you need more pics, let me know, I'm going to begin the de-greasing process this week hopefully.
Thanks
Dan

 

[doug sinclair]

The Waterbury clock dial appears to be off a cheap alarm clock. I wonder if the answer to your question about the maker might be found behind that dial?

 

[DanJeffries]

Yeah, that is what I plan to do next as well as degreasing. Kind of ran out of time yesterday. Just got back in town yesterday and got it unloaded. Plus we are having a strangely cold winter in GA, so the shop was a little cold while I was trying to investigate. So, I will investigate further. I didn't think Waterbury had ever made any tower clocks, but I also wanted to snap some pictures of the "as found" state first.
I'll let you know what I uncover.......
Thanks
Dan

The Waterbury clock dial appears to be off a cheap alarm clock. I wonder if the answer to your question about the maker might be found behind that dial?

 

[Ray Fanchamps]

The strap steel construction suggests to me it's European. I cannot see the Time side winding drum connection to the GF movement but it would appear ( I am guessing) the GF movement is driven "backwards" through the centershaft.
The images are difficult to interpret and I may be corrected but from what I see the GF is a replacement for the missing escape train that would have been in the upper section of the right side vertical strap . Between the Waterbury dial, the contacts and the GF movement Heath Robinson would be proud.

 

[DanJeffries]

Well with no luck........I took the dial off and underneath was the original dial pan and you can see the remnants of an old paper dial. I guess it hat rotted away so badly that somone ripped it off and put the newer Waterbuy dial off of a cheepo clock.
Anyhow, I guess I'm still at a loss.....

I will keep researching.
Ray, I agree with its construction, I too believe it to be of European make. The (replacement) GF movement runs like a traditional clock and there is a rod connected to the Second bit, that releases the time train on the tower clock movement once a minute. So the entire clock has 3 weights. One for the strike, one one for the time train of tower clock, and one for the small clock off to the side. I really believe that this was an original set up, but I think the small clock movement is a replacement. One reason I believe this to be an original set up is, there are no vacant holes in the frame or in the case of this clock. I have several tower clocks and if they have been modified or changed greatly, there is an unmistakable "footprint" of where everything used to be originally.
I have seen a couple of early tower clocks with this set up, that had a separate smaller movement releasing the time train, to isolate it from the elements from outside, thus creating more accurate time keeping capabilities. Anyhow, it is an interesting clock either way, and it being a small tower clock, it makes it easy to display.
The case that it is in is really well built. So I'm thinking maybe a school, or municipal building with it having the capability to run slave clocks.
Anyhow, everyone keep researching, I'm somewhat at standstill with my research. I need to research English clock makers and see if I can match up the initials.
Thanks everyone.
Dan

 

[Ray Fanchamps]

This is one of those deals where even as an original clock one might have scratched one's head at the construction details. A "hands on" inspection would reveal much more than the images do. Lacking that, I do have a follow-up that might better identify where I may have been misled.

You suggest "there are no vacant holes in the frame or in the case of this clock." In the image I have blown up from your original, one can see what appears to be an unused pinion and 3 extra holes. All may be explainable but those "extras" and not seeing the GF connection are what led me to wonder about the current configuration.

 

[DanJeffries]

Thanks Ray,
Great Eye....I didn't notice those holes till you mentioned it.....To be honest it has just been too darn cold here in GA for me to get out there and really investigate for longer than about 10 minutes. We are having lows in the teens, and by the weekend single digits. Now I know for most of you that is not cold, but in Middle GA that is pretty COLD!!!!!!
I will definitely look more into the holes in the frame.
The pinion you are referring to is used, but again as you said, without "hands on" inspection it is hard to see. That particular pinion runs out the back of the frame and there is a fly that can be seen from the back side. I will see if I can post better pics tonight of the clock. I really rushed to make those the other night. I may even see if I can make a video and put it on my youtube acct.
Thanks for your help and I look forward to hearing more from you on further observation of the future pics.
I'm really intrigued by this clock and I'm anxious to find out the maker..
Thanks again
Dan