Internet Horology Club 185
Identification

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https://ihc185.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/6346047761/m/2601059012

February 17, 2006, 13:26
Robert V. Shans
Identification
Can anyone help identify this movement?


February 17, 2006, 13:27
Robert V. Shans
another picture.


February 17, 2006, 13:28
Robert V. Shans
and another one.


February 17, 2006, 13:30
Robert V. Shans
The dial. I'll post a picture of the case after I deliver the movement.


February 17, 2006, 13:32
Robert V. Shans
one more picture.


February 17, 2006, 13:33
Robert V. Shans
the back.


February 17, 2006, 13:35
Robert V. Shans
Both strik train and time train run on the same weight. Thanks.

Bob


February 21, 2006, 06:59
Greg Reeves
I can't identify the maker, except that it looks English. Is it supposed to run with only one chain? It looks as though there is a main wheel for both trains, I've not seen this before.
February 21, 2006, 07:37
Robert V. Shans
HI Greg,
Yes, the clock is designed to run on only one weight. The first I've seen too. I'll post more pictures if you would like to see some close up of the movement. I'm thinking it's very early (1810 or maybe earlier) American. I'll post a picture of the case (which is beautiful) later.

Regards,

Bob
February 21, 2006, 09:45
Greg Reeves
yes, that would be great. I've heard of them, but not had one in for repair. By the way, looks like a great job on restoration.
February 21, 2006, 19:45
Robert V. Shans
This is the first two train, one weight, I have had after 35 years in this business. Very interesting clock. Wait until you see the case.I tried to take a picture of the chain driving both trains. I hope you can see it from this picture.


February 21, 2006, 19:50
Robert V. Shans
I know there is a couple of links in the chain that needs to be "closed" and I also will polish it to the best it can be before it is delivered to my customer, so please don't send me emails.

Warm regards,

Bob
February 23, 2006, 18:03
John Woolsey
Hi Robert,

I've found recorded a maker - Eli. Mather, West Bradford, Pa. USA 1828.
This Could be your man and the date would fit the 'painted' (or 'white') dial also.
I can't find any clockmakers recorded for Halifax UK (not far from where I live!), so guessing it's Halifax USA.

Greg, the following may be relevent to your clock also, but I'll be replying to you shortly anyway.

Around 'Mather's' time, painted dial 'mass manufacture' was big business, particularly in Birmingham UK where most of the 'dial makers' were operating.
As well as making dials to suit individual movement plates, they were mainly produced already rivetted to a blank falseplate, which the clockmaker could fit to any movement, all he had to do was choose a dial 'off the shelf', and drill the plates to suit his movement.
This was a big departure from brass dial manufacture, where they all had to be made to suit a particular movement - A Very unpopular development with engravers!

Dials were exported to the USA in large numbers and were often left blank in production so that retailers, makers or even owners could have their own names and town names painted on them.
A name on a dial in some cases, may not have any relevence to a maker or where made at all.

Alongside this, clock movements were also becoming more 'mass produced', and also being exported.
Clock 'Makers' bought in all the components, so in reality just 'refinished' them.
A give away, is a lack of scribe marks around the pivot holes on such 'jig drilled' plates, which would be present on a 'hand made' movement caused by the depthing tool.
The 'W' stamped into the wheel may suggest a 'logo' of such a mass 'manufacturer!

Your clock could be either totally American in origin, or an early form of 'kit build' for which Mather may have 'bought in' all the bits to assemble 'at home' in his own longcase Smile
Must confess, I've never seen two trains running on one weight 'till now!

Looks a very nice movement though, and a beautifully executed restoration if I may say so.

Best regards
John Woolsey
February 23, 2006, 23:51
Tom Seymour
Robert, That is a VERY INTERESTING clock. I have not seen one like it. Is the second hole in the dial just empty or is there a false winding arbor to make it look right?


Tom
February 24, 2006, 14:03
Robert V. Shans
Thanks you for the information John. Thanks for the compliment too. That makes sense to me. I have seen the case and it does look American to me but I'm no expert on floor clocks. This is a first for me too and I've been doing this for 37 years. I'll post a picture of the case a little later on.
Tom, there there are are two false winding arbors. One of them is stripped and I had not repaired it at the time of posting the first pictures. Here is another picture with the dial on.
Kind regards,

Bob


February 24, 2006, 14:06
Robert V. Shans
from the bottom of the clock. Maybe you can see the chain working both trains.


February 25, 2006, 09:24
Michael Cherry
Actually that is a very common 30-hour continuous chain movement with outside countwheel strike. They were the cheaper tall case movements that had the false winding arbors to look like a more expensive 8-day type.
Mike C.
February 25, 2006, 09:36
Michael Cherry
One more thing, many were rope-pull, the sprocket had spikes for the rope to catch on and a counter-weight(donut-shaped) that the loose end of the chain would go through to keep the rope taut for proper 'tracking' over the sprocket. The counter-weight was used on the chain-pull also. I could not see from the pics if yours had a counter-weight.
Mike C.
February 25, 2006, 15:37
Robert V. Shans
Thanks for your information Mike. This one didn't have a counter weight when I picked it up. Maybe it should have but it has been working fine for the last week of so.

Regards,

Bob
February 25, 2006, 19:26
Michael Cherry
Your welcome Bob
March 10, 2006, 07:38
Robert V. Shans
The case.


March 10, 2006, 07:44
Robert V. Shans
The bottom/feet of the clock


March 10, 2006, 07:44
Robert V. Shans
Back of clock


March 10, 2006, 08:27
Tom Seymour
What a case. Love that wood. Great clock!!


Tom
March 10, 2006, 20:07
Robert V. Shans
I don't have a clue what the wood is but I agree, it is Beautiful.
My customer bought a house here in Fredericksburg and got the clock with it. Such a deal. If anyone has an estimate of the value, please let me know.
Thanks,

Bob