This clock was advertised at auction as a PA Clock. It stands 91 1/2 inches by 14 inches wide on the bonnet, 16 inches at the bottom, and 9 1/2 inches deep. I do not know wood, but it might be pine. I am loading several pictures looking for help in possibly identifying it. Thanks in advance for any response.
Posts: 353 | Location: Nichols, New York in the USA | Registered: April 04, 2010
Dial, painted and has all of the characteristics of a dial by the English dial maker James Wilson having WILSON BIRM on the back of the calendar circle, a splotch of white paint and the numbers 84 667 on the back.
Posts: 353 | Location: Nichols, New York in the USA | Registered: April 04, 2010
I do not think the seat board and movement were original to this clock. What I am trying to determine is whether this is a Pennsylvania case and whether the movement is American or European
Posts: 353 | Location: Nichols, New York in the USA | Registered: April 04, 2010
Hi Ken: I really like your clock. While not an expert on them by a long shot I will add my 2 cents worth till the heavy weights jump in. I would agree with Gary that it would appear to be maple with possibility of cherry in the top moulding and the turnings beside the door. I did some work on a similar case a few years ago that reportedly came from Pa. I think it was mostly pine. I suspect all these woods would both be native to Pa. Have no idea of the movements origin but like the detail on the back plate esp the post nuts. What makes you think the movement is not original to the case?
Posts: 361 | Location: Kincardine, Ontario in Canada | Registered: November 25, 2013
I do not believe it to be made from cherry. It is way to blond to be cherry and most cherry boards have light sap marks in them. I do not see any on this piece.
Posts: 1488 | Location: New York State in the USA | Registered: March 04, 2008
The wood looks like cherry to me. It was a common hedgerow wood in PA where I grew up. Most of it and the big walnuts were cut down by the 1950's. While cherry does have a white sapwood, the trees get (got) fairly large. I have a cherry drop-leaf table with a 22" top with no sapwood. The lighter color may be due to refinishing.
Posts: 486 | Location: Arizona in the USA | Registered: March 13, 2010
Hmm...My own experience with a houseful of cherry furniture and cabinetry says cherry wood rather quickly darkens as a function of exposure to light, but I don't know if the process reverses itself over very long stretches of time.
-Damien
Posts: 143 | Location: Puget Sound, Washington in the USA | Registered: January 16, 2010
Interesting. I do have a tv cabinet that I made from cherry that is considerably darker than when I made it in or around 1985.
But, on the other hand I also have a cherry hutch that was given to my mother in 1962, which sat in her dining room exposed to the southern sun through three windows side by side for about 20 years.
Here's an un-retouched photo showing both sides right and left, with the right side, (left side in the picture) considerably bleached out, I'm assuming because of the sun.
Dave Turner
Posts: 1979 | Location: Wilson, North Carolina in the USA | Registered: November 15, 2011
The clock dial outline and the bonnet door front outline are the same shape, but the door glass is about a half inch wider all around than the dial. Also there are nail/screw holes in the seat board, but no corresponding holes in the case.
Posts: 353 | Location: Nichols, New York in the USA | Registered: April 04, 2010
Another thing, the same pattern that appears on the post nuts is cut into the front of the winding arbors. It would seem to me that this might be some sort of signature.
Posts: 353 | Location: Nichols, New York in the USA | Registered: April 04, 2010