I have a large shelf clock looks to be solid brass clock, can anybody help with identify it. I think it might be a French make? The clock has a open escapement that is jeweled. The movement has a 48 and a 40 stamped. This is a very heavy clock probly about 35 to 40 pounds. Clock is 24" x 15.5" x 7.5" I am looking to sell for a friend, does anybody know what it worth. or where could I look this up at.

Also have a Tiffany Clock Co New York that I need some info on.

Thanks in advance Leon Harris

front

dial

back

movement stamped 48 at the bottom

movement stamping

Leon,
It certainly looks French and might have had accompanying candelabra or ewers when it was new, one to stand by each side. Is there a bezel with beveled glass? The two numbers most likely represent the pendulum length in pouces and lignes. According to Jesse Coleman a pouce is equal to 28 mm and a ligne is equal to 2.26 mm. He said the numbers are stamped on either side of a pillar post near the bottom of the back plate. I have no idea of worth; I haven't seen one for sale in a while. Years ago when the black slate Frenchies were $15 each and Clement's at Chattanooga had them by the truck load, the brass ones were twice as much or more.

Hi John, I think the glass has been replaced. I can see on place where it does not touch the frame of the bezel. It does open so you can set the time.

What a gorgeous clock!

Is this a name?

Hi Sheila, I saw that to, and have looked at it again. I really don't think it is name. It is very light and has tarnished a bit, that is why it shows up. Thanks for asking. I am pretty sure now that it is a french clock, but how does one about putting a price on it. I cleaned up the image.

The proper term for the accompanying items to the clock is garniture; I couldn't remember. It's unfortunate that the original beveled glass has been replaced, but I think there are some advertisers in the Mart who can grind and polish replacements.

Leon,
I wouldn't have the slightest idea about the pricing of a clock, I'm a pocket watch person, but I can say for sure that, it's one really beautiful clock!

Yeh Sheila, me to a pocket watch collector. You like Elgin, and the pansies. I am the repairman that has fixed several of the cases here in the IHC 185. I have no idea about a old nice clock, but I have to start somewhere.

Leon,
Welcome to the clock side of IHC. The crossover is amazing. I joined here with about 30 years of clock collecting under my belt, and now find I have purchased more watches than clocks lately. I wish I could help more with information on your clock, but my collection is American clocks and haven't ventured much into the French clocks.

Leon, I would say it's almost certainly a French clock, and the escapement is a 'Brocot' type (Achille Brocot, Paris 1817-78).
It also has a 'Brocot suspension system' whereby the pendulum length has a micrometer adjustment accessed via the small hole at the top of the dial. If you check the top of the crutch, you will see a gear wheel which winds the adjustment mechanism.
Be wary of these! They jam through lack of use and the teeth shear off!

I could see a clock like that being offered in a good antique centre in the UK for around £400 - £700GBP 'minimum', (double the numbers for $US)and if it was complete with all garnitures, probably at least double that figure.

The garnitures must have been spectacular with such an ornate clock that size.

If the movement was signed by such as 'Japy' or 'Le Roy' and their ilk, it would move it into another league altogether, crazy what a name will do for basically an identical movement!

A bare French movement alone featuring a brocot visible escapement and a perfect dial will fetch around £150GBP on eBay - and they sell like hot cakes!

It would do it no harm if being sold, to do something about the awful repair and kinks on the hammer wire

A beautiful clock!

John.

John,
I'm glad you mentioned that, because this clock is worth the repair for sure, and I bet it would send that amount through the roof. I only say that, because for the first time I have been really looking at clocks, and the Fancy French clocks have been getting hit a lot lately and with high dollars, but I did notice that they are the ones that are really perfect that get the high dollars.
The prices on these are going up all the time, have you noticed that? I remember seeing them a while back for about half of what they are now. I also noticed that the more elaborate the clock is, the more bids they get and they sell every time!!! I remember when they would go to auction over and over before selling. Even the not so pristine clocks sell today!

Take with a grain of salt though, because I'm new to clocks, but I have been looking.

Am I seeing a difference from a year ago? You tell me. I know watches are way up from what they were too.

New interest I guess. Nice to see it for both Clocks and Watches huh?