current stock - Lantern Clocks

WILLIAM HULBERT BRISTOLL {BRISTOL}
ref. 424

A fine quality lantern clock signed "William Hulbert, Bristoll fecit"

The clock has a verge escapement with inside swinging pendulum with short verge bob, which is anchor shaped.  The doors have slots cut into them to enable the pendulum to swing 'thru. They have cast brass, black iron lined "BATS WING" extensions surmounted by foliate engraved frets making this an attractive visual feature.

The Dial has beautiful foliate engraving all over.  The clock has an intricately cast brass hand which is a particular feature of Bristol lantern clocks, as normally they are made of iron. On this clock the counter-weight or "doughnut" is also brass (normally lead) which is quite interesting. The top fret is a LION & UNICORN pattern, also a Bristol feature which is realistically engraved (if you've seen a unicorn!).  The well cast and turned pillars are of a one-piece construction which is also a West-Country feature.

The clock strikes the hours on a large bell via a countwheel locking system.

Overall a very good looking clock, the inside swinging pendulum giving it an added visual appeal.

The clock runs on an endless early rope drive system that was invented by Christiaan Huygens (1629-1694).

William Hulbert of Bristol is recorded as working in Castle Green from 1692-1708. A Walnut longcase is illustrated in AJ Moores 'Bristol Clockmakers' book and a walnut marquetry example on 9 bells is noted.

SOLD

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GILKES, Adderbury
ref. 429

This pretty brass dial clock circa 1730 - 1740 has the highly individual dial decoration known as “Zig Zag” and is characteristic of a group of North OXFORDSHIRE Quaker clockmakers, principally the GILKES family of Adderbury.

The small (9”) diameter dial is well engraved, and has typical cast brass spandrels associated with this maker. Time is shown on a well engraved, bold chapter ring, with lozenge divisions with a single well pierced blued steel hand.

An integral HOOK & SPIKE facility enables it to hang on the wall on a bent nail or screw. The long seconds pendulum swinging below.

The movement has a duration of  30 hours, striking the hours on a large bell via a countwheel locking system.

These desirable clocks are becoming increasingly hard to find.

SOLD
Dimensions: Small sized 9 inch dial

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IRON PILLAR HOOK&SPIKE
ref. 466

A very interesting early clock with many parts made of iron and an exciting primitive engraved dial (further description to come)

£2950.00

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LANTERN CLOCKS SECTION BEING UPDATED...
ref. 390

We have several clocks being restored at the moment. Most clocks find new homes without making it to the website, so please contact us if you have a specific requirement.

T.B.A.

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LUKE WISE, READING
ref. 387

A Fine Third Period lantern clock by Luke Wise, Reading with an original verge escapement with inside swinging pendulum with short verge bob.

 The side doors have slots cut into them to enable the pendulum to swing 'thru them, these are probably Victorian replacements with  complementary colour that suits the clock well,  and further add to the confusion in the argument as to if "winged" doors ever existed!

The Dial has beautiful foliate engraving around the central alarm disc which is engraved with a flat top "8". The top fret is also foliate engraved. The clock has its original alarm back plate and hoop and spikes to the rear. The patination of the clock is that very nice "sleepy" lacquered look that only comes with great age. The inside swinging pendulum gives the clock an added visual appeal.

The clock runs on an endless early chain drive system that was invented by Christiaan Huygens (1629-1694).

G.H.Baillie's "Watchmakers & Clockmakers of the World Volume 1" says : "Luke Wise,Reading 1686-1710

Brian Loomes "The Early CLOCKMAKERS of Great Britain" says: Luke Wise free of clockmakers company by patrimony in 1694, being son of John Wise senior.

This illustrious family tree produced many fine clocks, of which this is a good example.

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MARKWICK AND MARKHAM, LONDON
ref. 371

The eminent clock making partnership of James Markwick and Robert Markham specialised in making clocks for the export market. This original verge escapement lantern clock has a well proportioned dial with the makers name in the arch, a Turkish engraved single handed chapter ring with a fine matted centre. The alarum setting disc is in the centre with a finely proportioned single hand showing the time.  The clock strikes the hours via a countwheel movement. The clock runs on an endless rope drive system invented by Christiaan Huygens (1629-1694). 

G.H.Baillie's "Watchmakers & Clockmakers of the World Volume 1" says:- "An eminent maker, Partner with Robert Markham, and succeeded by him. ca. 1725-ca.1805"

SOLD
Dimensions: Height to top of finial 15 inches Dial 7x7 square into 10.25 arch

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SECOND PERIOD LOTHBURY LANTERN CLOCK
ref. 426

A good example of a second period lantern clock made in the Lothbury area of London circa 1650. The clock was originally made with Balance escapement, but this has been “improved” to the more fashionable ANCHOR escapement probably around 1700 within 50 years of manufacture. The conversion also necessitated the removal of the ALARUM mechanism which was originally located on the iron back plate, which was also replaced.

The foliate engraved dial plate is very well engraved, with a naive bird engraved below 12 o’clock, and the central alarm disc has the number “1’s” engraved as “J’s” an early feature. The chapter ring is of good early narrow proportion.

The substantial movement is HAND MADE at this time, and the WHEELS have scribe marks showing layout by hand and were NOT cut by the WHEEL ENGINE, as later clocks were.

Unusually the clock has the rare “MATCHSTICK MAN” casting mark on both the HOUR WHEEL and COUNTWHEEL, this mark is found on high quality clocks associated with makers such as Nicholas Coxeter, and William Sellwood, and shows the castings came from the same foundry. The finials are the earlier “CUP AND COVER” design.

The clock movement is of a SPLIT TRAIN type that originally runs on two separate clock weights to give a longer duration. It was “modernised” circa 1700 to the endless rope system invented by Cristiaan Huygens. The duration is around 12 hours on a single wind. Longer duration can be achieved by fitting a longer cotton rope.

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THOMAS WHEELER, LONDINI
ref. 459

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WILLIAM KIPLING. LONDON
ref. 372

This original verge escapement lantern clock by the "fine" maker William Kipling of London who specialised in clocks for the Ottoman Empire. The arched dial bears his name in a domed boss with herring-bone engaved border. The cast spandrels in the arch incorporate the "crescent moon" emblem. The side frets are the "foliate" pattern these could be later replacements. The twin handed chapter ring is engraved with Turkish numerals, for twin hands, with pierced hands showing the time. The clock has a countwheel movement striking the hours on a bell. The clock once had an alarm fitted which has since been removed. The clock has the endless rope drive system invented by Christiaan Huygens (1629-1694).

G.H.Baillie's "Watchmakers & Clockmakers of the World Volume 1" says : "William Kipling, London 1705-1737.  A fine maker."

Sir George White's excellent book "English Lantern Clocks" page 296 shows a similar clock by this maker.

SOLD
Dimensions: Height to top of finnial 15 inches Dial 8x8 square into 11

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