Richard Winterton Auctioneers
Lot 399
A GEORGE III AND LATER EBONISED AND GILT METAL MUSICAL STRIKING AND QUARTER CHIMING BRACKET CLOCK, the bell shaped top with central flaming vase finial and four urn finials, above a pediment with fret brass and red fabric sound fret, the arched glazed door enclosing a repainted cream dial with strike/silent, chime/silent and musical dial listing 'Evening Hymn, Loves Ritonello, Rule Britannia, Swiss Boy, Huntsman Chorus, God Save the King, Tancredia', above the main dial with Roman numerals, four train mechanism, eight day movement, striking and chiming on a total of twelve bells, musical cylinder below bells, the backplate engraved 'John Williams, 55 Goodge Street, London, the arched rear door with brass and fabric sound fret, two brass side handles, the whole case on four gilt foliate scroll feet, height 73cm, with pendulum, key and bag of bits of wood and metal, with the clock carries a typed card which details 'On the front plate of the movement behind the dial plate is impressed the name of J Thwaites 35 43 337', on the top of the clock is scratched into the wood F and S with arrows Condition Report Three measurements of movement 1) Plate top to bottom = 25.7cm. (2 Left right = 25.7cm at widest point to 21.8cm below cylinder (3 Measurement of distance of back to front of two plates of movement = 6cm (4 Diameter of spring barrels is approximately 8cm. We do not have a photograph of the J Thwaites stamp and numbers, only the piece of card with the typed mention of it. We believe the dial may be a replacement, but is certainly repainted and it is possible it was seen at this time. We have not dismantled the movement to see if the name exists. The clock does run but the musical mechanism needs some attention to the bells as at least one is slounding dull when struck. The strike is current one hour ahead of itself. We don't know the musical tunes but 'God Save The King' is recognisable in places and is playing this as per the tune selector. The dial is possibly a replacement but has most certainly been repaited, areas of paint can be seen on the back of the dial. The clock runs, strikes on the quarters, but strikes an hour ahead of itself. Both the repeat pull cords operate the mechanism but both are very brittle and need replacing. The Interior of the case is not Original and much may have been replacesd during the 20th Century. The very top of the case is not original and the loose finial does not match the other four on the corners. The fabri in the sound frets is worn red velvet. The scrolled frets on the sides are a little mishapen. No woodworm damage has been spotted. Not all the parts in the bag appear to belong to the clock. We are unsure what relevance they have to this item. There is additional information and a short video on the-saleroom.com for this lot which may be of assistance to you. The 'and later' refers to a repainted or replacement dial, changes to the innards of the case, alterations to the very top of the clock, it certainly isn't as it started, the casem and movement may have been made to fit each other. I am afraid I cannot comment on the orginality of the pendulum rise/fall mechanism as I cannot see inside the plates due to all the bells,cylinders, strikers, etc. All I can say is that the post holding the pendulum is fastened to the interior roof of the 'chimney'
