A rare mid 19th Century carved mahogany floorstanding regulator with keyless windingE. Fisher, BathThe arched case with full length glazed door revealing the mercury jar pendulum (now empty) and floral scroll engraving to the top and bottom, over a substantial base with recessed oval panel, applied carved scrolls and block feet. The one piece signed silvered 13.75-inch dial with outer minute track enclosing the recessed subsidiary dials for Arabic seconds (with Observatory marks) and Roman hours. The substantial weight-driven movement with thick (5mm) tapering plates united by four heavy turned pillars secured by eight heavy blued steel screws and collets, the single train with wheels of six crossings, high count pinions and terminating in a deadbeat escapement with jewelled pallets, triple-screwed to the arbor which is set in endstops, the long polished steel crutch terminating in a right angle with hinged steel arbor carrying the fork to the fine-screw regulation nut over the empty mercury jar pendulum with tapered pointer reading against a silvered beat scale secured to the back board. Wound by pulling on a heavy fusee-type chain emanating from the right hand side of the hood. Together with the small (c.2.75kgs) cylindrical brass weight, the four-spoke pulley and case key. 2.18m (7ft 2ins)Footnotes:Edwin Fisher is first recorded working in Bath in 1819; he is recorded as a watchmaker and a jeweller working at 13 Somerset buildings. At some point he relocated to 14 New Bond Street; an 1833 directory records him at this address. On a trade card, he is styled as a watchmaker, specialising in French watches, chronometers, and repeaters, as well as carrying out repairs to musical works and offering a supply of keys and precious metal chains. Nine years later Fisher had moved again to 13 Abbey Churchyard, though he would stay there only briefly, moving to his final location, 9 Old Bond Street, in 1846. He stopped advertising in Bath in 1866, which is reasonable to suggest as his date of retirement.Another regulator, with a jewelled deadbeat escapement, is known to be by him, as well as a few skeleton clocks. His name and a date of 1839 are also on the hour dial of the Cockshutt church clock; it has been suggested that he carried out some extensive repairs to the clock, possibly including a repair or conversion of the clock's pinwheel escapement, the movement being signed Bullock and Davies of Ellesmere. A turret clock, previously from the Bishop's Palace stable block in Bath, was made entirely by Fisher, and features quarter chimes and a wooden pendulum. None of these clocks have been described as having the peculiar pull-wind system present on the current lot.It is also interesting to note that the ticking of a balloon clock made by Fisher was recorded around 1941, by the BBC at Maida Vale. The recorded ticking was used as a time interval signal on radio broadcasts between programs, to assure listens that their sets had not died, but that a new program was being prepared.British Horological Society (1972) 'A Working Edwin Fisher Clock', Horological Journal, Vol. 115 (3), pg. 29Goodship, G. (1998) 'Time and the BBC', Antiquarian Horology, Vol. 24 (4), pg. 309.Aked, C. (1969) 'The Joyces of Whitchurch', Antiquarian Horology, Vol. 6 (4), pg. 216.Wooster, W. (1833-1885) The Post Office Bath Directory Bath: Lewis, Sons & Tyte.Gye, H. (1819-1824) Gye's Bath Directory Bath: H.Gye.The Fitzwilliam Museum (2022) Trade card for Edwin Fisher, Watch & Clock maker, Bath: P.12890-R. Available at: https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/185709This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: * TP* VAT on imported items at a preferential rate of 5% on Hammer Price and the prevailing rate on Buyer's Premium.TP For auctions held in Scotland: Lots will be moved to an offsite storage location (Constantine, Constantine House, North Caldeen Road, Coatbridge ML5 4EF, Scotland, UK) and will only be available for collection from this location at the date stated in the catalogue. Please refer to the catalogue for further information.For all other auctions: Lots will be moved to an offsite storage location (Cadogan Tate, Auction House Services, 241 Acton Lane, London NW10 7NP, UK) and will only be available for collection from this location at the date stated in the catalogue. Please note transfer and storage charges will apply to any lots not collected after 14 calendar days from the auction date.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com
