Help identifying grandfather clock?

[dickymint]

JackReacher said:

Thread bump. Does anyone know much about a clockmaker called Green from Edinburgh?

Glad you bumped this as it's been on my mind of late - stripped my clock down months ago and been meaning to contact Clockworks to sort. New extension has put a hold on most things but will sort in the new year

[mjb1]

mjb1 said:

Seeing as there are some knowledgeable people contributing to this thread, I'm after info/opinions on this clock please:



Had been in my granddad's house for many years, now we're probably looking to sell it on (I would have it in a heartbeat, but it's too tall to fit anywhere in my house)!

Estimate of age (I don't think it's particularly old, in clock terms)?
Anything about the maker (J Wilson, Gateshead)?
Rough idea of value?

Was just thinking about updating this thread the other day. This clock finally sold at auction recently, fetched just over £100.

[moffspeed]

mjb1 said:

Was just thinking about updating this thread the other day. This clock finally sold at auction recently, fetched just over £100.

Yes, depressingly that is the market at the moment. I have a passing interest in old clocks and it is incredible how the value of the more commonplace long-case clocks has fallen away recently. Good quality fusee wall and bracket clocks have just about maintained their values but regular long case clocks have crashed.

To use a classic car analogy earlier (18th C) brass dial long case clocks by well known London makers are the Daytonas and Miuras of the clock world and should always keep their value - but your clock, imposing and impressive though it is, was a child of a later generation . Mass produced movements, painted (rather than brass) dials and with their stubby wide cases they are the MG Midgets/Minors of the clock world. I share your pain - I recently tested the waters and sent a similar clock to auction - it made £120. I have no doubt it would have made quadruple that just a few years back.

So a great time to buy and a dreadful time to sell. Funny old thing the antiques world - things just fall in and out of fashion and the price swings reflect this. I'm now buying/selling older fountain pens - a half decent Parker 51 in one of the rarer colours is now worth much the same as your average painted dial long case clock...

Incidentally to identify your old clocks consult G.H.Baillie's "Watchmakers & Clockmakers Of The World". Available on eBay for a few quid it gives a (fairly) exhaustive list of historical clockmakers. To answer JackReacher's post "Green of Edinburgh" is listed as Robert Green 1781 - 1834. Beware many long case clocks out there are either fakes or "marriages" of several different clocks which have been cobbled together to produce one authentic looking clock - there's a parallel to the classic car market there too then !!

Edited by moffspeed on Sunday 24th December 17:40

[clockworks]

I've been to a couple of antiques auctions recently, and the prices are shockingly low. I picked up a very nice architectural style Lenzkirch vienna regulator, pretty much as good as it gets for German factory clocks, for less than £90 including premium. It had a small part missing (the gathering pallet), which I had in my spares box. Half an hour's work, and it's ticking away nicely. I don't need to service it, but I will when I get a free day.
These sell for £700+, more in the USA.

Local painted dial longcase clocks were fetching less than £200, brass dials not a lot more, unless they have features like moon or tide dials.
As posted above, fusee wall and bracket clocks are doing a lot better. Small platform mantel clocks from the better English makers were attracting bids, but were still cheap. About the only things that are making well above guide price are JLC Atmos clocks, which is a shame as I'm trying to buy one.

I've got a very nice London longcase in for repair. Very early painted dial (on brass, rather than iron, and no falseplate) that would've sold for £8k+ at the peak. Customer asked me how much they should insure it for, so I spoke to a couple of contacts. £3.5k, so it would probably make £2k at auction.

Now is definitely the time to buy from auction.

[dudleybloke]

Buy clocks.
Make loads of YouTube videos about clocks and push the "lifestyle" aspect so they become a must have item for the rich youth.
Sell clocks for profit.
Send me a cut of profits.
Job jobbed.

[TooMany2cvs]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Not all long-case clocks are (that) long.

I have a c.1800 (IIRC) long-case that was in my great-grandfather's farm kitchen when my dad was a lad, and probably in the family from new. It sits just fine in my c.1700 low-ceilinged dining room, even though I had to saw the top off the Ikea Billy bookcases to get them to fit...

[moffspeed]

TVR Moneypit said:

Funnily enough, I did a PH search for this topic and read this thread just a few days ago.

There used to be an old boy, ex merchant navy, who lived next door to us when I was a kid, and he had a beautiful old long case. I always promised myself one, but ideally I need to move out of rented and into my own place.

Still, no harm in researching the subject and doing a bit of online window shopping.

Which auction houses tend to specialise in longcases?

No need to go to a specialised auction house - by definition you would probably be dipping into the top end of the market if you did so.

Most provincial auction houses have longcase clocks up for auction on a regular basis - and you will currently get a very decent 8 day painted dial clock on a budget of £300 - just make sure that you have a room with a tall enough ceiling (obviously...)

If you go onto the "Easy Live" auction website you can key in "long case clock" and it will call up any upcoming auctions featuring suitable clocks, simple as that.

[clockworks]

Yes, plenty of local auction houses around. There are at least 3 here in Cornwall within an hour's drive. They tend to have general house clearance auctions every week or two. The best stuff gets put to one side, and they do an antique/collectible auction every couple of months. My local one has 30 to 50 clocks in each antique auction, half a dozen or so are longcase.

The staff are generally helpful, and they can usually tell you if a clock is complete. It's also worth talking to other buyers on viewing days. There will often be someone in there who knows about clocks, and can advise on whether it's a viable project (they might put you off if it's something they are going to bid on though). Worth watching some youtube videos, learn how the thing works, how to make it run "by hand".

[anonymous-user]

I have a regulator long case (believe 18th century) which I need to move, the only problem is the pendulum is mercury filled which presents a problem. It isn't obvious if the mercury is in sealed vessel or left open topped.

Any suggests on how to move this or recommendations for a professional who could move this for me would be appreciated.

Thanks.

[clockworks]

The mercury pendulums that I've seen up close have been pretty much sealed. Flat bottomed glass tubes sandwiched between brass castings top and bottom? The tubes should either be sealed individually, or by a cork gasket against the top casting. Kept upright in a box, they were fine being moved.
I have tried to clean one (mercury had oxidised inside the tubes), but gave up becaused the tubes were so well sealed. I was worried that I might break the tubes.

Yours may be different though. Pics?

[moffspeed]

TVR Moneypit said:

Could anyone recommended any forums that specialise in longcases?

As an ex TVR man I read Steve Heath's "bible" before taking the plunge with my first TVR.

To my mind Brian Loomes is the clock equivalent. When I first got interested in clocks I read many of his excellent books before buying my first longcase -it really gave me a great understanding of what makes them tick (literally) and helped guide me into buying a suitable clock. Like buying a TVR there are many pitfalls so you need to go in with eyes wide open and a level of knowledge. He also runs a good website, just Google him.

[Simpo Two]

gottans said:

I have a regulator long case (believe 18th century) which I need to move, the only problem is the pendulum is mercury filled which presents a problem. It isn't obvious if the mercury is in sealed vessel or left open topped.

Any suggests on how to move this or recommendations for a professional who could move this for me would be appreciated.

Thanks.

Unhitch the pendulum and carry it separately.

Mercury is a very slow cumulative poison, you're not going to die if you spill a bit.

Back on the plot, for anyone with a named London clock, the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers have excellent archives.

[DJDT]

I have a question pertaining to painters of grandfather clock dials. My clock was made by A. Grinlaw in Dunse Now spelt Duns), Berwickshire prior to his demise in 1865. In those days there was seemingly a good distribution of clock deals throughout the UK with Birmingham being well known form dial painters.
My attached dial has no actual name on the rear side, but reads 1177 & IV which may depict the painter's code. Should anyone know anything about this, I would welcome hearing from you - thanks in advance

[dhutch]

Epic thread recovery! I cant help, but do love a grandfather clock, I have one, from my grandfather's house.

[dickymint]

dhutch said:

Epic thread recovery! I cant help, but do love a grandfather clock, I have one, from my grandfather's house.

And i've still not gotten mine repaired! Must do it as I've got the money set aside for it. I'll get in touch with Clockworks soon

[clockworks]

dickymint said:

And i've still not gotten mine repaired! Must do it as I've got the money set aside for it. I'll get in touch with Clockworks soon

Now's a good time to get it done, as my backlog has gone right down.
About 40% of my work normally comes via a local jeweller's shop. With the shops being shut for a couple of months, I've had no work from them.
I've got a feeling I'll be pretty busy come the middle of April.

[dickymint]

clockworks said:

dickymint said:

And i've still not gotten mine repaired! Must do it as I've got the money set aside for it. I'll get in touch with Clockworks soon

Now's a good time to get it done, as my backlog has gone right down.
About 40% of my work normally comes via a local jeweller's shop. With the shops being shut for a couple of months, I've had no work from them.
I've got a feeling I'll be pretty busy come the middle of April.

Excellent thanks, I'll see about boxing up the movement

[eldar]

clockworks said:

Now's a good time to get it done, as my backlog has gone right down.
About 40% of my work normally comes via a local jeweller's shop. With the shops being shut for a couple of months, I've had no work from them.
I've got a feeling I'll be pretty busy come the middle of April.

Interesting, my longcase could do with a service. Keeps perfect time, but is a couple of decades past its half century service.

[clockworks]

eldar said:

Interesting, my longcase could do with a service. Keeps perfect time, but is a couple of decades past its half century service.

Probably a good idea to get it done.

I tell my customers not to bother with getting a "service" done every 2 or 3 years, as I don't like oiling dirty clocks. I say just wait until something goes wrong, or it gets a bit noisy, or the strike sounds laboured. I do tell them that it should be properly serviced every 10 to 20 years though - complete strip down.

The "problem" with English longcase clocks is that the weights are usually a lot heavier than they need to be, so they will often keep on running even when they are literally grinding away the bearing surfaces (pivots and holes) with congealed and muck-laden oil. When they finally stop, it can get expensive to sort out.

It's normally the rear pivot of the centre arbor (the one the minute hand is fixed to) that wears the most. It can get so bad that the pivot snaps off, and the weight drops. This can wreck the great wheel and centre arbor - expensive.

[eldar]

Every time i wind it I look at the weights and various bearings and think they seem a little worn, they'll need looking at soon.

Then this thread comes back to life It's a London movement, around 1775, I think, Nicholas Lambert.

I think i need to book it in...