Help identifying grandfather clock?
Discussion
Lee have inherited a grandfather clock which I know nothing about and would like to find out a little more.
It says "Lees, Bury" on the face but no other marks I can find.
It works and chimes, but does ideally need some restoration to make perfect - but not sure if it's worth investing in
Anyone know how to find out more about these things? Google is a minefield when you aren't sure what to search for!!
It says "Lees, Bury" on the face but no other marks I can find.
It works and chimes, but does ideally need some restoration to make perfect - but not sure if it's worth investing in
Anyone know how to find out more about these things? Google is a minefield when you aren't sure what to search for!!
I did similar a few years back - I found this site about the best to start at ......
http://www.clockmakersandrepairs.co.uk/page6.htm
Type of dial and it's decoration is the first giveaway.
Main thing is to see if it's a "bitsa" or not. The movement will almost certainly have the makers mark engraved on it.
Good luck and enjoy the journey it's fun
http://www.clockmakersandrepairs.co.uk/page6.htm
Type of dial and it's decoration is the first giveaway.
Main thing is to see if it's a "bitsa" or not. The movement will almost certainly have the makers mark engraved on it.
Good luck and enjoy the journey it's fun
https://archive.org/stream/librarychronicle34univ/librarychronicle34univ_djvu.txt said:
On Tuesday last the constable of Bury went to execute a warrant
on one Lee(s), a clockmaker of that place for disobeying an order
of court. As soon as he entered the room he rushed on them with
a sharp knife, stabbed one of the constables in the breast and
wounded the other, and it was with great difficulty he was secured.
He is now lodged in the Manchester house of correction. '^
on one Lee(s), a clockmaker of that place for disobeying an order
of court. As soon as he entered the room he rushed on them with
a sharp knife, stabbed one of the constables in the breast and
wounded the other, and it was with great difficulty he was secured.
He is now lodged in the Manchester house of correction. '^
babelfish said:
https://archive.org/stream/librarychronicle34univ/librarychronicle34univ_djvu.txt said:
On Tuesday last the constable of Bury went to execute a warrant
on one Lee(s), a clockmaker of that place for disobeying an order
of court. As soon as he entered the room he rushed on them with
a sharp knife, stabbed one of the constables in the breast and
wounded the other, and it was with great difficulty he was secured.
He is now lodged in the Manchester house of correction. '^
on one Lee(s), a clockmaker of that place for disobeying an order
of court. As soon as he entered the room he rushed on them with
a sharp knife, stabbed one of the constables in the breast and
wounded the other, and it was with great difficulty he was secured.
He is now lodged in the Manchester house of correction. '^
dickymint said:
zb said:
LordHaveMurci said:
babelfish said:
speedyman said:
Doing Time then.
I guess someone had to chime in with thatI've repaired plenty of English longcase clocks. Never seen a maker's mark or name on the movement. Quite likely to be some repairers marks though. There will probably be a maker's name on the falseplate (the iron plate between the dial and the movement), but most were made in a few factories in the Birmingham area.
The majority of white dial longcase clocks were assembled and finished by the clockmaker, using a kit of parts bought from a factory. Dials were bought in too, although the painted decoration may have been added locally.
Cases were usually made to order by a cabinet maker, the clockmaker just cutting the cheeks and seatboard to fit the movement and dial.
The clockmaker had very little input on these late longcase clocks. Quite different to earlier clocks, where many parts were made in-house, by hand or with rudimentary machines.
Still nice objects though, and worth saving. If it needs work, find a one man band clock repairer to take care of the mechanical parts, and a furniture restorer/cabinet maker to do the case. Very easy to pay through the nose in some places. If it's working and keeping good time, and the case is solid, I'd leave it alone. If it's at all dirty, don't be tempted to oil it.
The majority of white dial longcase clocks were assembled and finished by the clockmaker, using a kit of parts bought from a factory. Dials were bought in too, although the painted decoration may have been added locally.
Cases were usually made to order by a cabinet maker, the clockmaker just cutting the cheeks and seatboard to fit the movement and dial.
The clockmaker had very little input on these late longcase clocks. Quite different to earlier clocks, where many parts were made in-house, by hand or with rudimentary machines.
Still nice objects though, and worth saving. If it needs work, find a one man band clock repairer to take care of the mechanical parts, and a furniture restorer/cabinet maker to do the case. Very easy to pay through the nose in some places. If it's working and keeping good time, and the case is solid, I'd leave it alone. If it's at all dirty, don't be tempted to oil it.
LordHaveMurci said:
dickymint said:
zb said:
LordHaveMurci said:
babelfish said:
speedyman said:
Doing Time then.
I guess someone had to chime in with that
KAgantua said:
LordHaveMurci said:
dickymint said:
zb said:
LordHaveMurci said:
babelfish said:
speedyman said:
Doing Time then.
I guess someone had to chime in with thathttp://www.dialrestorer.co.uk/date-painted-dials/
I'd go for 1830+. based on the dial - but as I said earlier it may be a "bitsa"
I'd go for 1830+. based on the dial - but as I said earlier it may be a "bitsa"
guindilias said:
That clock I posted was built by Lees in 1750 or so, so I doubt he was still alive and building clocks in 1830!
It'll be a family name - business handed down Father to Son.There's no way OPs clock is that old (at least the dial isn't.
Edited by dickymint on Tuesday 25th April 11:48
guindilias said:
Aye, I suppose that could well be the case - or it might well be a "Bitsa"!
Here's a "Lees" circa 1830.....https://www.antiques-atlas.com/antique/lees_of_bur...
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