'Long Case' Clock Forums or help..?

[Gompo]

Hi,

We've got a long case clock, inherited from my Grandmother. I've known the clock for most my life but dont actually know much about when it was made, who made it etc. I've made a few searches on Google for clock details and also for specific forums but cant seem to find anything with the depth of knowledge of here, nevermind places like TZ and WUS. I know comparing clocks with watches is different but still.

..So, anyone know a good clock forum, or anyone know much about them here?

I've seen that book for sale, but would be loathe to get it incase it yields no information on our clock.

Cheers, Greg.

[glazbagun]

Got some pictures? Most of the clockies I know, whilst far from being luddites, seem less inclined to congregate online.

[Gompo]

Hi..

I should be able to get pics later - in storage at the moment but not far away.

I dont really know where I could find any identifying marks(?) - there is a name on the face but it's faded. Have tried searching for what I think it says but hadnt found any matches. There is a 'service' type sticker inside the door which i have found matches for online. Would each clock face be individually specified, or would they do so many copies of each sort?

I think last time I looked online I decided it was mid-18th century.

Cheers.

[cyberface]

Gompo said:

I think last time I looked online I decided it was mid-18th century.

Blimey - how the hell did you connect to the Internet back then?

[glazbagun]

cyberface said:

Gompo said:

I think last time I looked online I decided it was mid-18th century.

Blimey - how the hell did you connect to the Internet back then?

And how did he manage to last 250 years without internet? I can't last a day!

[Gompo]

[lowdrag]

Looks a typical long case Victorian clock there. Two winders so a striking clock, as they all were really, but most likely has a proprietary movement in it. The maker's name would usually be stamped on the back if you take the hood off.

[A S P]

Just been looking this up myself this morning. Yesterday we (my girlfriend actually) coincidentally 'acquired' a long case from her father who had no room for it after moving his lounge round.



It's not been working for the last 10yrs or so, but after putting it together its now ticking nicely, sounds so lovely in the house, but I want to find a horologist to have a look over it. Luckily there's a family friend who is one.

Couldn't find a forum but did find these:

http://www.hrs-clocks.co.uk/index.htm and from there something could be useful here http://www.hrs-clocks.co.uk/horological-links.htm

[Gompo]

lowdrag said:

Looks a typical long case Victorian clock there. Two winders so a striking clock, as they all were really, but most likely has a proprietary movement in it. The maker's name would usually be stamped on the back if you take the hood off.

I had taken off the hood and couldnt see any names printed? I didnt have a particularly detailed look though. There is faded text on the clock face.

Are you pretty sure it's Victorian then? I thought after looking in a book it looked more late 1700s/early 1800s. Admittedly the age doesnt really bother me as I know it's atleast genuine.

Thanks for those links ASP. I suppose my best bet, like you, is to have somebody look over it.

Cheers, Greg.

[lowdrag]

I was referring to the rear of the escapement, not the front. The style, but perhaps I'm wrong here, is in my opinion 19th century. I stand to be corrected though.

[A S P]

Found these as well but no idea if what they're like.

http://www.clockforum.com/

http://www.watchandclockforum.com/viewforum.php?f=...

Happy to say our clock has gone 24hrs without needing help. I've needed to remove the second hand as it was fouling the hour/minute hand, and the moon phase doesn't seem to be going round fast enough but still good news, I think...

[Stefan SRT8]

Gompo,

Looking at the minute hand on your clock (presuming it's original) places the date of your clock between 1790 and 1825, however, apparently Arabic numeral replaced Roman numerals from around 1800 but Roman numerals then became fashionable again by 1825, so that could put your clock in the later part of that date range I mentioned. Oh yeah, and brass hands generally date from 1800 onwards, before that they were steel.

If we're getting our clocks out, here's mine!





Stef

Edited by Stefan SRT8 on Monday 26th October 18:57

Edited by Stefan SRT8 on Monday 26th October 19:00

[Gompo]

lowdrag said:

I was referring to the rear of the escapement, not the front. The style, but perhaps I'm wrong here, is in my opinion 19th century. I stand to be corrected though.

Yes I was aware of where I was meant to be looking, I've just not seen anything written under the hood

Stef, thanks for the info with regards to dates. For what it's worth I believe my clock is meant to have something in the middle of the top of the case, like yours. There is a whole to suggest something went there anyway.

[Stefan SRT8]

Given the shape of the top I think you are right. A lot of the finials were removed to reduce the height over time.

There is a handy cheap little book you can buy called Longcase Clocks by Joanna Greenlaw, ISBN is 0-7478-0417-6 only a little 40 page jobbie but some quite useful info in there.

Somehwere on the web is also a downloadable pdf version of all the longcase clock makers, don't have it to hand, but quite handy if you do have a name/part name on the dial to look up.

Stef

[Stitch]

Get in touch with these guys.

http://www.bhi.co.uk/index.html