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Lot 119
A rare early 18th century iron 'birdcage' frame twin train turret clock Attributed to Gabriel Smith, Barthomley
8 July 2015, 14:00 BST
London, New Bond StreetSold for £1,625 inc. premium
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A rare early 18th century iron 'birdcage' frame twin train turret clock
Attributed to Gabriel Smith, Barthomley
The iron frame of four upright tapered bars bolted to four smaller horizontal members and twin diagonal supports for the strike train detents, with twin wooden barrels, the three-wheel going train terminating in a (replaced) brass anchor 'scape wheel, the strike train with large solid iron countwheel set outside of the frame, together with a large oak seatboard and pendulum 51cms (20ins) high.
The iron frame of four upright tapered bars bolted to four smaller horizontal members and twin diagonal supports for the strike train detents, with twin wooden barrels, the three-wheel going train terminating in a (replaced) brass anchor 'scape wheel, the strike train with large solid iron countwheel set outside of the frame, together with a large oak seatboard and pendulum 51cms (20ins) high.
Footnotes
Exhibited: 'Your Time' Prescot Museum 1 February - 16 April 2008. Exhibit W2.
Literature: Illustrated in Loomes, 'Clockmakers of Britain 1286-1700' Mayfield Books, 2014, fig 224.
This clock movement was removed from a set of Elizabethan stables at Sheppenhall Hall near Nantwich, Cheshire in 1935. The anchor escapement and pallets were replaced as was one winding barrel. An almost identical church clock movement by Gabriel Smith is on display in Nantwich Museum which uses the same distinctive diagonal bracing which was later continued by his son Joseph.
Alan Treherne records that Gabriel Smith was born in 1656, married Ann Whittingham in 1682 and died in 1743. Brian Loomes adds that he took an apprentice in 1714, John Yeomans and in 1717 John Penlington from Sandbach. See Clocks magazine Februaruy 1992 and October 1997.