Two or three highlights of this week. Above is the start of a game of scrabble we played earlier this week. I kicked off with 'squared' for 102 points, and Ann followed that with 'swarms' for 30 points. After that the game calmed down a bit.
This afternoon I set out to walk into town to Scrabble Club, and realised that my neighbour's passion vine was again flowering....... well 'passionately' is the only word for it.
Above is the 'after' picture of the clock dial I illustrated as a 'before' picture on Wednesday. It is by William Feltham, who worked in Harleston from 1830 to 1858, and in Stowmarket from 1839 to 1875. The town name on the dial was rather a surprise. It came up as S.Harleston (previously unrecorded in the clock books), and I wonder if this was to distinguish it from the Norfolk Harleston. Possibly the 'S' is short for South Harleston or alternatively for Suffolk Harleston.
It was made at a period when Sir Walter Scott's Waverley Novels were all the rage, and an odd form of Regency 'Gothicke' lettering was in fashion on clock dials like this.
Another interesting point is that Mr. Feltham has scratched details of repairs and cleanings to the clock, on the back of the clock dial. The first entry records that Wm. Feltham, Stowmarket, added a minute hand to the clock in October of 1845.
I do find old clocks fascinating.
14 comments:
It looks lovely. I might come and buy it off you. I'd like a Suffolk long-case clock. Do you think I could paddle it back? We could line the case with plastic padding perhaps and I'd carry the dial & movement in a sealed plastic bag in my backpack so the sea water wouldn't get to them.
You've put a real smile back onto your dial, Mike.
Keep doing what does you good, work that you find rewarding is life's 2nd greatest satisfaction after family.
Hi Ruth. As you know I've supplied two of your sisters with long case clocks (one Suffolk, and one Norfolk), so if you fancy this one, it's yours. Give me a ring, and if I'm up to it next summer, we'll deliver it. Probably not before then because want to play with it this winter, and put it into really good working order. Please remember that it's around two centuries old and has never been out of this area. I'm reminded of that book 'The hundred year old man who climbed out of a window and disappeared', although it turned out that he'd been all over the place in his century.
If he worked in Harleston from 1830 to 1858, William Feltham made a super clock in just 28 minutes.
Apologies, the transformation on that face is a joy to behold, as it will be on the recipient.
I really must read that book, especially as it's Swedish. Thank you, it's very kind of you & I would take very good care of it. Keep it ticking over this winter and see how you feel in the spring.
Xxx
Thank you Crowbard and Rog. It was a satisfying job to do. Been overhauling the movement today (Monday). Only got the case to sort out now.
Just reread your penultimate sentence, Mike. May I take it the clock was originally built as having only an hour hand? I'm getting slow, I'd just assumed it was a replacement minute hand.... That makes the scratched notes on the dial's obverse quite significant.
I think my escapement may need some adjustments.
v-word is 'oHecti 65'.... the word seems appropriate but I'm older than that!
Sorry - just made a muck of that last comment. I'll now try again.
Crowbard; I think we must take Mr. Feltham's statement to clearly mean that he converted a single handed clock to a two handed clock. This leaves us with two possibilities :-
That he altered the under dial work to accommodate two hands, supplied two new hands, then repainted the dial to have five minute divisions between the hour markings, instead of the FOUR quarter hour divisions usual on single handed clocks. Or :- That he did the necessary wheel work, supplied the two new hands, then threw away the original brass dial and added a new and more fashionable painted dial. This second theory is borne out by the facts of a country made oak case in the style of circa 1750, and a posted framed movement of the same type and period. There are a good many clock makers' records in this area of clock makers selling a new clock, and taking in 'an old clock' in part exchange. This would mean that the clock in question probably had around a hundred years as a good quality, country made, brass dialed, single handed clock; then, in 1855, after Mr. Feltham's alterations, continued to give service as a two handed, painted dial, nice quality country made clock, until......NOW.
Hi Nea. If the clock, and another slightly more personal ticker keep ticking over during this coming winter, we'll do just that. If you remind me just before that, I'll also bring you the book, which I've just re-read. It's worth reading, I think.
P.s. to two comments back. My mistake; Mr. Feltham altered the clock in October of 1845, not 1855.
Can't believe my luck in stumbling on your blog...have just acquired a grandfather clock and searching for information came upon your blog... it's quite charming (the blog & my clock!! Ha) and you have, other than the features around my dial which are religious in theme...the same maker & all the information on him...thank thank thank you so very much. Great day today. I'm 6 weeks non weightbearing from surgery, 2 weeks in and believe me its difficult to see the joy in anything at the mo. Happy to have found you :)
Can't believe my luck in stumbling on your blog...have just acquired a grandfather clock and searching for information came upon your blog... it's quite charming (the blog & my clock!! Ha) and you have, other than the features around my dial which are religious in theme...the same maker & all the information on him...thank thank thank you so very much. Great day today. I'm 6 weeks non weightbearing from surgery, 2 weeks in and believe me its difficult to see the joy in anything at the mo. Happy to have found you :)
Can't believe my luck in stumbling on your blog...have just acquired a grandfather clock and searching for information came upon your blog... it's quite charming (the blog & my clock!! Ha) and you have, other than the features around my dial which are religious in theme...the same maker & all the information on him...thank thank thank you so very much. Great day today. I'm 6 weeks non weightbearing from surgery, 2 weeks in and believe me its difficult to see the joy in anything at the mo. Happy to have found you :)
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