Willard School Weight Driven Mahogany Dish Dial Tavern Clock Boston C. 1830

Boston C. 1830

The weight driven “Tavern Clock” has its roots in England and was an extremely popular form beginning in the late 18th Century.    Colonial American “Tavern Clocks” on the other hand are extremely rare and very few original examples have survived.  They are readily identified by their “dish” or concave iron dial plates, and weigt driven timepiece clock movements that were adapted from the “Willard Patent Timepiece.”  This clock is attributed to Abel Stowell of Boston based upon the construction and the regional period details of the works and case.  The wooden bezel is turned and made from Mahogany as are the sides of the case.  The facings of the clock are choice flame Mahogany with rich grain and over the years the surface has developed a warm patina.   The backboard is New England White Pine.   Overall the clock measures 30 X 12 3/8 X 3 1/2 inches with an 11 3/8 inch dial, 0 1/2 inch time track and 1 1/4 inch Roman numerals.  The eight day brass timepiece is powered by a cast lead weight and regulated by an iron pendulum rod fitted with a brass faced lead bob and suspended from a single bridge suspension coupled to a brass keystone.   The clock retains the original steel “Moon” hands.  There is an old repair label on the inside of the door by S. Edgerly from New Hampshire.

Condition: An original clock in overall excellent state of preservation retaining the original glass in the bezel.  The works are original to the case and have been professionally serviced and the clock runs great.  The original cast lead weight has additional weight added on the sides.   The case has a wonderful warm surface.  The dial is original and has been professionally conserverd: cleaned, relined along with some in-painting to fill in the chips and touch up at the mounting points.   The case hanger has been remounted to the backboard and there a couple of added stabilizing screws to the dial to help secure it to the case.

SOLD