Daniel Rose, Reading

Daniel Rose was born in 1749 and died in 1827. He was an active clock and watchmaker. Rose was related to several other Reading craftsmen through the marriage of his two sisters: Catherina was married to Daniel Oyster, and Barbara was married to Rev Theobald Faber. George Faber was the son of Barbara and Theobold and apprenticed to Daniel Rose. The example currently offered is housed in a bold Walnut Chippendale case that is closely related to clock #27 in Machmer’s “Berks County Tall – Case Clocks 1750 – 1850” page 65. Notable features include: exposed dovetails at the edge of the face board, bold scroll moldings with dentil carving together with dentils carved in the side moldings that continue only a portion of the way on the sides. The shaped waist door is attached to the case with early cast brass “strap hinges” and flanked by fluted quarter columns. The eight day brass striking movement is coupled to an English painted iron dial from the Ashwin & Co. foundry. Ashwin & Co. had an outlet in Philadelphia for their dials and this early example found in a clock by Rose predates the local dial manufacturers in Reading. The works appear at first to be a “normal” brass eight day striking movement. Upon further inspection it becomes very clear that they are in fact they are a very unique example that beats faster than 1 second (3600 per hour) and with a corresponding shorter pendulum. While this configuration is quite normal in a Pennsylvania German wood plate or “wag-on-the-wall” clock, it is rarely found in an eight day brass tall clock. Reading area master clockmaker John Huyett overhauled this movement for me and commented that this is only the third example of this construction that he has seen in his career. Also note the compass engraving on the face of the early bob and the turned wooden pulleys.

This clock was discovered by Ed LaFond who acquired it for Chris Bailey (Bristol Museum). When Mr. Bailey retired and moved to Florida he began the process of downsizing his collection and this clock was sold to a gentleman from New Hampshire who was originally from Pennsylvania and an avid collector of Pennsylvania tall case clocks. Two years ago we acquired this clock along with the entire collection of Early American Clocks from this gentleman. This clock stands at 99 ” tall. It has been refinished and the feet are appropriate bench made restorations. The movement has been serviced and the weights & pendulum are original.