The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-03-28
Have a Hobby :
Have Hobby -
Grandfather Clocks Are
DarlingS of Antique Fans
BY MRS. c. O. ROBINSON.

European countries, the art at
tanned marked perfection in Eng
| land
This was particularly so with the
long case, or grandfather, clock and
the beauty of the cases, the intri-
cate movements, and the handsome
dials proclaim today the artistry and
excellent workmanship of many
English clock makers.
Edwin R. Gilgour of this city owns
several wonderful English grand
father clocks that deserve to be
museum pieces. The one illustrated
has a Sheraton case of mahogany
deliberately inlaid. The top is deco
rated with paintings of Masonic
significance and Toby jug profile
is inlaid at the side of the glass
door.
The dial shows the moon phases,
paintings representing the seasons,
and a subsidiary dial gives day and
month. This timepiece was pur-
chased in Liverpool and was made
by J. Stancliff, who died in 1890.
He was noted for the verses which
he wrote on his dials. This one
reads:
I serve thee here with all my might
/ tell the hour both day and night
If thou wilt example take from me,
Serve Thy God as l serve thee.
Another of Mr.. Gilgour's hand
some clocks, made by Bertles of
Liverpool about ITO has Chinese
Chippendale case of carved ma
hogany with brickwork. This unique
construction is accomplished by
wood overlay, nodded TO resemble
layers of brick. The top is orna-
mented with insetS of blue Bristol
glass decorated with peacocks and
the dial in addition to being ele-
gantly engraved has elaborate brass
ornaments applied on the spandrelS
| Corners
TINE clock movement is distinc-
Il tive as four hands work from
the center. One is the hour hand,
one for the day of the month,
another for the moon phases, and
the fourth is a sWeep-center second
hand, which feature is very rare.
Joseph Smith of BRISTOL (old
spelling) signed his name, some
time before 1780, on the third clocks
herringbone decorated brass dial.
In the arch above the dial he placed
small ship in full sail, which
moves back and forth with the
pendulum. This rocking motion
gives the illusion of ship at sea.
Still another of Mr.. Gilgour's
clocks has a William and Mary
case of red lacquer, which does not
mean that it is covered with red
paint, but that figures are in red re-
lie on dark ground.
Some of the earliest cases OF this
type we're made in England and
sent on tea ships to be lacquered in
China. This case may have had !
that romantic experience, as it was
made by Robert Andrews of London
in ITO.
IN 1888 John Hancock sent the
l. following order to England. l
desire the favor of you to procure
for me and send with MY spring
goods a handsome Ginning clock Of
the newest fashion, the work neat
and good, with walnut tree case
veneer work with dark lively
branches. On top, instead of balls,
let there be three handsome carved
figures gilt with FURNISHED gold.
Il would have the case without
the figures ten feet long and the
price not to exceed twenty guineas."
AS a clock of this description is UNI
known among Hancock's furnish
ings, and a lacquered clock belong
ing to him is in the Museum OF Fine
Arts in Boston, he may have dis
covered that the newest fashion
was for lacquered cases and changed
his order.
A lacquered grandfather clock by
Edward Faulkner of London stood
for many years in the parlor of the
Red Horse Tavern at South Sud-
bury, Mass. When Henry Ford re-
stored the old hosiery, now called
THE Wayside Inn," he located this
timepiece and replaced it in its
old setting.
A grandfather clock being includ-
ed in restoration of the inn calls
attention to the fact that LOngfel-
lows poem, The Old Clock on the
Stairs" is given much credit for the
revival of interest in grandfather
clocks and his "TaleS of a WaySide
Inn" have perpetuated the memory
of that famous landmark.
Il
MRS. THOMAS S. HOOD SR.
4V1 so admired DR.. Joshua STAN
fields English clocks that she COM
missioned the doctors brother in
England to find one for her. The
result was a grandfather signed
Buckle of Stratford. The case,
with a broken arch 60, is elaborate
ly inlaid mahogany veneer and is
especially wide.
An amusing popularity is the abb
sence o. back feet, which neccessi-
tates fastening it to the wall. The
arched dial has the seasons, moon
phases, two subsidiary dials, and
very handsome hands.
Few persons have the space to
accommodate ar extensive clock
collection, but that difficulty did not
deter D. E. Wetherfield of South
Kensington, England. His noted
collection of 272 clocks, each a
GEM" was kept in a moderate sized
house.
There were twenty-five in the
living room, thirteen in the dining
room, and seven in the bathroom.
He must have had very patient
and understanding wife.
Plan Boa Supper