A WILLIAM IV EIGHT-DAY 'HOOK AND SPIKE' WALL CLOCKATTRIBUTED...

Estimate

£250 - £350

A WILLIAM IV EIGHT-DAY 'HOOK AND SPIKE' WALL CLOCKATTRIBUTED TO JOHN WHITEHURST OF DERBY FOR GEORGE LOWE, GLOUCESTER, CIRCA 1833-34The four pillar weight-driven rack striking movement with separately wound trains and anchor escapement regulated by lenticular bob pendulum with an effective length of approximately 17 inches, the backplate stamped with serial number 4764 to centre and with triangular hanging hoop over a pair of spikes, the 12 inch square painted Roman numeral dial inscribed GEO'E LOWE, GLOUCESTER tom centre, with pierced steel hands and conch-shell painted powder-blue edged panels to spandrels.12.5cm (5ins) deep. George Lowe is recorded in Loomes, Brian Watchmakers & Clockmakers of the World, Volume 2 as working in Gloucester 1830-42.The movement of the present lot can be directly compared to that of a movement by John Whitehouse III of Derby described and illustrated in Darken, Jeff (editor) TIME & PLACE, English Country Clocks 1600-1840 pages 220-21.John Whitehurst (I) was born in Congleton, Cheshire in 1713, he was apprenticed as a clockmaker to his father (of the same name) before setting up business in Derby in 1736 - the same year he installed a turret clock to the newly completed Guildhall. He was an accomplished maker and scientist who had a particular interest in geology. He moved to London in 1780 in order to take up position at the Royal Mint as 'Stamper of the Money Weights' as well as pursue his scientific interests. He was founder member of the Lunar Society and was elected to the Royal Society in 1783. He died in 1788 leaving the Derby clockmaking business to his nephew also called John (II) who in-turn took his son of the same name (John III) into partnership in 1809. The firm traded as 'Whitehurst & Son' until 1834 when the business reverted to just 'Whitehurst' on the death of John (II). The business continued under the Whitehurst name until the death of John (III) in 1855 when it was sold to Roskell of Liverpool who subsequently wound-up operations in 1862. However, a former employee, John Smith, resurrected the business which is still trading today as 'Smith of Derby'.