A FINE VICTORIAN EIGHT-DAY LONGCASE REGULATOR WITH UNUSUAL P...

Estimate

£3,000 - £5,000

A FINE VICTORIAN EIGHT-DAY LONGCASE REGULATOR WITH UNUSUAL PULL-CHAIN WINDINGE. FISHER, BATH, MID 19th CENTURYThe substantial four double-screwed pillar movement with thick ogee-topped tapered plates measuring 9.75 inches high and 6.5 inches wide at the base, enclosing four-wheel train with Harrison's maintaining power, high pinion counts, six-spoke wheel crossings and deadbeat escapement with jewelled pallets regulated by faceted glass jar mercury compensated pendulum suspended from the case backboard and incorporating fine beat adjustment to crutch, the frontplate fitted with pull-chain sprung ratchet mechanism to facilitate keyless winding of the movement, the 14 inch circular silvered brass dial with recessed subsidiary seconds over engraved signature E. Fisher, Bath and conforming Roman numeral hour dial to centre, within outer minute ring incorporating Arabic five minute annotations, with blued steel hands, the arched case with full-height glazed door enclosing finely carved foliate scroll apron incorporating floral trail pendants beneath the dial over conforming relief-carved apron panel to lower margin, the 'plum-pudding' figured backboard applied with pendulum beat scale, the sides with hinged movement access flaps, the base with frieze flanked by leaf-carved scrolls fronting swollen ogee-outline waist moulding, over recessed oval panel fronted plinth and ogee moulded skirt with squab feet.218.5cm (86ins) high, 68cm (26.75ins) wide, 32cm (12.5ins) deep.Edwin Fisher first worked as a watchmaker and a jeweller from 13 Somerset buildings, Bath, from circa 1819 before moving to 14 New Bond Street by 1833. On a trade card, he is styled as a watchmaker, specialising in French watches, chronometers, and repeaters, as well as carrying out repairs to musical works and offering a supply of keys and precious metal chains. In 1842 Edwin Fisher was working from 13 Abbey Churchyard, and then moved again, to 9 Old Bond Street, in 1846; he is believed to have retired in 1866.The movement of the present lot is particularly robustly built and finely finished with plates approximately 5mm thick, large blued-steel pillar securing screws and collets, separate pivot plate for the escape wheel positioned on the backplate, and a heavy-gauge dial plate. The quality of the movement is mirrored in the case with fine carved decoration beneath the dial and well-chosen 'plum-pudding' figured mahogany veneers. The glass mercury jar pendulum is also very well made with finely finished steel frame cut faceted jar.