Now this is the first of the clock cases I made when I retired back in 2005 – it got me hooked on making reproduction antique clocks. It also got me to clean up all my tools that I hadn't used for 20 odd years! I made it to house an old German movement taken from a 'Napoleon hat' clock which my parents bought for themselves as a wedding present!
It has often fooled a few people into thinking it's a 'real' antique clock. Its made in the style of English clocks of the 1680's – the same period as my grandfather clock project. The best of these are by such illustrious British names as Thomas Tompion and Joseph Knibb– though they made the movements not the case. This one is by Joseph Knibb.
The one below is mine.
The case is made from African black wood - boy was that hard to work, a wood normally used for musical instrument making.
The backs of 'real' period movements would have had some amazing engraving, unlike the plain back on mine!
The period dial was the first made and engraved for me by John Skeavington, of Sutton Bonington, Leicestershire. It prompted me to get him to make me some more including my marquetry grandfather clock dial.
It has traditional period brass ware - pineapple finials and escutcheons, and some magnificent brass frets on the door and sides. I even managed to track down some reproduction period locks for the front and back doors. I did some butchery on the movement to change it from a 'Westminster Chime' as the long rod gongs wouldn’t fit in the case. And any way it wasn’t period, as Big Ben hadn’t been built when these original clocks were made! I the mechanism to a traditional period two bell strike. So one strike on the first quarter, two one the second/ half hour, three on the third quarter, and four on the hour, followed by the number of hours on a larger bell. I love it! Thanks Mum and Dad!!
