Need info on the Clock Makers and time period for my Grandfather Clock

by Jim
(Tampa Florida USA)

A close-up of the face

A close-up of the face

Greetings all.


I recently purchased an old Grandfather clock, and I am having difficulties ID'ing where it was made, or from what time period it is from.

The clock appears to be made of either Mahogany, or mahogany veneer.
It also has some inlaid mahogany as well.

The clock-works are brass, and has a painted dial. On the dial are 4 names. The first name is "JAs" (I believe that it is the abbreviation for James) followed by "Simons" on the left side of the dial, and the names "Bishop" and "Wermouth" on the right side of the dial.

By looking at the dial, I believe the clock was made somewhere between 1770 to about 1800, but this is just a guess. I also believe that it was made in England, but again, this is just a guess. Any and all info you can provide would be greatly appreciated!

I have included a couple of photos. One of the dial, and the other of the entire case.

Thank you!

Jim

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Dec 22, 2011
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by: Anonymous

Thank you Andrew for the great info. I'll contact them with the link you provided, and post any info I receive. I have been telling everyone that the clock dates between 1790 and 1810. I feel certain that the clock is at least that old. It is a period one clock, but I know that there was a transistion time involved. The clock runs great, keeping an accuracy of about 60 seconds a week. You are correct about the case. I am assuming that is it Mahogany veneer,and if I could figure out how to post more photos, I'd show you all the in-lay wood it has. I bought this clock at an estate sale, and I can't believe I got it so cheap.

Thank you again!

Jim
Dec 22, 2011
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by: Andrew

Hi Jim,

Beautiful clock ! I hope you treasure it, it is in lovely condition.

I would date it 1790 to 1800, as you thought yourself. I feel it may be 1790 from the matching steel hands, but untill some info on the maker turns up ( He is not listed in any of my books )
That is going to be the "best guess" for now.

I can tell you that Wermouth is a miss-spelling of "Wearmouth" - - quite common at this time for spelling mistakes on dials - -

Your clock was made in the then village of Bishops Wearmouth. A small seaside village on the mouth of the River Wear, in County Durham, England.

The place name still exists, but the town has now been swallowed up by the much larger Sunderland.

If you wish to do some more reasearch, and hopefully find out more about James Simons, the county archive will, I am sure, both welcome your enquiry and also have the dates he was working, etc. This may enable you to narrow our date time down a bit. At least it will give you more of a "feel" for the man who made your clock.

One more thing I can add for you, the clock was made for a prosperous man, the case is of much better quality than normally supplied to the locals, which would at that time have been very plain oak, with little or no decoration.

To contact the records dept at Sunderland, try this address, and click on "archive" towards the bottom of the page.

http://www.twmuseums.org.uk/archives/

Hope this helps,
Andrew.

http://www.clockmakersandrepairs.co.uk

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