Skip to main content
Advanced Search
1972-36,A-D, Tall Case Clock
Tall case clock works
1972-36,A-D, Tall Case Clock

Tall case clock works

Dateca. 1740
Maker William Claggett
OriginAmerica, Rhode Island, Newport
MediumBrass, iron, steel
DimensionsDial: OH: 21 7/8"; OW: 11 7/8"
Credit LineMuseum Purchase
Object number1972-36,B
DescriptionDial:
One piece .030-.067” thick, 11 7/8” square brass dial with 5” wide by 9 15/16” high arched, semi-circular projection at top; silvered chapter ring with Roman hours and Arabic minutes; small, seconds ring inside chapter ring at top; rectangular name plate engraved “Will Claggett Newport” below pair of scrolled steel hands, and date aperture at bottom. The chapter ring is surrounded at four corners by cast brass spandrel ornaments with central urn surrounded by two eagles fastened via rear screws to the dial. The dial arch contains a central, engraved silvered Arabic and Roman numeral moon phase ring with silvered moon dial above engraved with a face for the full moon. It is bordered on both side by cast brass spandrel ornaments depicting dolphins.

Movement description:
Eight-day brass time, strike, and calendar weight-driven movement measuring 7 1/4” H x 5 3/16” W. Plate thickness is 0.135” and clearance between front and back plates is 2.42”. Clock has an anchor-recoil escapement regulated by a seconds beat pendulum. A rack-and-snail strike sounds the hours on a 4 1/4” diameter cast bell.

Four brass turned pillars with decorative grooves are riveted into the back plate and pinned at the front plate. The movement is fastened to the seat board by steel seat board screws threaded into the bottom pillars. The time and strike barrels are grooved for the weight cords. The time main wheel is 0.150” thick. The strike main wheel is 0.155” think. All time and strike train wheels have four-arm crossings. The steel crutch-rod is round and has a closed-end fork. The pendulum bridge base is horizontal. It is fastened to the back plate with two screws and two locator pins. The bell stand is screwed to the outside of the back plate and passes under the pendulum bridge.

The overall length of the pendulum is 42 5/8”. The pendulum rod is round steel. The bob is cast iron with a brass face. It is 3.3” diameter and 1.1” thick at its center, being smaller diameter and thicker than most tall case clock bobs. The weight pulleys are cast brass. The weights are cylindrical cast iron with cast in metal hooks. They are both 8 1/4” long. One is 2 5/8” diameter and weighs 11 lbs. The other is 3” diameter and weighs 14 lbs.
MarkingsRectangular name plate on dial "Will Claggett/Newport"
ProvenanceAccording to source (see letter from source to Graham Hood) Feb. 8, 1972, clock was taken to New Brunswick from Newport by a Loyalist family during the Revolution. Clock remained in family until purchase by source.
Exhibition(s)