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Look at this beauty "William Goffe"


clockboy

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I have been asked to look this beauty. It is heavy and is real quality and the name on the dial is (I think) is William Goffe. On initial inspection it looks like the cord /gut has broken from one of the barrels. Also to open the front is via a key which is missing,

I will investigate in a few weeks as I am away on a short break. I must say I can't wait to delve.

 

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1 hour ago, clockboy said:

William Goffe

"William Goffe, Watchmaker and Chronometer maker to his Majesty’s Packets, is listed in as working at The Moor, Falmouth c. 1800 in Cornish Clocks and Clockmakers [H. Miles Brown]. He is listed as a London maker in Baillie’s Watchmakers and Clockmakers of the World. "

Source -> https://lapada.org/art-and-antiques/domestic-regulator-longcase-clock-by-goffe-falmouth/

Keep us posted with your progress.

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I do like how the pattern on the back plate has been continued on the brackets to hold it in the clock. I've not seen that before.

I do like the hands although it looks like the minute hand has been twisted slightly, but I would think long and hard before trying to straighten it.

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I would date that at around the early 1800’s, with takes it into the regency period of clocks.  It is an 8 day English Fusee Bracket clock. The pattern on the back plate is what you would expect with a clock of that date. The early ones the back plate would have been completely engraved as to would the fixing brackets and pendulum bob. Painted enamel dial with convex glass. I expect it has rack striking striking which is on a bell.

Do I see a cut out at the base of the clock for the pendulum? If so then this is a marriage.

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1 hour ago, oldhippy said:

 

Do I see a cut out at the base of the clock for the pendulum? If so then this is a marriage.

The movement also seems to hovering in mid air above the seat board, is this correct for a clock of this period or could that also be a sign its a marriage ?

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1 hour ago, oldhippy said:

I would date that at around the early 1800’s, with takes it into the regency period of clocks.  It is an 8 day English Fusee Bracket clock. The pattern on the back plate is what you would expect with a clock of that date. The early ones the back plate would have been completely engraved as to would the fixing brackets and pendulum bob. Painted enamel dial with convex glass. I expect it has rack striking striking which is on a bell.

Do I see a cut out at the base of the clock for the pendulum? If so then this is a marriage.

Yes there is a cut out for the pendulum. The customer did say it was an early 1800,s clock. 

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20 hours ago, wls1971 said:

The movement also seems to hovering in mid air above the seat board, is this correct for a clock of this period or could that also be a sign its a marriage ?

Yes you are right. It should be fitted to that seat board. More signs of a marriage. 

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  • 2 weeks later...

Just an update of the William Goffe clock. The movement has the maker as "Handley & Moore" and after some research I found the exact movement for sale @ approx £4k. However this movement is a wreck see pics. All screws are really badly bruised and the clock has numerous bodges from poor soldering to an extremely worn barrel arbour and the hour hand was screwed on.  The mainspring is broken and the one fitted is not the correct width (too narrow) and so it looks like it was fitted high in the barrel but as a result has been binding on the cord hence it breaking. This is now a major repair so it is up to the customer to give me the go ahead before I proceed any further. 

 

 

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Broken spring.jpg

Hand.jpg

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  • 2 weeks later...

UPDATE. Before polishing the bruised screws etc I thought I would assemble just make sure all was well as this is my first fusee clock. The technic of winding the fusee wire was challenge but after a few fiddles all is fine. However (there is always a however!!!!) it only strikes the hours NO half hour and I guess I have something put back wrong or it has no half hour function. But, there is a lever that I just don't know what its function is, maybe it the half hour function. see pic.

 

 

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19 minutes ago, Tmuir said:

Its not the chime / silent leaver is it?

Although it doesn't look like it engages with anything in that position

The strike/silent lever when engaged pushes on the the end of the lifting arm arbour which enables the pin on the minute wheel to engage with it, when the strike/silent lever is disengaged the arbour is pushed forward by a large spring on the back plate of the clock preventing the arm engaging with the minute wheel pin and stopping the clock from striking.

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