Antique Grandfather Clocks
The John Shone collection
A tradition of excellence
Specialist in buying, selling and renovation of fine antique grandfather clocks for over 30 years
Specialist in buying, selling and renovation of fine antique grandfather clocks for over 30 years
James Carter’s mother, Margaret (Mary) was born a Birchall,at Whiston near Prescot. Though her father was a farmer, there are many Birchalls listed as clock, watch or movement makers. When Thomas Birchall ” declined farming “, the family moved to Warrington and took a place in the Buttermarket while James attended the Rev. Glazebrooke’s school. Aged […]
After the reformation, the south side of the Church in particular was found to have suffered from neglect and was rebuilt early in the 18th century. The embattled tower is built without string courses but with fine gargoyles, and contains the fragments of stone believed to be of Anglo- Saxon date. It is worth mentioning […]
I have been selling antique grandfather, longcase and tallcase clocks now for over 40 years and today I have sat down to take stock of my situation. As many people will know, the years go by at amazing speed, so at the age of 69 what do I want to do now ? I have […]
It is difficult to identify which Robert Cawley made the alteration. Britten notes a Robert Cawley, making watches in 1719, but a Robert Cawley, grandfather clock maker, does not appear as a freeman until 1727/8 and it may be this or an earlier Robert Cawley who died in 1745. Another Robert Cawley became a freeman in […]
It is uncertain when the Grandfather Clock came into the Museum’s possession but may well have been kept in the Museum stores since the beginning of the century. Prior to this it appears to have been in the City Surveyor’s office. Inside the door is pencilled ” Public Offices, Lower Bridge Street. ” This seems to […]
This tall and impressive walnut veneered clock had originally a square 11″ face and was probably made about 1695. Around 1740 the hood of the clock was considerably modified and the height was increased to 8′ 4″ from 6′ 10″. This was achieved by re-building the hood to take an arch dial and a ” […]
I think that the shape of a grandfather clock hood either makes or breaks a clock. Every clock needs the right shape of hood. A simple flat top can be just as good as an elaborate swan neck. On a typical early nineteenth century Cheshire clock, will be found fairly squat swan necks and quite […]
Eight Day and 30 Hour Grandfather Clocks Have you ever wondered why the majority of grandfather clocks were made to run for eight days and 30 hours rather than one week and one day ?.Seems to be an unusual number in both cases. I have never actually read this anywhere but it is my firm belief that they […]