The Steeple Clock – function combines with design

A steeple clock is a type of clock designed to resemble a miniature church steeple or spire. This style of clock is often characterized by its tall and narrow structure.

These clocks gained popularity in the mid-19th century and were often produced in various styles. The design was influenced by the Gothic Revival architecture that was prevalent during that period.

Steeple clocks are relatively common in North America as thousands were produced in America particularly but rare in other parts of the world.

New haven Gothic Steeple clock — _{New Haven Gothic Steeple clock}

In my collection, I own three steeple clocks – the first, crafted by the American manufacturer Elisha Manross, the second by the Hamilton Clock Company of Hamilton, Ontario, and the third by The New Haven Clock Company of America, made for export and sold by Thomas Spike Jewelers in Halifax, Nova Scotia in the 1880s.

All three share a commonality with their time and strike 30-hour spring-driven movements.

The Elisha Manross steeple clock stands out with its distinctive use of tempered brass mainsprings, marking a period between 1836 and 1847 when this material was the motive force for spring-driven clocks. It represents a technological glimpse into an important era in American clockmaking.

However, it is the steeple clock from the Hamilton Clock Company that holds a special place in my collection. Being a Canadian collector, the clock not only adds historical charm to my collection but also carries significance because it is Canadian-made.

Crafted in Hamilton, Ontario, it embodies a piece of Canadian horological heritage, making it more than just a clock but a connection to the craftsmanship and legacy of clockmaking in Canada.

_{Hamilton Clock Co Gothic steeple clock}

The Hamilton Gothic steeple clock stands out because of a religious inscription, “Cling to the Cross,” delicately etched onto the lower glass tablet. It is a rare clock from the Hamilton Clock Co., which manufactured a variety of clocks of every style over a very short period.

The historical weight of this 30-hour steeple clock is underscored in Jim Connell’s description in a video he produced several years ago. Connell, a figure renowned in Canadian clock circles, whose acknowledgment of the clock’s rarity adds an extra layer of importance to this find. Fun fact, Jim Connell invented salt and vinegar potato chips.

This clock carries whispers of a bygone era, a testament to the Hamilton Clock Co. which, between 1876 and 1880, made a valiant though short-lived attempt to compete with the growing number of common clocks coming from the USA.

Steeple clock discussion

The term “Gothic steeple clock” specifically refers to clocks that incorporate Gothic design elements, such as pointed arches, into their structure.

An unusual "ribbed" style steeple clock — _{An unusual “ribbed” style steeple clock}

Steeple clocks can vary in features, including different types of movements.

_{A trio of steeple clocks with an 8-day fusee clock in the middle}

The vast majority were relatively simple designs that were spring-driven but there are some very rare examples of steeple clocks that are weight-driven and ones that incorporate fusee movements.

R. Blakeslee, Jr. in or around 1850 made a 30-hour weight-driven clock with a lyre movement (not pictured). His clock also featured a compound pulley configuration on the time side, the time side weight being heavier than the strike side.

Even more unusual are double-steeple clocks, a noteworthy example being a Birge and Fuller 8-day fusee-powered brass movement clock (not pictured) made in the mid-1840s.

During the same period, Elisha Manross made a double steeple shelf clock that had an 8-day time and strike strap brass fusee movement with a 12″ pendulum (not pictured). It features the original stenciled and painted tablets by William B. Fenn of Plymouth. William Fenn was one of the more prolific tablet makers of the mid-19th century.

By comparison to a conventional steeple clock that stands at about 20 inches, double steeples are over 6 inches taller.

Jerome & Co. New Haven, Conn, 1850 steeple with portrait of Andrew Jackson — _{Jerome & Co. New Haven, Conn, 1850 steeple with the portrait of Andrew Jackson}

Jerome & Co. of Chauncey Jerome fame also produced a double steeple in 1850. The one pictured above features a portrait of the seventh President of the USA, Andrew Jackson.

_{Gallery-style gothic clock, a variation of a steeple theme}

Steeple clocks are appreciated by collectors for their historical charm and unique aesthetic, reflecting the craftsmanship and design of the era in which they were produced. They also stand as tangible expressions of the artistry and cultural influences of their respective historical periods.

February 23, 2024

Fusee gallery clock – finally on the wall but who made it?

This unnamed fusee clock was acquired from a friend this past summer and after a few months, I am finally able to hang it on the wall. Unfortunately, after having been involved in the extensive cleanup following the devastating hurricane Fiona here in Nova Scotia, there was little time for clock repair. But, now that the dust has settled it’s time to get back to clock collecting and repair.

_{Unknown fusee time-only gallery clock}

It is the first fusee clock in my collection. I have waited a while but this is an excellent acquisition.

This time-only gallery-style clock with a fusee movement is non-descript and quite ordinary and there is nothing special or distinctive about it. It has a 12″ dial and is 15 1/2″ across with a spade hour hand and spear minute hand with a heavy brass dial bezel.

A 12-inch dial is considered the standard size for a gallery clock and a 12-inch dial would have been the maximum size for a domestic environment. Larger 14″ and 16″-inch” gallery clocks would have been found in public areas, factories, and post offices.

I am not an expert when it comes to identifying wood types but I would say a solid mahogany bezel surround with veneers on the rear access box.

Although fairly heavy it is designed to be quickly removed from the wall by pulling out 4 wooden pegs (two on each side of the back box), very handy for periodic inspection/maintenance. The pendulum leader literally hangs on a notch on top of the escapement bridge so, disconnecting by means of opening up a side door on the right and reaching in is pretty simple.

It has a conventional anchor escapement, a robust bridge, and a sturdy crutch. The plates are held together with screws but pinned to the back of the dial.

There is a trademark on the movement which I cannot identify. Perhaps a reader might identify this English company. I can make out T, an S, an O, and something else. Atson, AT & Son or something with a “z”?

I posted the question on a popular antique clock forum site and expected a response but got nothing.

_{A trademark} _{that I cannot identify}

Is it an antique (over 100 years old)? Perhaps, but it could be as late as the 1920s. The plates are thick, the gears are machine cut, cut pinions throughout, a hefty pendulum bob, thick but plain movement pillars, and a generally robust feel all around. It was certainly designed for longevity and reliability. The screwed pillars are a good sign that it was made after 1900.

This fusee has a cable drive. It is unknown whether it originally had a chain as most did many years ago or if it was converted to cable as many were when taken in for servicing. Chains are difficult to source and wire/cable is much more cost-effective.

An advantage of a brass cable is that if it should snap there would be less collateral damage than a chain flailing all over the place. When a chain releases very suddenly the potential for taking out gear teeth and other parts is much higher.

_{The cable is wrapped around the large spring barrel}

Fusee advantages

Constant torque and in theory, more accurate timekeeping are its chief advantages. It works like this. As the spring begins to uncoil the cable is on the smallest diameter of the fusee. The pull on the spring drum becomes less as the diameter of the fusee increases. The diameter of the fusee becomes larger giving greater leverage.

The larger radius at the fusee compensates for the weaker force of the spring, keeping the drive torque constant which is why fusee clocks are better timekeepers than conventional spring clocks.

Accuracy cannot be compared to a quartz clock today but keeping time within a minute or two a week in an industrial/office/domestic setting was perfectly acceptable in an age when the exact time was unimportant.

The plan

I am not going to tackle this project just yet but fortunately, it has seen servicing. I can identify at least three newer bushings. There does not appear to be significant play in the movement which is always a good sign so, there should not be a problem if the servicing is delayed for a while.

_{The rear of the movement shows an escapement bridge and crutch}

The movement is not particularly dirty so, I oiled the movement, mounted it on the wall, attached the pendulum, and put it in beat.

Taking the movement apart and addressing any wear issues does not concern me but I must learn more about how to set the preload on the mainspring, which has its own winding arbour (not accessible through the dial) before I dive deeper into servicing this movement.

The clock came without a key and I had to order one, a very large #11 key.

In the meantime, the clock is happily ticking away on my office wall.

November 21, 2022

The fusee movement – just what is it exactly?

A fusee clock movement is a type of mechanical clock mechanism that uses a conical pulley (the fusee) and a chain or cable to provide a more consistent driving force to the clock’s gear train. The fusee mechanism was commonly used in early pocket watches and large clocks to compensate for the decreasing tension of the mainspring as it unwound.

As a typical mainspring winds up, its tension is strongest, which leads to the clock running too fast. As the mainspring unwinds, its tension weakens, causing the clock to run slower. The fusee counteracts this by gradually changing the ratio of the force applied to the gears, ensuring a steady, regulated power supply. This innovation helps the clock maintain accuracy throughout its entire run.

Fusee movements are often considered an important step in the evolution of horology, showcasing the ingenuity of early clockmakers in solving the problem of maintaining consistent timekeeping. Today, they are still highly valued by collectors and horologists for their craftsmanship and historical significance.

Most fusee movements were equipped with anchor escapements, though some featured lever or deadbeat escapements. Earlier fusee movements often had decorative sculpted pillars and pins to secure the plates, while later models used plain pillars with screws. This difference in design is one way to determine the age of the clock.

Jacob Zech is credited for inventing the fusee in 1525 although drawings of a fusee appear in Leonardo De Vinci’s notebooks.

Parts of a Fusee Movement

a) Spring drum

b) Winding arbour

c) Fusee

d) Main wheel

e) Chain (or gut or wire)

Of course, the above diagram does not show the wheels above the main wheel and merely illustrates the essential components of the fusee section.

A chain-driven fusee is the norm although wire and gut are common. Gut was used at first but around 1650 chains began to be used, which lasted longer.

How does it function?

The spring drum’s axis is parallel to the axis of the fusee. Around the drum is wound a chain that is attached to the fusee at its largest diameter. An attached mainspring is coiled inside the drum that sits next to the fusee.

When the key is inserted into the arbour of the fusee it pulls the chain causing the drum to rotate. Because the inner end of the spring is attached to the drum, the drum rotates until the spring is completely coiled. The spring is then at its maximum tension. At full winding, the chain is completely wound onto the fusee.

_{8-day time-only} _{Fusee with12-inch (dial) gallery clock}

As the spring begins to uncoil the chain is on the smallest diameter of the fusee. The pull on the spring drum becomes less as the diameter of the fusee increases. The diameter of the fusee becomes larger giving greater leverage.

The greater turning moment provided by the larger radius at the fusee compensates for the weaker force of the spring, keeping the drive torque constant and that is why fusee clocks are better timekeepers than conventional spring clocks.

Fusee movements are generally more expensive than conventional spring drive movements. Double and triple fusees add to the cost and complexity.

Disadvantages of fusee movements include their difficulty to adjust. If the fusee chain breaks, the force of the mainspring can send the end whipping around inside the clock, potentially causing damage. Any collateral damage, if present, must be repaired as part of the restoration. Additionally, if a replacement mainspring is needed, it must be an exact match; otherwise, the fusee will need to be adjusted to accommodate the new spring.

Despite their complexity and the challenges involved in servicing them, fusee clocks have maintained their value over the years and continue to be highly sought after by serious collectors.

October 3, 2022

Second gallery clock bought this year – this one has a fusee movement

Earlier this year I bid on an English-made Empire gallery clock at an online estate auction and won the bid. When I collected the clock I had hoped I had bought a clock with a fusee movement but it turned out to be one with a conventional spring-driven time-only movement. No matter, it was not an expensive clock.

A fusee clock has been on my wish list for several years and now I finally have one. A good friend was trimming his collection and offered me a time-only gallery clock with a fusee movement for a good price.

English fusee gallery clocks, also referred to as dial, school, office, railway, or wall clocks, are a must-have for any serious collector.

The heyday of the English gallery clock was between 1860 and 1930. Gallery clocks were made in the thousands to service the needs of industry and government. The gallery clock was a common sight in schools, offices, hospitals, rail stations, and businesses in the United Kingdom.

Gallery clocks with fusee movements vary greatly in size, style, and in construction. Despite being over 100 years old, they retain their original attributes of good timekeeping and reliability. Fusee movements are rugged in construction, and their success rests with the fusee, a conical-shaped component that evenly regulates the power output of the spring.

The gallery clock came in all sizes but still retained its basic design and shape. The most popular size was 12 inches (diameter of the painted dial). Generally, the smaller the dial, the rarer and more expensive the clock. This clock is among the group of common gallery clocks and has a 12-inch dial. The next smallest size would be a 10-inch dial and then an 8-inch one.

The majority of cases (back box and surround) were manufactured in mahogany; however, oak and rosewood were used. Mahogany examples are the most expensive. Oak cases are generally slightly cheaper. Ebonized cases are cheaper still. My new acquisition appears to be made of oak.

It has all the attributes of a classic gallery clock. Four pegs connect the two constituent parts through “rails” or “cleats.” To inspect a movement, it is just a matter of laying the clock face down and pulling out four wooden pegs, lifting the dial, bezel, and movement out of the rectangular box case. Later clocks were made without pegs with access to the movement via the dial.

However, to remove the movement entirely the hands must be removed and three screws holding the dial are removed as well. There is also a movement pan that is held by pins that must be taken off.

Most movements had anchor escapements, some had lever escapements and some had deadbeat escapements. Later models had plain pillars with screws. This clock has an anchor escapement and plain pillars so, not so old but still an antique.

This clock has a chain-driven fusee although wire and gut are quite common.

The maker is unknown.

Special care must be taken to service a fusee movement so, I will be treading carefully as I service this movement but for now I will run it to see if it lives up to expectations.

September 16, 2022

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Parts of a Fusee Movement

How does it function?

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