A George II thirty-hour longcase clock movement with eight-inch dial
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
mid 18th century
This George II period thirty-hour longcase clock movement, attributed to John Lawson of Keighley, is designed with an external countwheel striking train and an anchor escapement for regulation by a seconds pendulum.
Built with four pillars, including two lower steel pillars, the mechanism features an overhead bell and hammer assembly. Its eight-inch square brass dial displays four concentric ring-turned medallions on a matted centre, a calendar aperture, and an applied silvered Roman numeral chapter ring embellished with half-hour markers. The dial is signed John Lawson at the base and retains a single pierced steel hand.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Technical characteristics
- Type
- Thirty-hour longcase clock movement
- Signature
- Signed John Lawson on the lower chapter ring
- Place recorded
- United Kingdom
- Spandrel Style
- Mask-centred scroll cast spandrels
- Dial Construction
- 8-inch square brass dial with calendar aperture and four concentric ring-turned medallions
- Missing Components
- Lacks pendulum, weight, or seatboard
- Maker / attribution
- John Lawson
- Escapement and Striking
- External countwheel striking movement with anchor escapement
Design
- Visible features
- • Square brass dial plate fitted with cast scroll spandrels in each of the four corners. • A single scroll-pierced steel hand indicating the time against the Roman numeral chapter ring. • Overhead bell mounted on a curved stem with an adjacent striking hammer mechanism. • Matted dial centre decorated with four concentric ring-turned circular medallions, the lowest of which encloses a square calendar aperture showing numeral 23. • Signed 'John Lawson' across the lower portion of the chapter ring on either side of the VI numeral.
- Movement Mechanism
- The movement features a four-pillar design, with two of the lower pillars constructed from steel. It utilizes an external countwheel striking train and an anchor escapement regulated by a seconds pendulum. The mechanism includes an overhead bell mounted on a curved stem. The pendulum, weight, and seatboard are not included with the movement.
- Dial and Visual Features
- The movement is fitted with an eight-inch square brass dial. The matted center is decorated with four concentric ring-turned medallions and contains a calendar aperture. The dial features an applied Roman numeral chapter ring with leaf-engraved half-hour markers and mask-centered scroll cast spandrels at the angles. It is operated by a single scroll-pierced steel hand.
- Identity and Attribution
- This thirty-hour longcase clock movement is identified by the signature 'John Lawson' located on the lower edge of the dial chapter ring. The item is described as dating to the mid-18th century. The source notes that a clockmaker named John Lawson is recorded in Brian Loomes' 'Yorkshire Clockmakers' as working in Keighley before moving to Bradford in 1760, where he is documented until at least 1777.
Identification
- Source note
- Facts transcribed from the linked source listing or collection record. Attribution and specifications are source-reported and have not been independently authenticated.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: Pendulum, weight, and seatboard are absent according to the auction description.
- Research required: Longcase clock case is not included.