George M. Stevens & Co. Small Tower Clock
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1885
This small seconds-beating tower clock was manufactured by George M. Stevens & Co. of Boston, dated by the auction source to 1885. The movement is built with a red-painted cast iron frame resting upon an ogee-molded base with cabriole legs and an affixed brass maker's plaque.
According to the cataloguer, it features a four-wheel gear train, Harrison's maintaining power, and a Graham deadbeat escapement. The accompanying components include a white-painted wooden dial with applied Roman numerals, counterbalanced hands, a red-painted wooden pendulum rod with a heavy cast iron bob, a shaped wooden mounting board, assorted pulleys, a winding crank, and a custom Lexan movement cover.
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
- Date
- 1885
- Type
- Tower clock
- Maker
- George M. Stevens & Co., Boston
- Dimensions
- 22in x 12in x 10.5in
- Place recorded
- United States
- Maker / attribution
- George M. Stevens & Co.
- Escapement and Train
- Four-wheel train with Harrison's maintaining power and Graham deadbeat escapement
Design
- Visible features
- • Red-painted cast iron movement frame supported on an ogee-molded base with cabriole legs, fitted with a crank handle and a transparent cover • Square white-painted slatted wooden dial featuring applied black Roman numerals and ornate counterbalanced pierced hands • Shaped vertical wooden mounting backboard with mounted arbor and barrel • Red-painted wooden pendulum rod, heavy cylindrical cast iron bob, and assorted iron pulleys with wire
- Frame, Dial, and Included Components
- The clock movement is built with a red-painted cast iron frame resting on an ogee-molded base with cabriole legs and features a brass Stevens plaque. Visible auxiliary components include a wooden movement mounting board, iron pulleys, a purpose-made Lexan movement cover, and a winding crank. The dial is described in the auction record as rectangular, wooden, and painted white, bearing applied Roman numerals and fancy counterbalanced hands. The accompanying pendulum consists of a wooden rod painted red and a heavy cast iron bob.
- Reported Condition and Modifications
- The condition report states that the movement is repainted, very dirty, and shows losses to paint, with surface rust present on steel components. The cast iron bob is listed as good, while the Lexan movement cover has cracks. On the dial and drive hardware, the dial is described as dirty and missing its top board, and the hour hand is repaired. The weight is noted as missing, the weight pulley has been replaced, the bearing blocks for the pulley mounted to the board are replaced, and the iron pulleys exhibit losses to japanning.
- Reported Movement and Drivetrain Specifications
- Catalog description characterizes the clock as a small, seconds-beating tower clock. It features a four-wheel gear train equipped with Harrison's maintaining power and a Graham deadbeat escapement. The auction entry records transmission universal joints and motion work present, although the linking rod is noted as missing. The movement is reported to tick, with a notation that it will need service.
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: Source notes the dial is dirty and missing its top board, the hour hand has been repaired, the linking rod is missing, and the weight is missing
- Research required: Movement is reported as repainted, dirty with paint losses, having surface rust on steel parts, replaced weight pulley, replaced bearing blocks, and cracked Lexan cover