by Mermod Freres of St. Croix in the late
1800's. By 1905 the disc music box was
dominant in the home entertainment mar-
12.5" high, and 21" deep. It has a large spring motor,
tempo. Known in the trade as a "castle top", because of the many levels
of trim on the top, it has beaded molding around the base, and all the orig-
inal labels and instructions inside the box. The serial number inside is
"55123". It comes with 19 discs, overall in very fine condition, and the
sound is outstanding. I am told by disc box collectors if the sound is good,
you have a fine box. Pictured and described in the book, "Encyclopedia
of Automatic Musical Instruments", by David Bowers, pages 97-124.
$4000-$5000.
chain
clock made and
signed
made
London, England, and
verified
Watches
mahogany case is 16"
high, very nice all over,
grooved designs on the
front, ripple like mold-
ing all around the base,
brass handles on the
sides, and cathedral win-
dows covered with brass screen and cloth. Bowed glass over the painted
metal dial, good early hands and good paint on the dial although the
numerals have been relined. Brass bezel in front is key lock, as is the full
back door. The back door is wood trim around a large glass. Large brass
pendulum has a lock down feature, large brass bell is signed, "4", and
may or may not be original, hard to tell for sure. The 8 day brass move-
ment is signed, "Hamley / London", and has no other marks or serial
number. It is running and striking properly. Pull cord outside the case to
advance the strike. This is a very nice, early fusee clock. $3000-$4000.
weight of small steel
balls in the water wheel.
It is a French Industrial
style animation clock
and is identical to the
one
clock was made by Peter
Bonnert of Maidstone
wooden base has wonderful inlay all around, turned brass feet underneath
and wind arbor in the center of the base. It has a glass dial and a fully
exposed skeleton movement that runs by the weight of the small ball bear-
ings going around the right side of the wheel. They drop into a chute at
about the 4 o'clock position, then travel thru a series of chutes until they
drop into a scoop where it is raised up and eventually drops back into a
small rail. Then it runs to the top of the water wheel and drops into a slot
beginning the trip again. The scoop bucket mechanism is fusee driven.
The clock is very interesting to watch, but as with most French Industrial
clocks you must have some mechanical ability to keep them operating. I
have a tough time keeping my cell phone working, but I did manage to
load the ball bearings and get the clock running. $1200-$1500.
"Cheshire", ca 1893. Waterbury made
this clock with cherry wood and com-
pleted it in what they called a, "cabinet
finish". It has been very lightly pol-
ished which removed a smidgen of the
smoke and left the case with all the
original finish and still pretty dark. I
would hate to remove the black smoke
but it would be a knockout clock if the
wood was taken back to the original
cherry shade. I see hundreds of clocks
and this one is very different from the
norm. Note the balls on top and balls
along the sides. You might call them
rippled molding but they look more like
balls. There are carved pieces, unusual
finials and top ornament, and it just
looks great top to bottom. There is a
complete label inside, a signed beat
scale, and the dial is signed. Correct
Waterbury brass bob, wood stick, cor-
rect hands, and a nice two piece paint-
ed dial with the Waterbury logo. An 8
day signed movement, running, and
striking a Cathedral gong. The cherry
case is nearly 45" high, and if you don't
look close you will mistake the wood
for mahogany. The dial has had a small
paint chip or two and were nicely
repaired, only noticeable on close
where. All in all, an exceptionally nice clock. There is a whole lot more
clock here than the picture in Ly-Waterbury #629 would lead you to
believe. $1250-$1500.