Birge & Fuller 8 Day Column and Cornice Clock

This clock is the pride and joy of my entire collection. It's my favourite clock, and I would never sell it.

I did a lot of research on this clock, especially when it came to recreating the tablets. The firm of Birge and Fuller only lasted 4 years, from 1844-1848. The firm ended with the death of Fuller, the company then changed partners and became Birge and Peck. The label on my clock shows an address which dates it after 1845, so I have this clock accurately dated between those three years.

This clock arrived in the mail completely smashed. The entire case had to be glued and repaired. The entire label had to be pieced back together and reglued with acid free glue (weeks of work). I spent the better part of 3 months working on the clock. The case had various veneer chips, and the entire bottom door was missing. There was one with the clock, but it got destroyed, and was not original (and it was badly made). I made a new door, veneered it, and stained it to match. To make a latch, I had to find an old key to match the upper (oringinal) latch. I also had to make special swivel hinges from sheet brass for the door.

The movement is an Ives' 8 day, weight driven time and strike. It features roller pinions, which show little wear, and the plates are formed of strap brass. The movement still needs a proper verge (see photo), but I have it working like this for now. It also needs a weight for the strike side, which I will cast myself.

When I got the clock, the upper glass was missing, and both bottom glasses were newer, and blank. I replaced these with period correc salvaged wavy glass. The bottom tablet was frosted and painted by myself, based on other dimilar tablets of the period. The centre tablet has not been done yet. I haven't decided on a pattern for it. It will likely be a stencilled (not freehand), since the majority of these clocks were done this way (middle tablet stencilled, and bottom tablet freehand).

When I finish the centre tablet, I will take new photos.

With hand painted reproduction tablets fitted: