07-16-201107-16-2011
Skinner Auctions
Skinner AuctionsMarlborough MA
July 16, 2011 10:00 AMCalender
331

E. Howard 90-Day Wall Regulator with Fay's Escapement

Sell one like this
$124,425$105,000
Auction: Clocks, Watches & Scientific Instruments - 2555MLocation: MarlboroughDate / Time: July 16, 2011 10:00AM

Description:

E. Howard 90-Day Wall Regulator with Fay's Escapement, E. Howard & Co., Boston, c. 1858, the walnut case of No. 12 form with full length glazed door, 12 1/2-in. dia. silvered brass engraved dial marked E. Howard & Co. Boston and Patented May 11, 1858, outer minutes, upper hour and lower seconds indication, 90-day duration movement enclosed by three brass dust covers, outboard mounted great wheel barrels with attached covers, Fay's patented escapement mounted on the front, all powered by two compound hung lead weights and regulated by a four glass vial mercury temperature compensated pendulum in a damascened frame with lower regulation calibration and silvered beat scale, ht. 56 in.

Henry C. Fay of Troy, New York patented his "walking pawl" or "silent" escapement on May 11, 1858. The present clock remains as the only known 90-day duration wall clock and the only known wall clock with Fay's escapement. For a discussion of a floor clock with Fay's escapement see: Derek Roberts, Precision Pendulum Clocks, pp. 233-37
Estimate $80,000-120,000

Rear iron hanger, wooden weight baffle and wooden beat scale stand are replacements, used once as a floor clock with removable base, now with 2 1/2-in. molded section of the base restored, one pendulum glass vial cracked in the upper portion and repaired, pendulum mercury removed but available to purchaser, hands, pullies, pendulum, beat scale and weights are the original, dial probably resilvered.

Keywords

Henry C. Fay, E. Howard & Co., Troy, Derek Roberts