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Early Clocks
Hook-and-Spike
Wall Clocks
In the 18th century, Hook-and-Spike clocks were a cheaper alternative to the brass lantern clock and full longcase 30-hour clocks of the day. In essence, it was a smaller thirty-hour longcase which in fact had no case, but was made with the hoop and spurs with which the lantern clock had always been equipped, and which could thus be hung from any convenient wall hook, exactly as the lantern clock had done. It would have been a very popular and much more affordable clock to own and would also give an owner the option of hanging the clock on the wall straight away and from the backboard of a longcase at some point in the future when they could afford the extra cost!
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Above. Thomas Gilkes of Sibford, c1720. wonderfully original, early 18th century hook-and- spike wall clock made by Thomas Gilkes of Sibford Gower in Oxfordshire from between around c1710-1720. The wafer thin, solid nine-inch square brass dial has the twin cherub and crown (with cross) spandrels, attatched to the corners and there is rather an attractive zig-zag engraving to the dial centre. The original iron hand (with long tail) is retained and the chapter ring is signed ‘Gilkes Sibford '. The iron and brass birdcage movement with hoop and spurs is in an untouched and original condition throughout and has some nice early individual features including some interesting iron work - for example: - the nicely shaped iron tapoured arbours - have no seperate collets. Instead, the tapoured arbours are attatched directly to the wheels. This shows me that Thomas Gilkes was still using 17th century techniques during the early part of the 18th century. Click on image to view article. Private collection, Photographed by Lee Borrett.
Above. Richard Savage of Salop, c1725. Shown here is a rare Richard Savage of Shrewsbury, round dial hook and spike wall clock dating from around c1725. He is the first clockmaker of Shropshire by whom domestic clocks are known to survive and all of his known work do seem to be quite interesting in their own right. The example here is in a wonderfully original and complete condition throughout including retaining its original iron hand, all of its original wheelwork, goblet shaped collets, pinions, screwed on hoop and spurs, two piece pendulum, lead counter weight, lead going weight, iron and wood pulley and lightweight tin side dust covers. It is a late example by Savage, dating from around the mid 1720s and near the end of his working life as he died in 1728. He probably made this clock as a round dial example instead of the normal square dial (with spandrels) to make a cheaper clock for a particular customer looking to keep the cost down. Savage initially made lantern clocks, but after his move to Shrewsbury his output was mainly longcase and hoop and-spike wall clocks. Click on image to view article. Private collection, Photographed by Lee Borrett.
Above. Anonymous, birds, c1720. Shown here is a very desirable early 18th century single-handed hook-and-spike wall clock which dates from around c1720. The extremely attractive 8.25-inch square brass dial with polished dial centre has a wonderfully naieve engraving of four birds within a loose foliage design and may well have been engraved by the clockmaker himself. Click on image to view article. Private collection, Photographed by Lee Borrett.
Above. Walter Archer of Stow, c1700. Shown here is an interesting, unrestored early single-handed hook-and-spike by Walter Archer of Stow, c1700. The clock is housed in a painted pine longcase and hangs from the backboard of its case via an iron hook. Archer was born in 1674 at Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire, the son of a blacksmith. By about 1695 he had moved to Stow-on-the -Wold, being first documented there in a list of inhabitants of 1699 with his brother, Charles (born1676), who followed the same trade. Walter Archer died in about 1744-45. Click on image to view article. Private collection, Photographed by Lee Borrett.
Above. Richard Gilkes of Adderbury, c1740. wonderfully complete and original single-handed hook-and-spike wall clock by Gilkes of Adderbury. It was probably made by Richard Gilkes around c1740 and has a 10.5-inch square brass dial with a beautifully engraved zig-zag dial centre with a Lozenge type half hour-markers. The superb single iron hand is original. The busty lady spandrels are not the best quality, but they are original and held in place by their original screws. Click on image to view article. Private collection, Photographed by Lee Borrett.
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