A fine Victorian Reformed Gothic oak longcase wall

A fine Victorian Reformed Gothic oak longcase wall regulator timepiece in the manner of A.W.N. Pugin The movement probably attributed to the workshop of James Condliff, Liverpool for Isaac Simmons, Manchester, third quarter of the 19th century The massive eight-day five double-screwed baluster pillar frosted gilt movement with thick canted top angle plates measuring 9.5 by 7.75 inches enclosing wheel train with high pinion count, six-spoke wheel crossings and screw depth adjustment for all pivots terminating at the plates, with Harrison s maintaining power and deadbeat escapement incorporating jewelled pallets regulated by Frodsham/Dent type metal jar mercury compensated pendulum with weight tray for fine adjustment and fine beat adjustment to crutch, with winding via offset square to right hand side, the 12 inch circular silvered brass dial with subsidiary seconds over Roman numeral hour dial and signed I. Simmons, 7 St. Ann s, Square, Manchester to centre within outer minute track and canted silvered bezel, the movement and dial supported on a substantial gilt brass bracket attached to the 2 inch thick case backboard beneath wide-jaw pendulum suspension with fine screw position adjustment, the interior also applied with a silvered tapered scale for the pendulum weight tray calibrated 0-12 divided into eighths over plate engraved ARNOLD & LEWIS, SUCCESSORS TO, I. SIMMONS, WATCH & CLOCK MANUFACTURERS to centre section beneath dial, and beat scale to base, the exterior with triple stylised trefoil fronted canted mansard frieze flanked by pointed spires to pediment over heavy front door with entwined curved baton carved band over arch-glazed panel flanked by stylised ogee stepped sections decorated with rosettes over Gothic columns with foliate caps and moulded bands to shafts, the sides with slender rectangular glass windows set into 2 inch thick channel moulded surrounds incorporating hole for the indirect movement winding to right hand side, the base with cavetto apron flanked by plinths beneath the front door over triple substantial chevron-carved quarter-round fronted cavetto-outline brackets with elaborate complex horizontal moulded infill between and reeded panels to upper and lower margins, the superstructure containing a piece of oak stencilled with a blue rosette motif trademark, 216cm (85ins) high. Isaac Simmons is recorded in Loomes, Brian Watchmakers & Clockmakers of the World, Volume 2 as working in Manchester 1834-51. Online sources further suggest that he opened jewellers at Long Millgate in 1822, by 1832 he had moved to fashionable 9 St Ann s Square then again to number 7 by 1851 where he remained until 1871. Simmons was succeeded by Arnold and Lewis who continued at the same address until circa 1905. Contemporary directories also list Arnold and Lewis as retail jewellers and makers of watches and chronometers. Indeed the many fine quality watches that survive bearing their name suggest that they had a very wealthy clientele and were a major retail outlet for the watches made in the Prescott watch workshops. Details such as the design of weight pulley, left/right position-adjustable pendulum suspension block, extensive use of screw end stops and overall quality of the movement suggest that it may have been supplied to Simmons by James Condliff of Liverpool. James Condliff first set up in business at 32 Gerard Street, Liverpool, in 1816. Between 1816-1827 Condliff had premises in Gerard Street, Circus Street and Fraser Street; after 1827 he was joined by Joseph Condliff and they continued to work at Fraser Street (probably the workshops) and also in Clare Street. In 1846 a branch of the business opened in Everton under Joseph's name and that year also John Condliff appears, at premises at Mount Vernon. The last Condliff in the business was Thomas who is recorded as working between 1867-1914, whilst the last mention of James dates to 1884, although it is likely that he had retired by 1862. The quality of the movement of the current lot combined with the massive construction of the case complete with facility for external winding indicate that it was intended for an important location where a high degree accuracy was required. One such possibility is that it was made as the shop regulator for Simmonds premises in St. Ann s Square. A letter, dated 1851, to the editor of the Manchester Guardian confirms that Simmons utilised a highly accurate regulator on his premises: To the editor of the Manchester Guardian Sir, In reply to the complaints of A Subscriber , in your publication of Wednesday last, on the subject of the incorrectness of the public clocks, I take leave to say to say there is but too much truth in his remarks. For a number of years I have had my chief regulator tested by transit observations; the result in nearly all cases showing 2 minutes slower than the time as indicated by the public clocks. An observatory such as that in Liverpool is quite unnecessary in this, an inland town. Nor do I see the utility of incurring the expense of telegraphing Greenwich time, which, for the reasons stated above, can always be had at my shop, and is cheerfully offered for the use of such as may feel disposed to avail themselves of it.- The favour of your inserting the above will oblige, and apologising for trespassing on your valuable time, I am, sir, yours faithfully I.SIMMONS 7 St Ann s Square April 3rd 1851 The possibility of the current lot being used as the shop regulator is perhaps further supported by the presence of the silvered signature plate for Simmons s successors Arnold and Lewis applied to the inside of the case. It is perhaps interesting to note that soon after they took over the Simmons business in 1871 Arnold and Lewis installed a shop regulator (in July 1872) with a galvinometer connected to Greenwich. An exterior clock dial at their premises (designed by Edward Salomons architect) with a Greenwich style falling ball dropping at 1pm daily was also installed. This was reported in the Manchester Guardian, and no doubt provided endless publicity for the new proprietors. The installation of this new technology may have required the previous shop timepiece to be moved-on by Arnold and Lewis. Another possibility is that the current lot may have been supplied to a very wealthy discerning private client or a business where accuracy was highly valued. Indeed the strong architectural styling would suggest that it may have been conceived as part of a homogenous scheme created by a leading architect in the highly fashionable Reformed Gothic style. The leading exponent of the Reformed Gothic movement was A.W.N. Pugin although many other architects and designers such as Eastlake and Burgess adopted the style. Reformed Gothic was at its height during the 1850 s-60 s but, as with all fashionable styles, muscular Reformed Gothic was superseded by the more romantic Venetian Gothic style championed by Ruskin and the Aesthetic Movement with Japanese influences developed by architects such as Edward William Godwin. The enormous wealth generated through the massive expansion in industry in the Manchester area at this time would have ensured a healthy clientele for high status objects leading to large manufactories such as Lamb of Manchester working hard to keep abreast of fashion. As of yet the designer or maker of the case of the current lot has not been established, however the presence of a stencilled rosette trademark on a piece of timber (formerly concealed in the top of the case) may provide a strong clue and thus presents the prospective purchaser with a potentially rewarding research project.