Pictures

Daniel Pratt Jr., Reading Mass., wooden shelf clock, circa 1830s

Clock has one day weight driven wooden movement with strike on the hour only. Original wooden face with the name "Daniel Pratt Jr, Reading Mass." still readable. At 15 inches wide and 28 inches tall, this is a rather small clock for this period. The side moldings are a reverse OG style - there are no columns. The splat is finished in a lovely wood veneer and not stenciled. The mirror shown is a temporary replacement while the original is being restored. The case, with the original face, glass, and mirror was purchased on eBay in March of 2007 from a seller in Mass.

The wooden movement was purchased separately in 2006 and is not original to this clock, but is the correct general type. Daniel Pratt pruchased movements from other makers so I have no way to know who made the original movement. This movement is tentatively identified as an E. Hotchkiss - Hotchkiss & Fields, ID No. 8.137. It came from an Alva Hotchkiss clock and fit perfectly in this case. The pictures show some previous and recent repairs. I bushed excesively loose main wheel (winding arbor) pivot holes using Delrin-AF to make the bushings. This ia an acetal homopolymer with a fill of 12% Teflon AF fibers. It is very strong, has excellant friction properties, machines fairly well, and is a medium brown color not unlike the oak plates (see last picture). The bushings are very inconspicuous and will probably outlast the rest of the clock. It runs perfectly now with just 2½lb. weights.

The original label is more than 90% complete, the pendulum bob and gong are new, the door hinges have been replaced but not recently, and the weights are old but not original to this clock. The Terry style hands were hand made here in my shop. I believe this is the style Pratt originally used.

The information on this page is believed to the writer to be correct at the date of posting but is presented with no guarantee expressed or implied. Pictures were a true representation of this clock at the time of posting but may not be current. Please contact me if you believe that any of the above information is incorrect, or if you wish to share additional information about this clock.

Unless otherwise credited, the pictures and information on this page are the property of Robert H Croswell & Greenfield Clock shop, 4180 Main Street, Trappe, MD 21673 and may not be sold or used for commercial purposes without permission. © 2016