Pale oak case, 5'6" high. Square painted dial inscribed Chas Haines Swindon. c1840
30 day movement.Original finely decorated hands. Rose motifs in each corner of dial.
Charles Haines was a watch & clock maker & silversmith. He operated from 1830 to 1859 (Ref. International Dictionary of Clock Makers Vol II). He is listed in Wood St in Pigot's Directory of 1830.
Paul Kembery knew of no other Swindon clock maker, and this was the only Haines clock that he had ever seen. Came from house in Stratton. PK only did minor repairs - new skirting at bottom
of case, cleaning. Clock had already been restored some years previously. Numbers and
signature on dial had almost certainly been retouched then.
30 day clocks of this period were always made locally. The mechanism would have been hand-made but these are never signed. Mass-produced dials and mechanisms
were only available for the 8 day clocks. 8 day clocks were normal in towns ; 30 hour in country.
8 day clocks have 2 winding holes on face - chimes have separate weight. A few 30 day
clocks have dummy winding holes.
Service (oiling etc) recommended every 5 years £20-25. Re-build every 20-25 years.
Case should be waxed occasionally using Antiquax, for example.
Wall fixing improves accuracy by eliminating small movements.
Chimes can be suppressed by peg on butterfly wheel at top right.
If chimes get out of synch adjust by lifting lever at back to step it to the correct position on the
chimes drum at the back. Never move hands with weight on floor because this will cause loss
of synchronization.
PK is probably the largest seller of long case clocks below £4000 in the Glos/Wilts/Worcs area.
He now operates full time. Operates a low-margin quick turn-over policy. He will always take
back any clock he has sold in part-exchange for another for (at least) the original price.
Saw 8-day clock by Haynes in Hungerford Arcade 25/2/96. Identically shaped case but darker wood (mahoganny?) & more elaborate central brass finial. Lettering on dial in similar style but just "Haines Swindon". Hands similar to mine. Quite ornate in corners of face - blue,red,gold.Dealer had known many Haines clocks over the years, but all were 30 hour. This rare 8-day clock was priced at £2450 but he also implied that the 30 hour ones would be over £1000. He said that all Haine's cases are the same. Dealer with red-wine stain on face. Had rather superior manner. Knew Paul Kembery. |