Late Victorian 12” English Fusee Dial Timepiece by George Catchpole 1892

We present for consideration, this scarce late Victorian 12” dial fusee wall timepiece, by watch and clockmaker, George Catchpole, of Market Place, Atherstone, Warwickshire, (from where this clock would have been made). Born c1838, in Grendon, Warwickshire, Catchpole served his apprenticeship under R.B. Tomkies, in Atherstone, who was a respected watchmaker in the town. • Solid Walnut hand-turned roundhead with boxed cabinet. • Hinged inspection door located to the side of the box. • Operable lockable regulator door located at the bottom of the box. • The clock retains its original metal dial, with black Roman numerals and Catchpole’s details. • Pair of steel spade hands, secured with a pinned collet. • Dial protected by glaze mounted in its original brass bezel, incorporating a canted silvered brass fillet to the interior. • Quality 8-day single fusee chain driven movement set between rectangular plates and turned pillars, with movement serial number 6959. • Comes with its original 70mm diameter brass pendulum bob, door key and brass winding key. Having served his time, Catchpole remained with Tomkies until c1860, when he set-up his own watchmaking business in the town in Market Place, where he remained throughout his working life until at least 1901, after which time, little is known about him. Catchpole never appeared to marry, although he did reside with Elizabeth Bonny (a widower 8 years his senior). He was also quite a prolific watchmaker, and only tended to produce clocks on commission from local town councils, associations and schools, along with other similar business and Govt. funded establishments. Today, this means that Catchpole made clocks are exceedingly rare to find, and as way of recent provenance, it is known that this clock formed part of the renowned and important antiquities collection of former London Barrister, (the late), Baron John Mauger Langin of Oxon, between c1978-2024. Payment - We Accept: - Debit / Credit Cards. - BACS Transfer. (Our bank details are on our invoices). - Cash. (If collecting or on delivery).