Uniquely Rare Late Victorian 8” English Fusee Dial Timepiece by William Stone

An exceptional Victorian 8” dial fusee wall timepiece, by watch and clockmaker, William Henry Stone, of 54 Parade, Sutton Coldfield, Warwickshire, (from where this clock would have been made). Born c1857 in Coventry, Stone’s primary profession was that of watchmaker. However, he did specialise in making smaller gauged wall clocks (such as this fine example), for local and regional retail outlets (like jewellers), plus high street bank branches and professional firms (eg solicitors and accountants). Today, these rare smaller dialled wall clocks are much sought after by collectors and clock enthusiasts alike. • Solid Mahogany 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 8” metal dial, with black Roman numerals and Stone’s details. • Original pair of blued 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. • 8-day single fusee chain driven movement made by J.J. Elliott and set between rectangular plates and turned pillars. (Stamped into the movements backplate is serial number: 69854 along with "Made in England." The movement is also stamped with the Elliott Registered Trade Mark; (the initials “J.J.E”, and “England”, within a cog). (NB: The famous clockmaking brand of J.J. Elliott started life as a clock movement manufacturing company between 1886-1904. They used the famous old aforementioned Trade Mark to supply English made movements to independent clockmakers such as Stone, and the Trade Mark was used to guarantee the exceptional quality of the movements, which utilised British materials and workmanship). • Comes with its brass pendulum bob, a door key and brass winding key. Unfortunately Stone’s life ended in Sutton Coldfield rather suddenly in 1905, at the relatively young age of just 48. This followed a period of ill-health and is just another reason why his surviving horological clock work is uniquely hard to find in the modern-day marketplace.