Wonderful 12” English Fusee Dial Timepiece by George Searle & Sons. 1884

A wonderful Victorian fusee wall clock with 12” dial, by makers George Elliot Searle & Sons, of 21 Bedford Street, Plymouth, Devon. Born in Plymouth, 1821, George Elliot Searle followed his master clockmaking father, George Searle (Sr), into horology, under whom he served his apprenticeship at Churdleigh, Devon, where his family were then residing. Having then completed his training and spending a number of years working with his father, Searle (Jr) moved back to Plymouth in c1850 to set up his own clockmaking business in 111 Union Street. However in c1879, (by which time his clockmaking business had become very successful), he obviously decided to expand his business offering by developing his fledgling jewellery operation along with his two sons, and in order to enable that desire, he moved his business to 21 Bedford Street (from where this clock would have been made). • A solid golden Oak turned roundhead face (with tiger stripe graining), sits over its boxed cabinet • Hinged inspection door located to the side of the box. • Operable lockable regulator door located at the bottom of the box. • Metal dial has black Roman numerals with the Searle & Sons details. • Original pair of blued spade hands, secured with a pinned collet. • Dial protected by glaze mounted in its original brass bezel. • Quality 8-day single fusee movement set between rectangular plates and turned pillars. • Comes with its original 68mm diameter pendulum bob, door and a brass winding keys. By 1881, the now Searle family business was operating under the name of “G. Elliot Searle & Sons” with sons, George H. Searle (born 1852), and Herbert H. Searle (born 1862), helping to run the business. At this time, George Elliot Searle was also residing in the affluent area of Compton Gifford in Plymouth, and his business at the 21 Bedford Street retail premises, was now “employing 6 men.” George E. Searle retired from the business in c1889, aged around 68, and later passed away at his home in 1892. His two sons then continued to steer the business successfully into the 20th Century. …A lovely high-quality English fusee wall clock, from one of Deven’s well-documented and much sought after clockmakers! Payment - We Accept: - Debit / Credit Cards. - BACS Transfer. (Our bank details are on our invoices). - Cash. (If collecting or on delivery).