Beschreibung:

An important George II/III mahogany domestic regulator, Henry Hindley, York, mid 18th century The substantial eight-day movement with plates measuring 8 by 6.75 inches united by four typical Hindley pattern double baluster pillars, the trains with six-spoke wheel crossings and high pinion count throughout, the going train with deadbeat escapement set low between the plates regulated by seconds pendulum with heavy lenticular bob and long crutch, with bolt-and-shutter maintaining power activated by a line connected to a crossed-out pulley segment positioned behind the dial engaging with a system of sprung levers to apply torque to the centre wheel, the gravity-fed rack striking train sounding the hours on a large bell mounted above the plates via hammer cocked on the backplate against large reverse L shaped combined spring and stop, with typical Hindley system of trip-hour repeat incorporating substantial sprung steel lever engaging with the strike lifting detent via wheel on the backplate applied with a pair of pins configured to allow lever to operate in either direction, the calendar work advanced via a pump and system of sprung levers connected to a crank on the calendar wheel set behind the dial, the movement fitted with slide-in dust shutters to sides and top dressing up to the rear of the dial plate,the 12 inch brass break-arch dial with subsidiary seconds dial to the finely matted centre within fine narrow silvered Roman numeral chapter ring with Arabic five minutes to outer track and signed Heny Hindley, York to lower margin, with pierced steel hands and rococo scroll cast spandrels to angles beneath arch centred with calendar dial flanked by conforming mounts, the case with giltwood ball finial to the generous ogee-shaped caddy surmount over box frieze applied with crisply moulded swan neck pediment and architectural break-arch mouldings over the hinged glazed dial aperture flanked by substantial Doric columns, the sides with blind break-arch panel doors and conforming full columns to the rear, the trunk with ogee throat moulding over shaped-top caddy moulded door flanked by fluted quarter columns to front angle, on plinth base with cavetto top moulding and bracket feet, 251cm (95ins) high excluding finial; 251.5cm (99ins) high overall. Henry Hindley was born in Great Harwood, near Blackburn, Lancashire 1699, little is known about his early life, however by the mid 1720s he was making clocks in Wigan where he repaired the church clock in 1726. Hindley moved with his young family (including his son, Joseph born 1728) to the prosperous city of York where, after making clocks for the Mansion House and Guildhall, he gained his Freedom of the city in 1732. Hindley s talents were such that he equipped his workshop with tools of his own design including an important dividing and wheel cutting engine, a screw cutting lathe and a fusee engine. As well as domestic clocks Hindley received commissions for several turret clocks including York Minster and supplied a range of scientific instruments including two important equatorial telescopes for the Duke of Norfolk and William Constable By the 1760 s Hindley s health had deteriorated to the extent that an ever increasing proportion of the business was handled by his son Joseph. Henry died in 1771 with his son and successor Joseph unfortunately dying just three years later in 1774, before he had had the opportunity to stamp his own mark on the family firm. Hindley s work demonstrates a highly inventive exacting approach with each clock perhaps varying in some way to its predecessor ensuring constant refinement in design and layout. The quality of the finish of his work is generally exceptional being comparable to the very best London makers of the period which is why many collectors refer to Hindley as the Tompion of the North. The movement of the current lot is no exception being a particularly fine example of Hindleys work exhibiting inventive details such as the cranked pumping