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Lot Essay
The present clock is admirably described and illustrated in great detail by Tom Robinson The Longcase Clock, op. cit.. Henry Hindley, 1701-1771, was a very ingenius and individual clockmaker, his output was comparatively small and he did not publish his work. He is thought to have been born in Manchester and served his apprenticeship there before moving to set up his workshops in Petergate, York in 1730 where he was granted the Freedom of the City in 1731. His best known apprentice was John Holmes who left for fame and fortune in London in 1749 after serving his seven years with Hindley. Holmes's memoir of Hindley gives an excellent insight to the man's character - Mr. Hindley was a man of the most communicative disposition, a great lover of mechanics, and of a most fertile genius.
The present clock movement and dial ably demonstrates some of Hindley's quirky genius. The unusual seconds ring divided on the inside and calibrated for ten seconds, the rare spandrels, maintaining power mounted on the frontplate, rack strike on both the hour and quarter trains (both warned and released independently) and the most unusual repeating system with spring-loaded discs on the backplate giving repeat from either side.
The present clock movement and dial ably demonstrates some of Hindley's quirky genius. The unusual seconds ring divided on the inside and calibrated for ten seconds, the rare spandrels, maintaining power mounted on the frontplate, rack strike on both the hour and quarter trains (both warned and released independently) and the most unusual repeating system with spring-loaded discs on the backplate giving repeat from either side.