31538C.W
VULLIAMY, LONDON, NO. 1328. A LARGE MAHOGANY DROP DIAL DATED 1836.

A very large and imposing mahogany drop dial wall clock by this famous maker. The 16" silvered dial is signed for the maker ‘Vulliamy, London’ and dated AD 1836. It has large blued steel heart and pointer hands. The reverse of the dial has exactly the same engraving on it as the face but with the chapter ring too large and, therefore, hidden by the bezel. The dial was, therefore, re-engraved on its other side. This gives an interesting insight into the fact that mistakes happened and cost was still important!

The case has a large brass bezel with an integral sight ring and a nicely shaped mahogany surround. The drop of the case has a well chosen flame veneer going right the way down and round the curved base and through the opening door. There are two well shaped ears to the sides. The back box has opening doors to either side to facilitate removal and fitting of the pendulum.

The eight day gut fusee movement is of fine quality. It has large chunky pillars and dial feet pillars. It has a half deadbeat escapement and is signed and numbered on the backplate ‘Vulliamy, London, No. 1328.’ The clock has a long lozenge shaped wood rod pendulum with a well shaped heavy brass bob and utilizes a regulator style suspension which is typical of the better Vulliamy clocks.

Length: 31" (79 cms.)

Benjamin Lewis Vulliamy was born on the 25^th January 1780 and was the last of a line of exceptional clockmakers in the Vulliamy family. He was Free of the Clockmakers’ Company in December 1809 and Liveryman in January 1810, the same year he was admitted to the Court of the Guild. There he served every office in the Court and was five times elected Master. In his years of service he did much to further the good reputation of the clockmakers’ trade and against increasing odds he succeeded at preserving high standards of craftsmanship which can be seen in all of the clocks he produced. He died in 1854.